Arrangement
The materials are divided five series: the 79th G.A. (1975-1976); the 80th G.A. (1977-1978); the 81st G.A. (1979-1980); the 82nd G.A. (1981-1982); and a miscellaneous collection of papers (1975-1982). The bills are organized by number;.
Administrative/Biographical History
Joseph B. Ebbesen was born in DeKalb, Illinois on January 12, 1925. Ebbesen completed his undergraduate education at Northern Illinois University and received his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Illinois College of Optometry in 1951. During World War II, Ebbesen served three years in the United States Marine Corps. He is also a member of numerous business, professional, social, and fraternal organizations including: Fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry, American and Illinois Optometric Association, and the Northern Illinois Optometric Society.
Ebbesen's interest and participation in community and political affairs began in the 1950's and has spanned thirty years. He has served six years on local Boards of Education; was a DeKalb City Councilman from 1961-1965; and served as Mayor of DeKalb, 1965-1969. Ebbesen was also Vice-President of the Illinois Municipal League and President of the Northern Illinois Mayors Association. He was first elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 1972 and served six consecutive terms in the Illinois House of Representative. Included among Ebbesen's major legislative interests are: pension reform, higher education, fiscal responsibility and public health issues. In 1977, the Illinois Political Action Committee and the Illinois Conservative Union gave Ebbesen their highest rating for a state legislator. Among Ebbesen's major accomplishments was the sponsorship of a bill, passed in 1978, to allow the use of marijuana in the treatment of glaucoma and to alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy.
