June is graduation season! In this blog post, Abakanowicz Research Center page Brigid Crawley highlights the Chicago History Museum’s collection of yearbooks, which spans from 1858 to 2012. A stack of yearbooks ranging from 1938 to 2011. All photograph by CHM staff While yearbooks often evoke a feeling of nostalgia, they are also frequently used More
Algae Guzman is a graduate student at University of Illinois Chicago who has been interning with CHM curator of civic engagement and social justice Elena Gonzales for our upcoming exhibition Aquí en Chicago. Part of their work includes researching Latino/a/x histories of Chicago. On May 27, 2021, Jesús “Chuy” Negrete passed away at the age More
For National Bike Month, CHM research and insights analyst Marissa Croft writes about sewing a women’s bicycle costume using an 1897 pattern from the Abakanowicz Research Center. Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do! I’m half crazy, all for the love of you! It won’t be a stylish marriage, I can’t afford a carriage, More
A Tutorial on Using the National/Diamond Garment Cutter Systems Would you believe me if I told you that drafting custom patterns for historical clothing could be as easy as playing connect-the-dots? And that hundreds of these patterns are already available for free? Welcome to the world of pattern drafting manuals of the late 19th century! More
May is Jewish American Heritage Month. In recognition, CHM curator of religion and community history Rebekah Coffman highlights materials from the Abakonowicz Research Center related to the National Council of Jewish Women. The National Council of Jewish Women is the result of a gathering of Jewish women that took place during the 1893 World’s Columbian More