Edward Joseph Kelly
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| Edward Joseph Kelly | |
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46th Mayor of Chicago
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| In office April 8, 1933 – 1947 |
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| Preceded by | Frank J. Corr |
| Succeeded by | Martin H. Kennelly |
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| Born | May 1, 1876 Chicago, Illinois |
| Died | October 20, 1950 (aged 74) Chicago, Illinois |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Chicago, Illinois |
| Religion | Catholic |
Edward Joseph Kelly (May 1, 1876 – October 20, 1950; buried in Calvary Cemetery). Served as chief engineer of the Chicago sanitary district in the 1920s, and later as mayor of Chicago, Illinois (1933-1947) for the Democratic Party. He held many distinctions in Chicago politics: He was the first of five Chicago Mayors from Bridgeport,[1] the first man to voluntarily leave the office of Cook County Democratic Committee Chairman,[2] and he distinguished himself as mayor by reduced the city's debt by $100,000,000, leaving it solvent.
Kelly was the chief engineer of the Sanitary district in the 20s under the sponsorship of Patrick Nash who owned a sewer contracting company that did millions of dollars of business with the city.[3] He subsequently became president of the South Park Board, a position that presided over the building of Soldier Field. Under his tenure Soldier Field cost $8 million, while a similar Los Angeles stadium only cost $1.7 million.[3]
Following the assassination of Mayor Anton Cermak Kelly was hand picked by his friend, Patrick Nash, Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party, for the mayoralty election of 1933.[4] Together, Kelly and Nash built one of the most powerful, and most corrupt, big city political organizations, called the "Kelly-Nash Machine."
Kelly was a fiercely loyal New Deal Democrat during the Great Depression. During the 1940's Kelly's administration was shaken by a series of major scandals, and further undermined by Kelly's integrationist views on race and support for open housing in the highly segregated city of Chicago.[citation needed]
Kelly was Mayor of Chicago during the 1933-1934 Century of Progress.
Sister Mary Stanisia painted his portrait in 1934.
In 1947 Kelly acquiesced to the Cook County Democratic Party's decision to slate a candidate with reform credentials for the office of Mayor and was succeeded by Martin H. Kennelly.
[edit] References
- ^ Political History of Bridgeport. University of Illinois - Chicago. Retrieved on 2007-09-01.
- ^ Call Me Jack. Time Magazine. Time Inc. (1946-07-22). Retrieved on 2007-09-01.
- ^ a b History of Chicago from Trading Post to Metropolis (Module 3 Chapter 2-Chicago During the Great Depression). Roosevelt University (2006). Retrieved on 2007-08-29.
- ^ "Edward J. Kelly Elected as New Mayor of Chicago--Takes Oath of Office After Action by City Council", Chicago Tribune, 1933-04-14, pp. 38. Retrieved on 2007-10-14.
| Preceded by Frank J. Corr |
Mayor of Chicago 1933–1947 |
Succeeded by Martin H. Kennelly |
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