A New Initiative for Historic Preservation Arises from a Sub Basement Vault, or How the Chicago Park District Came to Hire its Own Historian
My position as historian for the Chicago Park District was inspired by the discovery of a cache of historic plans and photographs in a sub- basement vault beneath Soldier Field in 1987.
At the time, the district was undergoing a major reform effort, and architect Ed Uhlir (now the project manager of Millennium Park) was promoted to be the director of the Engineering Department. The vault was on the lowest level, adjacent to parking spaces reserved for executive staff members, and for years, Ed had wondered what was behind its heavy metal door. When he finally got the opportunity to explore the vault, he discovered original drawings and plans by such nationally significant designers such as Daniel H. Burnham, Frederick Law Olmsted, and Jens Jensen. Soon after, in 1988, Ed Uhlir recommended the creation of a historic preservation division for the district, with a preservation planner, architectural historian, and archivist.
Brought on as the preservation planner, I had a masters degree in historic preservation from the landscape architecture department at the University of Wisconsin and four years experience as a preservation planner for the City of Highland Park. The archive was developed into the Chicago Park District Special Collections, which continues to be actively used by staff members, consultants, students, and community members today. Although more than 20 years have passed, I still love my job and feel fortunate to have many opportunities to grow and learn here.
–Julia Sniderman Bachrach
Julia S. Bachrach is the Chicago Park District historian. She was recently recommended by Governor Pat Quinn to serve on the Board of Trustees for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
