The Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin presents The Mike Wallace Interview of Frank Lloyd Wright. Conducted in two parts in 1957, Wright gives his opinions on a wide variety of topics including religion, art, Louis Sullivan, and the "common man."
Wish You Were Here
Chicago History in Postcards has hundreds of cards organized by category, including the White City. The card (above) depicting the "Fire Show" is a sample.Summer Learning Op
The 2008 Summer Seminars at the Newberry Library will begin on June 3rd, but registration is open now and recommended. Topics include genealogy, Plato and Pullman cars.
Gamer in the White City
1893: A World's Fair Mystery is a text computer game (Win95/98/Me/2000/XP/Mac) produced by The Illuminated Lantern. To be honest, I have no idea if it is any good, but it sounds really interesting. If anyone has played this game, let me know. I might want to give it a try.
Building the Dream
Chicago's Architecture: From the First Fur-Trading Post to the Development of the Skyscraper is an extensive website from Peoria's Bradley University. The site is designed as a "Virtual Cruise" and addresses the question,
How did Chicago become the birthplace of American architecture? The balloon-frame house, the iron-and-steel framed building, and the skyscraper were all born there. A list of some of the city's architects reads like a roll call of genius: William LeBaron Jenney, Louis Sullivan, Dankmar Adler, Daniel H. Burnham. But there is much more to be attributed to this development than mere technical inventions and innovations or a number of outstanding architects. This new and very U.S. American vision of architecture marks a critical period: the phase toward the end of the 19th century when a predominantly rural nation became urban, when the cities' populations boomed, and when the Big Chicago Fire of 1871 opened immense possibilities for reconstruction.
Observing Yerkes
The Yerkes Observatory is a facility of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics of the University of Chicago. It was established in 1897 on Geneva Lake in Williams Bay, Wisconsin and named for the controversial Chicago businessman, Charles T. Yerkes. The origin of this strange pairing is explained in Timeline History of Yerkes Observatory. While the history, beginning in 1892, is unfinished, this is a site to watch.
Recommended reading:
Robber Baron: The Life of Charles Tyson Yerkes by John Franch.
"The Scoundrel and the Scientist" by Pamela Hodgson (originally appeared in Chicago History magazine in the Fall-Winter 1990-1991 issue.)
Remembering...
on April 25, 1886 workers in Chicago began demonstrations demanding the eight-hour day. On May 4th the issue would come to a bloody head in Haymarket Square. See the links in the left column for more information.
Have a great weekend!
3 comments:
Thanks Sharon for continuing to give us invaluable links to Chicago history.
wow. what great resources you've found. that postcard truly is a gem. hey teachers... they're perfect primary source documents...
i wonder if there is a similar site for Philadelphia?
and that world's fair game seems cool enough... but not worth 19.95.
Thank you both for visiting!
Pen and Spindle: I try, but doubt I could ever come close to the valuable resources you provide on your site. Always fascinating reading!
klkatz: I agree; old postcards can provide wonderful sources for classroom discussion. Have you tried the game? I'd really like to hear more about it.
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