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© 2006 University of Chicago Library
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When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Nuveen, John, Jr.. Papers, [Box #, Folder #], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library
Born 1896 to John Nuveen Sr. and Ida (Strawbridge) Nuveen, John Jr. was raised I Chicago, Il to parents who were very active in the local Baptist community. John Sr. established the now famous John Nuveen Company, which sold municipal bonds specializing in school and public works. In 1910, John Jr.'s mother passed away and his father married Anna Strawbridge (the sister to his mother). John Sr. was very active in all kevels of the Baptist community in Chicago - he was president of the Chicago Baptist Social Union from 1924-1925, he served on the board of the finance committee of the Chicago Baptist Association for a number of years, both he and his wife were active in the Baptist Missionary Training School in Chicago, additionally John Sr. served as president of the Northern Baptist Publication Society, as a delegate to the Northern Baptist Convention and was a founder of the Baptist World Alliance, to name just some of his affiliations and positions of leadership.
Similarly, John Jr., followed in many of his father's footsteps and became an active participant in the Baptist community and as well in the development of the University of Chicago as an educational institution. John Jr. attended the University in its first decades of establishment and graduated from the institution with a Ph.B. from the School of Commerce and Administration. While at the University, John Jr. was active in the fraternity Alpha Delta Phi, an organization that he maintained ties with for the remainder of his life. After his graduation he entered the family business while also maintaining connections to a number of social organization. He was on the boards of such institutions as the Baptist Theological Union, the University of Chicago, the YMCA, and the Chicago City Manager Committee to name a few. Nuveen was involved in a number of the controversies in the University's history, including the removal of the university from Big Ten football, the University's involvement in the war effort during World War II, and beyond the University's wall, the post-war Marshall Plan's Economic Cooperation Administration, a group created to help structure the rehabilitation of Europe.
John Nuveen, Jr. died in his home of a stroke on August 8, 1968 at the age of 72.
The collection is divided into four series:
Series I, University of Chicago, primarily contains information on the University's Fiftieth Anniversary Campaign, Alumni Foundation meetings and plans, the Divinity School, the Baptist Theological Union, the Board of Trustees, and various other University committees and fundraising efforts. Series I also contains information regarding the University's withdrawal from the Big Ten Football association.
Series II, Chicago and Illinois, documents Nuveen's service on several city and state bodies, including the Chicago City Manager Committee, the Chicago Crime Commission, Illinois Veterans and Civilian Committee and the Board of Public Welfare Commissioners. This series also includes files on local issues.
Series III, Politics, contains files on city, state and national political campaigns, candidates and issues.
Series IV, International, includes files on U.S. foreign affairs, international organizations and issues, such as NATO, international law and trade, World War II, the Marshall Plan, and the Peace Corps, and a series of clippings files on countries and regions. This series also contains material documenting Nuveen's service on the War Production Board.
The following related resources are located in the Department of Special Collections: