Joan Barr (1939-2015) was the first woman elected Mayor of Evanston, serving two terms from 1985 to 1993. While mayor, Barr worked to address many issues, including downtown re-development, the city’s landfill problem, and the need for a new public library
Significance: Born in Rogers Park, Joan Barr was surrounded by politics from a young age. Her father, James, was involved in politics and served as an assistant Secretary of Commerce. Barr moved to Evanston in 1962, following her graduation from Syracuse University. Prior to serving in elected office herself, Barr worked on various Republican Party campaigns, including Evanston Mayor Jay Lytle’s 1980 reelection campaign. She owned a catering business and later was governmental affairs director for the American Dental Hygienists Association.
Barr was active in many civic organizations, including serving as the president of the Dewey Community Conference, a collection of groups working to fight the deteriorating conditions around Dewey School. In 1977, Barr ran for her first term as alderman of the 2nd Ward. She encountered a great deal of sexism from her opponent. Her ex-husband, Robert Barr, later recalled her male opponent stating that people should vote for Joan Barr if they wanted someone with pretty legs. She served as 2nd Ward Alderman for two terms.
In 1985, Barr ran for mayor. She touted her experience as alderman and her time as a civic leader as her qualifications for the position, with a focus on her desire for bipartisan cooperation. Even when embarking on her campaign for mayor, she never emphasized that she would be the first woman to serve as mayor if elected. Her campaign was a success. After being elected as the first female mayor for Evanston, Barr joked, “I think I’m the shortest person to ever sit in this chair. It’s going to take some getting used to.” Her administration focused on a variety of important city issues, including proposing a new recycling program, building a new library, and economic development for the community. After announcing she would not seek a third term as mayor, she was succeeded by Lorriane Morton.
Following her time as an elected official, Joan Barr was ordained as a deacon for the Episcopal Church, serving at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Her service to the community continued through her involvement in food drives, clothing collections, and visiting parishioners who were ill. Barr passed on March 21, 2015, after a battle with leukemia.
Updated by Brenna Large for the Evanston Women’s History Project