Chicago History Caught in the Web

Ever Lovin' Chicago Ephemera

A hat tip goes to DUMPSITE for a heads-up to a great Flickr site "Mister Scantastic" called "Chicago Ephemera and Books." While you're over at Flickr, try a "Chicago ephemera" search and see what comes up. Lots of goodies!

National Mall Echoed Chicago History


Somehow, there always seems to be a Chicago connection to just about, well, everything...From the Chicago Tribune, "The sight Obama saw: How Daniel Burnham and his planners from the Chicago fair remade the National Mall. Photo Credit: Chicago Tribune

What Did You do During the Fire, Daddy?


My friend Cynthia over at the Chicago Genealogy blog has a great piece titled, "The Chicago Fire: Was Your Ancestor Insured?" Her blog is an off-shoot of the genealogists indispensable ChicagoGenealogy.com. I'm going to try and get Cynthia to share some of her interesting searches and discoveries with us - but no promises.

Shameless Plug


If today's piece over at the CHOnline Library had appeared over here in the Journal, I would have titled it "Punked, Nineteenth Century Style." I mean, who knew Eugene Field, the great Chicago Daily News writer an American poet, was the Ashton Kutcher of the 1890s? A new page on Field has been started at the Library and the ChicagoBookBabe Chicago History Channel over on YouTube is featuring some Eugene Field related videos. Quite the "Field Day." Groan...

A Sad List


Preservation Chicago has released the 2009 "Chicago 7," the most endangered buildings in Chicago. This year's list includes:
1. The Harper Theater
2. St. Boniface Church
3. Richard Nickel House
4. Meigs Field Terminal Building
5. Chicago Motor Club Building
6. Michael Reese Modern
7. "Old-fashioned" Wood Windows
You can learn more about each one on the Preservation Chicago website. Then go write a Congressman or Alderman.

Finders, Reapers


The Chicago History Museum blog is featuring an Encyclopedia of Chicago Tutorial (#1) this week. It can be tricky to find some things, so kudos to CHM for this helpful video with a promise of more to come.

A Great First Family of Chicago


Back in May of 2008, I wrote a post titled, "This Little Piggie Went to Market: The Advertising of N. K. Fairbank & Co." You might want to take a look at some of the comments over there that appeared only lately. To my extreme happiness, I am in touch with the descendants of N. K. and there will be more about this wonderfully kind, generous and somewhat tragic founding father of Chicago. Stay tuned.