The Future History of the Rosenwald Courts Apartments

Jellyfish Bones has been selected to produce a documentary of the Rosenwald Courts Apartments. The 239-unit complex in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood is a historic icon, at one point being home to such luminaries as Nat King Cole (a songwriter who penned too many hit songs to list here, but we’ll offer up “Straighten Up and Fly Right”, as it is this editor’s favorite), Gwendolyn Brooks (Pulitzer-Prize winner), Ralph Metcalfe (world-record holder in the 100m and US Congressman), John M. Johnson (founder of the Jet and Ebony magazines), and the actress Marla Gibbs (“The Jeffersons”).

The complex opened in 1930 (with the moniker, “Michigan Boulevard Garden Apartments”) with a capital investment from Julius Rosenwald. The building was managed by Robert Rochon Taylor, who would later manage the Illinois Federal Savings and Loan bank. Taylor penned a 10-part series of articles in the Chicago Sun Times about the complex, often returning to the theme that the apartments were not only safe and affordable, but also provided a social nexus for the residents.

In the spirit of the Taylor’s Sun Times series, Jellyfish Bones hopes to highlight not just the history of Rosenwald Courts, but also its vibrant present.