Pressroom

Sharing Chicago Stories

Press Releases | November 4, 2024

The Life and Legacy of Emmett Till Highlighted in Chicago History Museum’s New Exhibition

CHICAGO (October 31, 2024) – On August 28, 1955, Emmett Till was kidnapped, tortured, killed and dumped in the Tallahatchie

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Drawing by Franklin McMahon of Moses Wright testifiying at Emmett Till trial.

Recent Releases

September 18, 2024

Get a Glimpse into One of the World’s Finest Collections of Fashion History in Chicago History Museum’s New Exhibition

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October 1, 2024

Chicago History Museum Receives Grant from National Park Service for Preservation of Items in its Costume Collection

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Subject Matter Experts

Chicago History Museum curators and historians are available to comment on breaking news and trends in their areas of expertise.

CHM Staff | Peter T. Alter

Peter T. Alter

Gary T. Johnson Chief Historian | Director, Studs Terkel Center for Oral History

Paul_Durcia-1024×1024-1

Paul Durica

Director of Exhibitions

bethea_charles-1

Charles E. Bethea

Andrew W. Mellon Director of Curatorial Affairs

Rebekah Coffman

Rebekah Coffman

Curator of Religion and Community History

Erica-Griffin_resize

Erica Griffin

Elizabeth F. Cheney Director of Education

Elena-Gonzalez-portrait

Elena Gonzales

Curator of Civic Engagement and Social Justice

More Information

GENERAL INQUIRIES

Program and event inquiries from the general public should be directed to our Visitor Services office via phone (312) 642-4600 or e-mail reception@chicagohistory.org.

STUDENTS

While the Museum greatly supports students using its resources, requests for interviews with curators and/or video-recording of the Museum may be denied due to the high volume of requests during peak times, such as the end of a semester. The Museum may also deny your request during its busiest visitation periods or during special Museum events, such as exhibition openings and special programs. We will review each request on a case-by-case basis, and we regret that we cannot accommodate every proposal. Thank you for your understanding.

CHM BLOG

Read more from CHM staff and collaborators about Chicago history, people, and Museum happenings.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m a member of the press. How can I interview a spokesperson or film in the Museum?

To request an interview with a spokesperson or to be granted access to film inside the Museum, please contact the public communications manager. We will evaluate your request to see which of our spokespeople can best meet your needs and set up the interview and/or filming date. Please note that same-day interview requests may not be possible.

I’m with a production company or am an individual seeking to use the Museum as a filming location. How can I get more details about filming at the Museum?

For filming requests or photo shoots in and around the Museum (this includes the Abakanowicz Research Center, event spaces, and Jaffee History Trail), we are happy to accommodate these shoots on a case-by-case basis. In order to protect the integrity of the Museum’s mission, collection, and philosophy, the Museum must evaluate each request to determine feasibility, appropriateness, and any fees that may be involved.

If you have a filming or photo project and would like to use the Museum as a location, please email pressinfo@chicagohistory.org to discuss the project and receive the necessary filming application. This filming application must be completed at least a month in advance of the desired filming date.

Where can I get a press kit or high-resolution imagery of Museum exhibits and events?

View the latest press kits of our exhibitions and events here.

Where can I get more information on the Museum’s research center and collection?

CHM welcomes scholars, students, genealogists, filmmakers, journalists, and the general public to access the Research Collection in the The Abakanowicz Research Center (ARC). While admission to the ARC is free, please email research@chicagohistory.org to ensure that an on-site visit is best for your needs or with any questions.

The Museum’s collection of more than 23 million objects, images, and documents records the evolution of Chicago, one of the nation’s most significant cities, from fur-trading outpost to a modern metropolis. Learn more about the collection here.

Where can I get more information on the Museum’s education programs?

From civic learning to core curriculum, we’ve got you covered. See the latest updates about our education programs and their impact here.

Does the Museum have resident history experts available for media or public commentary?

Yes, CHM offers a wide range of experts in history, history education, museum administration and exhibit development, guest experience, collection best practices, and more. See the list of these experts above.

Do you offer high-resolution images to accompany my article, segment or other finished product?

Yes. View the latest photos available for download of general Museum imagery, like Museum exterior photos and images of our most iconic exhibits, and more detailed shots of our exhibits or events.

Does CHM have images available for editorial or commercial licensing?

Yes. Please view CHM images to search, license, and download more than 370,000 images from the Chicago History Museum’s renowned collection. If the images you’d like are not available on CHM images, please contact the public communications manager and the rights and reproductions team for further information.

Does CHM offer tickets to members of the media?

To request tickets to visit the Museum, please contact the public communications manager to discuss the reason for your visit at least 48 hours in advance of the date for which you’d like tickets. Please note that due to a high volume of ticket requests and our status as a nonprofit institution, we cannot offer blanket media complimentary passes. We also cannot guarantee tickets for same-day requests.

I’m a member of the press. How can I interview a spokesperson or film in the Museum?

To request an interview with a spokesperson or to be granted access to film inside the Museum, please contact the public communications manager. We will evaluate your request to see which of our spokespeople can best meet your needs and set up the interview and/or filming date. Please note that same-day interview requests may not be possible.

I’m with a production company or am an individual seeking to use the Museum as a filming location. How can I get more details about filming at the Museum?

For filming requests or photo shoots in and around the Museum (this includes the Abakanowicz Research Center, event spaces, and Jaffee History Trail), we are happy to accommodate these shoots on a case-by-case basis. In order to protect the integrity of the Museum’s mission, collection, and philosophy, the Museum must evaluate each request to determine feasibility, appropriateness, and any fees that may be involved.

If you have a filming or photo project and would like to use the Museum as a location, please email pressinfo@chicagohistory.org to discuss the project and receive the necessary filming application. This filming application must be completed at least a month in advance of the desired filming date.

Where can I get a press kit or high-resolution imagery of Museum exhibits and events?

View the latest press kits of our exhibitions and events here.

Where can I get more information on the Museum’s research center and collection?

CHM welcomes scholars, students, genealogists, filmmakers, journalists, and the general public to access the Research Collection in the The Abakanowicz Research Center (ARC). While admission to the ARC is free, please email research@chicagohistory.org to ensure that an on-site visit is best for your needs or with any questions.

The Museum’s collection of more than 23 million objects, images, and documents records the evolution of Chicago, one of the nation’s most significant cities, from fur-trading outpost to a modern metropolis. Learn more about the collection here.

Where can I get more information on the Museum’s education programs?

From civic learning to core curriculum, we’ve got you covered. See the latest updates about our education programs and their impact here.

Does the Museum have resident history experts available for media or public commentary?

Yes, CHM offers a wide range of experts in history, history education, museum administration and exhibit development, guest experience, collection best practices, and more. See the list of these experts above.

Do you offer high-resolution images to accompany my article, segment or other finished product?

Yes. View the latest photos available for download of general Museum imagery, like Museum exterior photos and images of our most iconic exhibits, and more detailed shots of our exhibits or events.

Does CHM have images available for editorial or commercial licensing?

Yes. Please view CHM images to search, license, and download more than 370,000 images from the Chicago History Museum’s renowned collection. If the images you’d like are not available on CHM images, please contact the public communications manager and the rights and reproductions team for further information.

Does CHM offer tickets to members of the media?

To request tickets to visit the Museum, please contact the public communications manager to discuss the reason for your visit at least 48 hours in advance of the date for which you’d like tickets. Please note that due to a high volume of ticket requests and our status as a nonprofit institution, we cannot offer blanket media complimentary passes. We also cannot guarantee tickets for same-day requests.

Read what Others are Saying

Chicago Tribune

Column: An exhibition and a book revisit the life and death of Emmett Till

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Third Coast Review

Feature: Chicago History Museum Exhibits Highlight Costume Collection and ’60s/’70s Protest Art

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Chicago Tribune

‘Dressed in History: A Costume Collection Retrospective’ at the Chicago History Museum weaves a wearable story

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CBS Chicago

Chicago Hauntings: Historical ghosts at the massive nightclub that once housed the Chicago Historical Society

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Chicago Sun-Times

For costume exhibit, Chicago History Museum pulls a few favorites out of the closet

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WGN-TV

Around Town previews Dressed in History: A Costume Collection Retrospective at the Chicago History Museum

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NBC Chicago

Only in Chicago: John Dillinger's lingering impact on Lincoln Park

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FOX Chicago

Fashion through the ages: Over 70 artifacts showcase iconic styles at Chicago History Museum

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NBC Chicago

‘Dressed in History': Chicago History Museum exhibit explores clothing in culture

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WGN-TV

Dressed in History: A Costume Collection Retrospective

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FOX 32 Chicago

Today marks 153 years since the Great Chicago Fire

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The Washington Post

Seeking history, an archivist gathers what protesters at the DNC left behind

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WTTW

A Guide to Historic Political Conventions in Chicago — With a Little Help From the Chicago History Museum

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C-Span

Olivia Mahoney on Chicago Protest Art Exhibit of 1960s and 1970s

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Chicago Reader

The art of protest: Design as change agent at the Chicago History Museum

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NewCity

Creative Defiance: The Visual Culture of Chicago’s Social Movements at the Chicago History Museum

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WBEZ Chicago

How the 1963 CPS boycott over segregation shaped Chicago protests for decades to come

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CBS Chicago

Relic from Great Chicago Fire of 1871 keeps history alive and accessible

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Atlas Obscura

The Hottest Drink of the 1893 World’s Fair Was an Artificial Orange ‘Cider’

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Michigan Avenue Magazine

The Chicago History Museum Explores The Polish Community In New Exhibit

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The Economist

Chicago re-examines its origin story 150 years after the great fire

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The New York Times

Revisiting the Great Chicago Fire of 1871

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Associated Press

Don’t blame Mrs. O’Leary’s cow for the Great Chicago Fire

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