Two new research link sets have been added to the sidebar: Jane Addams and John T. McCutcheon. Lots of sites to explore. The photo to the left comes from Syracuse University. " George Ade ’87 and John T. McCutcheon ’89, both former Presidents of the Indiana Society of Chicago, in their first year together at Purdue University."
The Chicago Neighborhood Tours 2008 schedule has been released by the City of Chicago. There are three sets of tours: Neighborhood Tours, such as Bronzeville, Little Italy, Hyde Park; Special Interest Tours that includes Great Cemeteries in Chicago, The Great Chicago Fire, Greek Chicago, The White City and, my personal favorite, Literary Chicago (includes a tour of my favorite building, The Fine Arts Building. Someone needs to write a history of this glorious structure!); and Public Arts Tours focusing on Chicago's wealth of public art. A brochure providing complete details on each tour can be downloaded. If you live in Chicago, are within driving distance of Chicago or are planning a visit this summer, try to take advantage of one or more of these tours.
Come to think of it, why isn't there a book on the history of The Fine Arts Building? Have I somehow missed it in my journey around the web? Any Chicago writers reading? Any takers? While I'm at it, where are the books on theater architects Rapp & Rapp, Cornelius W. Rapp and George L. Rapp? I can only hope...
3 comments:
Sharon,
This is an off question that you might want to deal with in another post. But, in thinking about the Chicago history questions at the end of this post, I wondered what you know---or think---about the work of Richard Lindberg? Do you find his work to be reliable? Are his books well documented?
- TL
I admire anyone who has the ability to put pen to paper, so to speak, and produce a product that enlightens and entertains others. I've always felt that a byline is a form of immortality. I'm also not in an academic position to judge the worth or reliability of any Chicago historian's efforts. That being said, I am a reader and am entitled to my opinions.
I only have one of Lindberg's books in my library - "Chicago by Gaslight." It was a gift, and I have only skimmed the first couple of chapters. I have a fair understanding of the events surrounding the Haymarket Riot, yet I found the book difficult to read and confusing. Perhaps a different editor? And why Haymarket is included under the subtitle, "A History of Chicago's Netherworld" is beyond me.
The writing, however, is not my biggest problem with Lindberg. It is a personal preference. I am not interested in the sensational side of Chicago's past. The only "naturalism" I read is from the hands of Dreiser or Norris, etc. I cringe when Chicago is depicted as a filthy, corrupt ridden, murder and crime center of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Chicago is not H. H. Holmes or Capone or any of the others who often seem to symbolize Chicago. Mr. Lindberg just doesn't write about topics that interest me.
My Chicago, the Chicago I love is epitimized in the Fine Arts Building. There walked giants. The story of that building and the people who visited it should be told by someone with the skill and soul to do it justice.
There are some great books on Chicago's history written by writers of elegant prose who obviously love the city: Perry Duis, Carl Smith, Donald Miller and Bessie Louise Pierce to name a few. They are the writers I read.
But, that is just my opinion.
Thanks! I wanted the enthusiast's opinion. And of course I share your love for the less sensational aspects of Chicago history. I'm letting a student review a Lindberg book this semester, and I wanted to know a bit more from another angle before getting the paper. - TL
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