Chicago Gaylords

The Chicago Gaylords, also known as the Almighty Gaylords, was a Chicago street gang active during the mid and late 20th century. It originated in the neighborhood of Grand and Noble. The original president of the Gaylords selected the name after reading about the Gaylords in the public library (the Gaillards, later anglicized to Gaylord, were people from Normandy who lived near the Château Gaillard, constructed by Richard I). They were a part of the People Nation alliance.^[1]

Origins

The Chicago Gaylords began as one of the clubs started by World War II veterans and the majority of the original members were Italian, Irish, and Greek Americans which reflected the population of the Grand and Ogden area at the time, that was known as one of Chicago's "Little Italies." There were many such clubs in Chicago during the post WWII era, and had their own clubhouses and baseball teams. The Gaylord's clubhouse was on the corner of Ohio and Noble Street.At the height of the Gaylords reign they had more than 6000 members, were one of the most powerful gangs in Chicago, and controlled large areas of the city.

Gang colors

The sets, or sections, started by Kilbourn Park wore black and light blue. Sections started by Palmer street wore black and gray. South Side sections started by the 18th and Western section like 55th and Ashland and Sherman Park wore black and brown.

References

• University of ILL. Gang Research Website . Gangs around in the 1930s and 1940s: Para 11.h
• 18 Month Gang Investigation Leads to Arrest 9 , published by the Chicago Tribune By David Heinzmann, August 23, 2011.
• The Color of His Skin - Joe Henson Murder Story , published by the Chicago Reader By Steve Bogira, February 29, 2012.