Chicago Collections

Looking back with nostalgia on that announcement when Chicago got to be distracted by all this by one of ours becoming Pope!

a man is sitting in a chair reading a book and saying that is one nutty hospital Alt: a man is sitting in a chair reading a book and saying that is one nutty hospital

A perennial response from me

Cover of David Omotoso Stovall’s book, Engineered Conflict: Structural Violence and the Future of Black Life in Chicago

Privileged to see David Omotoso Stovall discussing his book last night at the phenomenal National Public Housing Museum. See him if he speaks elsewhere and get this book!

a man says " i 've made a huge mistake " in front of a door Alt: a man says " i 've made a huge mistake " in front of a door

Why didn’t I take the Pink Line?

Ghosted by the Blue Line at the Washington station while a man sings Unchained Melody on the platform. In other words, a typical Chicago evening 🤷‍♀️

This was a great panel yesterday and regarding Leon Despres's comments in 1973, Helen Shiller added the context that RJD would sometimes turn off the mics of alderman so we're grateful this exists!

That was one of the recordings we heard today!

2/2 We stepped back in time and heard beloved Mayor Harold Washington celebrate the 1985 Chicago Bears Super Bowl win, among other powerful audio. Huge thanks to archivist Matt Messbarger for this work! Office of the City Clerk is a member!

Flyer for 2/4/26 event with Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia, Rufus Williams, Radio Host, WVON, Dario Durham, Chicago Historian, Podcast Co-Host, 77 Flavors of Chicago, Helen Shiller, Former Alderman, 46th Ward

1/2 Hey, Chicago political history geeks, we were in heaven today at this event to launch the City Council Audio Recordings, 1970-2012. Find them linked via this page: www.chicityclerk.com/city-council...

Spent many a happy hour there in a previous life 😔

In news of “duh”

A great day for good news!

a woman in a white dress is standing in a room and says but ya are blanche . Alt: a woman in a white dress is standing in a room and says but ya are blanche .

My most used movie quote. Perfect for daily life!

Dominic A. Pacyga is one of our favorite Chicago historians, so we're thrilled to be in discussion with him on 2/19 about his latest, Clout City: The Rise and Fall of the Chicago Political Machine. Sign up today!
chicagocollections.org/news-events/...

Staffing still underwater at CHM but the Abakanowicz Research Center there has the following:
chhiso.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US...

Needed that vibrancy today. Thank you!

Remember when they endorsed Gary Johnson in 2016?

This remains THE BEST!

Can we call this the first instance of the Jewels?

Covenants and the Making of the 1951 Cicero Race Riot — Chicago Covenants By Hannah Simmons

We're huge fans of @chicagocovenants.bsky.social and following the research that Hannah Simmons, PhD student at Northwestern, is doing as a Black Metropolis Graduate Assistant. Her latest-- the 1951 race riots in Cicero. We can't help but note parallels today
www.chicagocovenants.com/research/cov...

Oh FFS! The “vaccine cabal” 🙄

Would it be possible for him to be in the white pages? Chicago History Museum has them and if he’s in them, the corresponding criss cross directory would indicate multi family, also at CHM.

Thank you! Jeanne Long is a tough act to follow but I’ll do my very best!

In non-apocalyptic news, it me:

chicagocollections.org/news-events/...

Per usual, the Alt-text makes our day!

A tuxedo cat and a screen of Explore Chicago Collections results of a search for Chicago Bears

It’s been a heavy start to the new year so the coworker asked to search for the Chicago Bears in the portal. Go Bears!

Attending #AHA26 in Chicago? Join Malachy McCarthy, Ellen Skerrett, Holly Fiedler, and CCC for our discussion, Broadening the Scholarly Paradigm: Documenting, Preserving, and Creating a Framework for Chicago History.
aha.confex.com/aha/2026/web...

Time for a reread! Congratulations, Melanie!