The Guild
Supporting the Chicago History Museum for Over 75 Years
Founded in 1948, the mission of The Guild of the Chicago History Museum is to support the Museum’s goals and objectives through education, service, and fundraising. We are committed to assisting with a variety of the Chicago History Museum’s needs and we provide funding for many major projects. From 1967 to 1975, The Guild contributed over $50,000 to the campaign to build a new wing for the Museum. In a modernization project launched in 1985, The Guild raised over $1 million, making it the largest support group donor to the campaign. To honor this achievement, the original 1932 Georgian-style building was dedicated to The Guild.
The Guild focuses on promoting the Chicago History Museum’s programs and groundbreaking exhibitions and has contributed nearly $2.5 million for recent projects, including:
- 2022–24 All Aboard: Restoring L Car No. 1
- 2021 Richard M. and Shirley H. Jaffee History Trail
- 2020 Richard M. and Shirley H. Jaffee History Trail and the online experience, Democracy Limited: Chicago Women and the Vote
- 2017–19 Chicago Metro History Fair
- 2016 Annual benefit promoting the exhibition, Spies, Traitors and Saboteurs: Fear and Freedom in America
- 2015 Guild Gallery renovation
- 2014 Lead sponsor of The 1968 Exhibit
A dynamic group of 200 members, The Guild today continues to provide strong support to the Chicago History Museum as it pursues its mission through engaging programs and annual giving.
Continue the tradition of annual giving through the Guild. Support our current $50,000 pledge to the Chicago History Museum for general operating and a catalogue for the Aquí en Chicago project.
Donate to the Guild
Contact Us
Interested in joining The Guild? Contact Hannah Johnson, member relations manager at hjohnson@chicagohistory.org. Membership is by nomination only.
