To the Chicago History Museum community, As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, supporting our community in the fight to contain the virus is more important than ever. As the local medical community let it be known that PPE (personal protective equipment) was in short supply, we realized that getting the PPE that we use More
“I’ve got guts, and they have—even if they hate what I’m fighting for—they have to admire my guts.” Madalyn Murray O’Hair was a leading activist for atheism and separation of church and state. She founded American Atheists and is best known for the Murray v. Curlett lawsuit, which challenged the policy of mandatory prayers and Bible reading in Baltimore public schools. More
Proving that plant-based diets are not a passing fad, we found this guide for greener living in the stacks of our Research Center. “The Vegetarian and Our Fellow Creatures” (1901) is the earliest known instance of vegetarianism in our collection. The pamphlet was copublished by the Illinois Anti-Vivisection Society, Chicago Vegetarian Society, and the Vegetarian Society More
In his 45 years on WFMT radio, Studs Terkel talked to the 20th century’s most interesting people. On World Poetry Day, listen to his interview with novelist, poet, playwright, and fighter for civil rights for all, James Baldwin, as they discuss his book “Nobody Knows My Name more notes of a native son,” political beliefs and More
Brilliant, but often difficult, Charles James was one of the twentieth century’s most innovative fashion designers. While living in Chicago in the 1920s, James launched his career and established a loyal clientele. His dresses enchanted the fashion industry, but surviving examples of his work are so rare that his genius is not widely understood. To More