The City of Chicago has a rich and diverse history, ranging from the Chicago Fire and the World’s Columbian Exposition to the Great Chicago Flood of 1992. The following sources will help you find the places, events and people that shaped the city.

Places
Information on famous sites in the Chicago area, including buildings, homes, and neighborhoods can be found in the following sources. These titles often include many pictures.

917.7311/BAC
Bach, Ira J.Guide to Chicago’s Historic Suburbs on Wheels and on Foot1981

Covering Lake, McHenry, Kane, DuPage, Will and Cook Counties, this source provides walking or driving tours for over 800 historical buildings.

720.977/CHI
Chicago’s Famous Buildings: A Photographic Guide to the City’s Architectural Landmarks and Other Notable Buildings1993

Ref/977.311/HAY
Hayner, DonStreetwise Chicago: A History of Chicago Street Names1988

917.7311/LAN
Landmark Neighborhoods in Chicago1981

720.977/LOW
Lowe, DavidLost Chicago1985

Includes numerous rare photographs. Many buildings covered in this title no longer exist.

917.7311/PAC
Pacyga, Dominic A.Chicago, City of Neighborhoods1986

Covers the history and development of the various areas, such as Wrigleyville, Rogers Park, and Hyde Park.

791.068/WLO
Wlodarczyk, ChuckRiverview, Gone but Not Forgotten1984

Events
977.311/BOL
Bolotin, NormanWorld’s Columbian Exposition: The Chicago World’s Fair of 18931992

977.311/CHI
Chicago Days: 150 Defining Moments in the Life of a Great City1997

Published by the Chicago Tribune, this sources covers 150 events that shaped the city. It includes information on the Eastland disaster, the Black Sox, and the Haymarket Incident.

977.311/COW
Cowan, DavidTo Sleep with the Angels: The Story of a Fire1996

History of the fire in December, 1958 at Our Lady of Angels School, when 92 children and two nuns died.

977.311/CRO
Cromie, RobertGreat Chicago Fire1994

*Ref/917.73/DRE local history
Dream City: A Portfolio of Photographic Views of the World’s Columbian Exposition1893

977.311/DYB
Dybwad, G.L.Chicago Day at the World’s Columbian Exposition1997

977.311/GRE
Great Chicago Fire: In Eyewitness Accounts and 70 Contemporary Photographs and Illustrations1979

Video/977.311/GRE
Great Chicago Flood1993

Chronicles the Chicago Loop flood of 1992

977.311/GRA
Grand Illusions: Chicago’s World’s Fair of 18931993

977.311/HIL
Hilton, George WoodmanEastland: Legacy of the Titanic1995

A comprehensive account of the Eastland disaster. The author offers his theory on why the Eastland capsized, and explains what role the sinking of the Titanic may have played in this disaster.

People
The following sources provide biographical information on well-known Chicagoans who helped build the city. Included are such people as Marshall Field, Jane Addams, Potter Palmer, and Cyrus McCormick.

977.311/BIS
Bishop, Glenn A.Chicago’s Progress: A Review of the World’s Fair City1933

Originally written as guidebook to the city for tourists to the World’s Fair, this source gives an overview of famous buildings and landmarks. Profiles of prominent Chicago businessmen are also included.

977.311/CHI
Chicago’s Accomplishments and Leaders1932

Provides photographs or drawings of important businessmen instrumental in the growth of the city. This source also includes pictures of famous Chicago buildings, and provides a brief history of Chicago accomplishments, such as the Chicago Public Library, the Oriental Institute, and Lincoln Park.

977.311/LON
Longstreet, StephenChicago, 1860–19191973

Covers the history of Chicago from the Civil War to the end of World War I.

977.311/SAW
Sawyers, June SkinnerChicago Portraits: Biographies of 250 Famous Chicagoans1991

Each entry is between one to two pages in length and includes a picture of the person, as well as a list of further reading.

Other Sources for Historic Chicago Information
977.311/GOD
Goddard, ConnieGreat Chicago Trivia & Fact Book1996

Ref/977.311/HAY
Hayner, DonChicago Sun-Times Metro Chicago Almanac1991

“Fascinating facts and offbeat offerings about the Windy City.”

Ref/977.311/HEI
Heise, KenanChicago, Center for Enterprise1982

This two volume set covers the history of Chicago from its geologic beginnings millions of years ago to the present day. It also provides brief histories of many of the businesses that were founded in Chicago.

977.311/LON
Long, Dolores A.Chicago Trivia Book1982

Contains information on Chicago firsts, meanings of its street signs, and local political trivia.

Periodicals
977.311/CHI
Chicago History

Published 3 to 4 times a year by the Chicago Historical Society, this periodical presents articles covering all aspects of Chicago History. The library owns Chicago History from 1970 to the present.

REF 977.311/IND
Index to Chicago History4 volumes

Pamphlet File
Check under the heading CHICAGO and its subheadings such as CHICAGO-LANDMARKS or CHICAGO-HISTORY.

Internet
The Internet also contains valuable information on Chicago History. Using various search engines and web sites, different types of information can be found, such as historical photographs, backgrounds of historic events, or famous architecture.

Prepared by Lisa Bobis, October 1999