Gold Coast in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

"Barmaids Ordinance"

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 25, 2021

1. "Barmaids Ordinance" Marker

Inscription. During the 1960's Chicago's 'Barmaids Ordinance' prohibited women, unrelated to the owner, from tending bar in Chicago.

In 1970, the owners of this establishment hired airline Stewardesses to tend bar in defiance of City Ordinance.

She-nannigans is dedicated to The women and men arrested for violating The 'Barmaids' Ordinance.

In 1974, The U.S. District Court ruled that laws regulating the conduct of women in bars are 'discriminatory on their face, overboard and vague'.

Daugherty et al v. Daley et. al

Erected by Division Street Entertainment District.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Industry & Commerce • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1974.

Location. 41° 54.241′ N, 87° 37.767′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Gold Coast. It is on West Division Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16 West Division Street, Chicago IL 60610, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Walgreens (within shouting distance of this marker); Fisher Studio Houses (within shouting distance of this marker); Ernest Hemingway

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(about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Churchill Corner (about 700 feet away); The Three Arts Club (about 800 feet away); Mariano Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); John Wellborn Root (approx. 0.2 miles away); 49 East Cedar Street (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

Also see . . . About Us (She-Nannigans).

"She-nannigans was the first bar in Chicago to employ all female bartenders at a time it was considered illegal….hence the “She” in She-nannigans. She-nannigans opened in 1970, at a time when a decades-old ordinance — informally known as the “Barmaids Ordinance” — made it illegal for any woman who was not related to a bar’s owner from tending bar. In a modest act of civil disobedience, She-nannigans began to employ some of the airline stewardesses who lived in the neighborhood to tend bar on their days off.

Arrests were made, tempers flared and in 1974, a suit was filed against Mayor Daley, et al.; the case went to U.S. District Court and judges concluding that the ordinance violated the Constitution."

(Submitted on August 29, 2021.)

"Barmaids Ordinance" Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 25, 2021

2. "Barmaids Ordinance" Marker - wide view

The marker is visible here just to the left of the doorway.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 449 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 29, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.