Edward Joseph Kelly

Edward Joseph Kelly (May 1, 1876 – October 20, 1950) was an American politician who served as the 46th Mayor of Chicago from April 17, 1933, until April 15, 1947.

Prior to being mayor of Chicago, Kelly served as chief engineer of the Chicago Sanitary District during the 1920s.

A 1994 survey of experts on Chicago politics assessed Kelly as one of the ten best mayors in the city's history (up to that time). (The others in the top-ten were Anton Cermak (mayor 1931–33); Richard J.) Daley (mayor 1955–76); Richard M. Daley (then-incumbent mayor since 1989); Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne (mayor 1905–07); Carter Harrison III (mayor 1879–1887 and 1893); Carter Harrison IV (mayor 1897–1905 and 1911–15); William B. Ogden (mayor 1837–38); Harold Washington (mayor 1983–87); John Wentworth (mayor 1857–58 and 1860–61) He did not complete grammar school but entered the labor force at age ten.

Kelly was the chief engineer of the Chicago Sanitary District in the 1920s. He was sponsored by Patrick Nash, the owner of a sewer-contracting company that did millions of dollars of business with the city.

Political career President of the South Park Commission In March 1924, Kelly became president of the South Park Commission.

Kelly organized many public ceremonies and events hosted by the venue. Together, Kelly and Nash built one of the most powerful, and most corrupt, big-city political organizations, called the "Kelly-Nash Machine".

Kelly was mayor during the 1933–34 Chicago World's Fair (Century of Progress), which took place during the Great Depression and included the first official Major League Baseball All-Star Game; Kelly initiated the idea of holding a major sporting event for the fair to the Chicago Tribune. Kelly was famous for banning Nelson Algren's 1942 novel Never Come Morning from the Chicago Public Library; the ban remained in force for decades due to the outcry by Chicago Polonia upon its release.

From 1945 until 1947, Kelly served as president of the United States Conference of Mayors.

In 1937, the city received a grant and loan from the Works Progress Administration to begin construction on subways, with a groundbreaking being held December 17, 1938 for the city's first subway. The WPA funding would only partially cover the total cost of the subway (ultimately working out to 3/4 of the total cost). Kelly was also able to obtain WPA financing for projects such as a refurbishment of Midway Airport and roadway improvements.

During Kelly's tenure, the city was finally able to unify public transit with the establishment of the Chicago Transit Authority.

End of tenure In 1947, Kelly acquiesced to the Cook County Democratic Party's decision to slate a candidate with reform credentials for mayor of Chicago, and was succeeded by Martin H. Kennelly.

Kelly was serving as Democratic National Committeeman from Illinois at the time of his death.

Death Kelly died in 1950 at age 74 and was interred in Calvary Cemetery in Evanston, Illinois.