Little Italy in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Deverra Beverly
That was the most precious thing in her life
⎯⎯⎯
Lo más preciado en su vida
| — | Mary Baldwin | — |
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 6, 2025
1. That Was the Most Precious Thing in Her Life Marker
Commissioner Beverly was president of the Addams-Brooks-Loomis-Abbott (ABLA) public housing project on the Near West Side for decades and served on the Chicago Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. "She was a fighter," said Miss Baldwin. "She believed she was not going to stop fighting until she got what she wanted."
She fought for the ABLA Homes and its replacement, the Roosevelt Square mixed-income development. She also fought for the National Public Housing Museum and served as its founding chair.
Deverra Beverly, ABLA Homes, Chicago, IL 1934-2013
Mary Baldwin, Rockwell Gardens, Chicago, IL 1960-2006
Miss Beverly transitioned in 2013.
"Recuerdo a doña Beverly en esa silla", cuenta Mary Baldwin, la mejor amiga de la comisionada Deverra Beverly. "Eso fue lo más preciado en su vida. Por eso la donó al National Public Housing Museum".
Durante décadas, la comisionada Beverly fue presidenta del proyecto habitacional Addams-Brooks-Loomis-Abbott (ABLA), al Oeste del centro de la ciudad, y miembro de la junta de comisionados
this page online
Según la señora Baldwin, "Beverly siempre fue una guerrera, convencida de lograr su cometido". Abogó por el proyecto ABLA y su reemplazo, el residencial de ingresos mixtos Roosevelt Square. Luchó también a favor del National Public Housing Museum, del cual fue presidenta fundadora.
Erected 2025 by National Public Housing Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Charity & Public Work • Notable Buildings • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 2013.
Location. 41° 52.171′ N, 87° 39.593′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Little Italy. It is on Taylor Street near Ada Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is in a window on the south side of the National Public Housing Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 919 South Ada Street, Chicago IL 60607, 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: The Demolition of the Jane Addams Homes (a few steps from this marker); Benedict Kabakow (a few steps from this marker); Deverra Beverly's Quilt (a few steps from this marker); Jane Addams Homes (a few steps from this marker); Still Here: Zhegagoynak, A Monument and Memorial
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 6, 2025
2. That Was the Most Precious Thing in Her Life / Lo Más Preciado en su Vida Marker
Regarding Deverra Beverly. The Jane Addams Homes, a 32-building project in Chicago's Little Italy neighborhood, opened in 1938 as Chicago's first public housing project. In 2002, 31 of the 32 buildings in the Jane Addams Homes, which had more than 1,000 residential units, were demolished, to be replaced by mixed-income developments. The one building that was saved sat vacant for more than 20 years until opening April 2025 as the National Public Housing Museum.
Also see . . .
1. About the National Public Housing Museum.
Excerpt: "Meet Commissioner Beverly: In 2002, Deverra Beverly, a Commissioner of Housing and a longtime public housing leader, organized with residents to create a public housing museum. They worked to save the last building of the Jane Addams Homes. Together with preservationists, housing advocates, and cultural activists, they spent the next two(Submitted on December 8, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)decades working to create a permanent home for their vision. You are standing in that museum."Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 6, 20253. National Public Housing MuseumThe marker about Deverra Beverly is in the window behind the step, to the right of the corner of the building.
2. New National Museum Of Public Housing Captures How Housing Changed Our Country. From Block Club Chicago
Excerpt: "The opening is the culmination of a dream that started more than 18 years ago when former public housing residents, advocates and preservationists organized to create a museum to preserve their memories and the histories of public housing residents nationwide. At the time, Deverra Beverly, housing commissioner and advocate, organized against the Chicago Housing Authority’s plan to demolish 11 public housing developments, displacing thousands of residents without providing alternative homes."(Submitted on December 8, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
3. Chicagoans of the Year for Museums: National Public Housing Museum staff keeps residents at heart. From the Chicago Tribune. (Submitted on January 30, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 6, 2025
4. Deverra Beverly (1934-2013)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 8, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 107 times since then and 68 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 8, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
