The Little-Known Social Worker and Writer Who Embodied Chicago’s Role as a “Cauldron” for Social Movements
Though the history books rarely mention her, social worker and avant-garde writer Mary Field Parton embodies Chicago's role as a focal point of political and social movements.
The First Black Catholic Priest—a Candidate for Sainthood—and His Importance to Chicago
Father Augustus Tolton escaped slavery in Missouri to become the first openly recognized Black Catholic priest, ministering in Quincy, Illinois and establishing the first standalone Black Catholic church in Chicago. While there are currently no African American saints, he is currently a candidate for sainthood.
The Woman Who Invented Monopoly (Sort of)
The Illinoisan and Chicagoan Lizzie Magie invented a board game at the turn of the twentieth century as a teaching tool on behalf of anti-land ownership ideals. It later influenced Monopoly. Discover her story in an excerpt from a new American Experience documentary on Monopoly.
Eight Things to Watch and Read on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, and his birthday is honored as a federal holiday. Celebrate the civil rights hero in a variety of stories about his legacy, time in Chicago, and more.
Why America Is the Only Country That Embraced the Lie Detector—and Chicago’s Role in Its Rise
The technology behind the lie detector is basic and available around the world, but only America has used it extensively over the decades, thanks in part to pioneering work in forensics in Chicago that attempted to address the city's notorious crime.
Get in the Spirit with Vintage Holiday Cards from the Chicago History Museum
From dogs in sweaters offering each other gifts to "Dickensian Christmas" scenes to personalized illustrations of graphic design and avant-garde art, the holiday cards in the Chicago History Museum's collection showcase a broad array of styles, and reveal how similar we are to people of the past.
Revisiting the Biting Articles That Branded Chicago the "Second City"
Seventy years ago, the New Yorker writer and New York City native A.J. Liebling published a series of articles about Chicago that saw the city as a "not-quite-metropolis" imbued with a "collective sense of disappointment." Was he right?
How to Watch the Next January 6 Committee Hearing, Likely Its Last
The U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol is holding its next public hearing on Monday, December 19 at 12:00 pm CT. The hearing will likely be the last held by the committee, which is expected to release its final report on December 21.
Photo of the Week: A 1943 Marshall Field’s Christmas Window Display
Take a look back at a Marshall Field's Christmas window display from 1943, and discover the history of the displays.
Chicago's Early Female Detectives, Real-Life Analogues to Miss Scarlet
Eliza Scarlet of Miss Scarlet and the Duke may be fictional, but she does have a few real-life historical analogues of trailblazing female detectives and forensics experts, including in Chicago.
On This Day in Illinois History: Alton Abolitionist Elijah Lovejoy Killed By Mob
On November 7, 1837, an abolitionist named Elijah Parish Lovejoy was killed by a pro-slavery mob in Alton, Illinois.
Elijah Lovejoy
The Eerie Legend of Graceland Cemetery’s “Eternal Silence” Statue
An eerie sculpture near the grave of an early Chicago settler at Graceland Cemetery comes with a spooky legend.
A Brief History of Marathons in Chicago
Ahead of this weekend's Chicago Marathon, take a brief look at the history of long-distance running in Chicago, including the story of how a swing bridge interrupted the very first marathon in the city.
How to Watch the Next January 6th Committee Hearing
The House committee investigating the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol is holding its next public hearing on September 28, and PBS NewsHour is again offering live coverage. Find ways to watch here.
Celebrate Upton Sinclair’s Birthday with 7 Looks at the Impact of His Work
Writer and muckraker Upton Sinclair was born on this day 144 years ago. He was a prolific writer and political activist whose most notable work, The Jungle, had a transformative impact on the meatpacking industry in Chicago and nationwide.
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