History Fair
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History Fair
History Fair students need to make an appointment!
Appointments can be made by calling 312.642.4600 during the hours the Research Center is open. Students arriving at the Research Center without an appointment during the History Fair period will not be admitted.
- High school students (grades 9–12) need an advance appointment.
- Middle school students (grades 6–8) need an advance appointment and must be accompanied by an adult.
- Elementary school students (grades 1–5) cannot be accommodated in the Research Center during the History Fair period, and are encouraged to use school and public library resources.
- Children of members may be admitted to the Research Center without an appointment, but advance appointments are encouraged. K–8 students must be accompanied by a parent.
Admission to the Research Center is free for students (grades K–12) and the adults that accompany them.
History Fair Resources
History Fair Bibliographies
The History Fair bibliographies are lists of publications owned by the Chicago History Museum.
Online Catalog
You can prepare for your visit by searching our online catalog ARCHIE, and identifying books, manuscripts, photographs, and other material on your topic.
Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago
In addition to helpful background content, the electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago features numerous primary source materials drawn from the Museum's collection.
Chicago Daily News Database
Photographs in the Chicago Daily News collection, 1902–1933, are included in our online catalog, and can be searched by keyword, including street and community names. Use the "limit by" feature and select "Chicago Daily News images" from the drop-down menu.
> Search for Chicago Daily News images in our online catalog
History Files
The History Files website provides stories, images, and artifacts from some of Chicago's most memorable people and events.
> Visit the History Files website
The Dramas of Haymarket
The Dramas of Haymarket examines the circumstances and the legacy surrounding the 1886 Haymarket bombing.
> Visit The Dramas of Haymarket website
The Haymarket Affair Digital Collection provides on-line access to primary source materials.
> View the Haymarket Affair Digital Collection
> Search the Haymarket Affair Digital Collection
The Great Chicago Fire and the Web of Memory
This two-part online exhibition uses images, essays, eyewitness accounts, and artifacts to tell the story of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and examine the ways in which the fire has been remembered.
> Visit The Great Chicago Fire and the Web of Memory website
Louis Sullivan at 150
Access the audio recordings of presentations given at the 2006 Louis Sullivan at 150 International Symposium, held at the Chicago History Museum.
> Visit the Louis Sullivan at 150 website
Studs Terkel
The Studs Terkel Conversations with America website is dedicated to making the works of Studs Terkel accessible to researchers, students, teachers, and the general public.
> Visit the Studs Terkel website
Wet With Blood
Wet With Blood focuses on an artifact found in the Chicago History Museum's collection, a cloak allegedly worn by Mary Todd Lincoln on the evening her husband Abraham was assassinated in April 1865.