The City Beautiful That Day
I love this old photograph looking south on Michigan Avenue toward the Jewelers Building, taken in 1951. It’s surprising how little this particular stretch of Michigan Avenue has changed in … Continue reading
Big Bill Haywood
There’s something raw about the history of the 1910s, a period of depression and unrest, when Americans were engaged in an anxious quest for alternatives. It was a period of … Continue reading
The Grand Old Chicago Post Office
Between 1899 and 1965, this building served as the federal courthouse and main post office in Chicago. Built as the population of the city was burgeoning in the decades following … Continue reading
Florence and Margaret Make a Play for Freedom
The athleticism of the women competing in the London Olympics—and their outfits—underscore how dramatically women’s dress and freedom have changed in the century since women like the American tennis great … Continue reading
Ferris: His Wonderland
Around this time of year in 1893, millions of people were flocking to Chicago to see the great world’s fair the city was hosting. Formally known as the World’s Columbian … Continue reading
Lorimer
William Lorimer (1861-1934), was a rare bird indeed: a Chicago political boss who was Republican. By the time he paused to have this photograph taken, he’d risen to a seat … Continue reading
May Day Meditations
I WAS RUSHING out of my office building the other day when I ran smack dab into a May Day parade. It took me a minute to realize it wasn’t … Continue reading
