Read messages from Chicago History Museum president Gary T. Johnson, published monthly in E-news.

June 2008

Jazz legend, Franz Jackson, died last month. Jackson knew two key creators of jazz, Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton, and collaborated with icons such as Cab Calloway and Ella Fitzgerald. He was still playing, and performed for two hours at his 95th birthday last November. Jackson was honored with our Making History Award, which was presented by Ramsey Lewis. Names like Jackson and Lewis remind us of Chicago's historic and continuing role as a jazz capital. Learn more at our Museum's Chase Jazz and Blues Club in the Chicago: Crossroads of America gallery.

May 2008

When you visit our Museum on weekday mornings, you will see that May is a very busy month for school group visits. Each visit is a major production, from the planning, chaperoning, and bus logistics at the school to the booking, shepherding, and educating at our end. School group visits call on the talents of several Museum departments, and the visits could not happen without the generous help of our tireless volunteers. We want every visit to ignite a lifelong curiosity about history; with all the wonderful help we get, we know we can do it!

April 2008

We now have our first Polish language audio tour! Polish, Spanish and English—these are the options for our newest exhibition Catholic Chicago. Our commitment to reach audiences through foreign languages has a Chicago connection, but also an international one. Look for even more outreach to international visitors as the Olympic decision date approaches.

March 2008

We live in a world rife with religious conflict. As our own trustee, Eboo Patel, points out, understanding is the key to religious pluralism and toleration. Our museum's contribution is an exhibition series on religious groups. The rich story of Catholic Chicago is the first, and others will follow. My personal belief is that, as in the days of Jane Addams, Chicago can be a beacon to the world.

February 2008

One of Chicago's treasures turns 100 on February 2—former alderman, Leon Despres. The Chicago History Museum collection is privileged to have his papers. An eloquent and dissenting voice when Richard J. Daley was mayor, he also was a lion of the legal profession. It is astonishing to think that he knew Clarence Darrow, whose March 13, 1938 death, Despres marks every year with an anniversary event in Jackson Park.

January 2008

You may have seen in the news that we have purchased a treasure trove of materials about the 1919 Chicago "Black Sox" scandal. As a major research museum, one that also has a full schedule of exhibitions and programs, collecting is our life blood. We always are on the look-out for ways to strengthen our collection and put materials to use for the public. The archive will be accessible to the public through the Museum's Research Center after the materials have been processed and cataloged. The Museum is also planning to rotate some of the archive into the sports section of the exhibition Chicago: Crossroads of America.

December 2007

The year 2007 was an exciting time for the Chicago History Museum. We pushed ourselves very hard during this past year opening new exhibitions and developing popular new tours, programs, and educational opportunities for all ages after our grand re-opening last year. I thank our staff, volunteers and trustees for setting our goals so high and achieving so much. I also want to thank all of our supporters and the public for their confidence in all our efforts. I look forward to 2008, and encourage you to take advantage of everything the Museum has to offer.

November 2007

"Adlai Stevenson's Lasting Legacy" is a program I am moderating at the Museum, featuring four panelists who personally knew the presidential candidate from Illinois. We will explore the need for the U.S. to lead by example in today's dangerous world. This program will take place on Monday, November 12, in the Museum’s auditorium at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for Museum members. Reservations can be made through the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

October 2007

Is your history museum an art museum? It is when it comes to Chicago. Big Picture: A New View of Painting in Chicago opens October 20, and I am proud that so many of the works are from our own collection. Remember our Ed Paschke exhibition when we first reopened? The Chicago History Museum is giving the story of Chicago’s art scene its due.

September 2007

Thanks to the Helen Jacob Trust, we are presenting a life membership to Dr. Patricia D. McCann, Principal of Benjamin E. Mays Academy in Englewood. This lover of history insisted that I discuss Chicago Fire artifacts in all 18 classrooms! Thank you, Dr. McCann, for helping every student to soar like an eagle. The Chicago History Museum wishes all teachers, student and families a great school year.

August 2007

Behind the scenes at the Chicago History Museum, collecting always goes on! This month, we acquired over 490 illustrations of Franklin McMahon's courtroom sketches from the Chicago Seven conspiracy trial. With no cameras in the courtroom, this renowned artist brought to life the turbulent 1960s—a difficult time for Chicago and for the nation.

July 2007

Two new shows in July! Quilts puts front and center some of our beautiful and historic patchwork and crazy quilts. Is It Real? shows how we confirm stories and debunk mistakes. How often does a museum display something portrayed as the serpent's skin from the Garden of Eden?! It's fun and thought-provoking.

June 2007

Before Sullivan and Holabird, there was William Le Baron Jenney. Join me June 9 in celebrating the father of the skyscraper. At 9:30 a.m., the Museum hosts a symposium. At 2:30 p.m., a new gravestone will be dedicated at Graceland Cemetery 100 years after this great architect's death.

May 2007

Have you seen the films created by Chicago's Olympic Committee? They are full of images from the collection of the Chicago History Museum. Our staff has been responsive to many requests connected with the Olympic bid. The final decision will be announced October 2009. We are proud to be the keepers of Chicago's story, which now will be told to a new global audience. This is history in the making.

April 2007

American history is coming back! That's the great news that we announced this month. Thanks to the generous support of the Tawani Foundation, a new American history installation is scheduled to open in the fall of 2009. Located on the first floor, it will expand the space currently dedicated to our nation's history. We are particularly grateful to COL (IL) James N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Ret.), the founder and president of the foundation. As with our recent building project, the work will be done within the existing walls of the building, but this time, we are not planning any building closures in connection with the project.

March 2007

Our Art Shay exhibition will not be just another photo show, because Art Shay is not just another photographer. Consider this: he photographed criminals using hidden cameras, he documented his friend, Chicago icon Nelson Algren, and he never can resist a visual pun. See everyone from celebrities like Simone de Beauvoir to people in the Pacific Garden Mission. Art’s own voice comes through not only in the photographs, but in the text, as the stories behind the photos are told in his own words. You’ll love this show, and you’ll never forget Art Shay.

February 2007

When people come to visit me in my office, they are often late because they become fascinated by the historic Chicago photos that line our halls! Did you know you can order your own beautiful Chicago prints? Three of my favorites include the World's Columbian Exhibition Ferris wheel, and two gems from the Hedrich-Blessing collection: the original Soldier Field and the Century of Progress International Exposition. These are great additions to homes or workplaces.

> View our Museum Store's new online photo store.

January 2007

Crossroads, the theme of our stunning new permanent exhibition on Chicago, is rich in insights about our city’s direction. History tells us that how we deal with factors such as transportation, immigration and conflict within a diverse population all figured in Chicago's past and will be key to securing our status as a global city in the future. Our history as the crossroads of America gives us confidence that we can set the standard as a global crossroads, and set an example for the world’s mega-cities. Come to our museum and explore our future!

December 2006

What's new at the Chicago History Museum? You hear that a lot from us. Behind the scenes, our staff is working imaginatively on our schedule of exhibitions and programs for the months and years to come. You will come back to see us again and again if you know that this is one history museum where there's always something new going on. That's what return visitors find when they bring friends in to show them all the wonderful exhibitions. That's what teachers tell us when they discover our new activity stations. That's what young adults say when they attend our WXRT music series. That's what we all find when we attend the fascinating public programs featuring lively discussions on topical issues. The Chicago History Museum--there's always something new!

November 2006

So I can hear you now: "Sure, you opened a great new museum—but that was last month. What's next?" We knew you'd ask that! What's next are new exhibitions and programs that will build on our great momentum. We lead off with an exciting exhibition on music in Chicago opening Saturday, November 11. Experience blues and gospel, jazz and folk and explore how they flourished in Chicago. Historian William Cronon will be here for a reception and a discussion of his work on the environmental movement on Tuesday, November 28 at 7:00 p.m. Hear what Bill has to say— it may not be what you expect to hear from the author of Nature's Metropolis. We are the site of no less than 12 programs in the Chicago Humanities Festival. Try them out. And, by the way, if you haven't visited our new museum yet, come and see what the whole town is talking about. See why the Mayor told us, "You've captured the essence of Chicago."

October 2006

Our renovated museum opened to the public on Saturday, September 30, and the excitement is contagious.  You will see the changes the minute you walk in the door--eye-popping museum treasures will be right in the lobby, the new costume-textile gallery with its Dior exhibit, and our children's gallery--all new. An old favorite:  the Chicago dioramas return lovingly restored, with new interactive elements. ‘L’ Car No. 1 has a stunning presence on the second floor of the museum, and it leads to our new Chicago galleries--twice as much space for Chicago history than before, and a whole wing special exhibition galleries. There is a gallery space that focuses on the world fairs, in honor of the intense interest in the World's Columbian Exposition and the Century of Progress. Don't miss our new Chicago Room; this event space is one of the most dramatic rooms in the city. Welcome to the future of history in Chicago!