Abakanowicz Research Center

The Chicago History Museum’s Abakanowicz Research Center is one of the premier research facilities in Chicago, and it carries on the tradition of serving the public the Chicago Historical Society established with its founding in 1856. The Gilpin Library, which opened as part of the Society’s new building designed by architect Henry Ives Cobb in 1896 at Dearborn and Ontario Streets, provided the public with an up-to-date research facility. The Society moved to its current location in Lincoln Park in 1932 into a building designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White featuring a museum and a library. In the early 2000s, the multiple reading rooms dedicated to specific collections were consolidated into the CHM Research Center.

In 2021, it was renamed and dedicated as the Abakanowicz Research Center after sculptor and artist Magdalena Abakanowicz. The naming acknowledges her commitment to truth and diversity in history and her deep association with the city of Chicago, where she is best known for her public work, Agora (2006), in Grant Park. The Archie Motley Reading Room of the Abakanowicz Research Center is named in honor of Archibald Motley, who was a staff member from 1955 to 2002 and served legions of researchers as the Museum’s archivist (1974–98).

Visitors to the Abakanowicz Research Center include authors; educators; independent scholars; photo researchers; members of the press; elementary and secondary school students (especially History Fair students); undergraduate and graduate students, including PhD candidates; architects; building developers; and family and house historians.

We are pleased to welcome authors; university and college teachers; independent scholars; photo researchers; members of the press; elementary and secondary school students; undergraduate and graduate students, including PhD candidates; architects; building developers; and family and house historians, among many others. Children under 6 will not be admitted.

We get this question often and we understand! We’ve made this decision because:

• Our staff deserves a safe and healthy workplace
• We want to welcome everyone, including folks with underlying
  health conditions and higher risk loved ones
• You may feel fine now, but things can change quickly
• Wearing a mask reduces exposure to dust particles from some
  of our older resources

We have a small team working in an enclosed space! We can’t keep our doors open and our hours regular if our staff is regularly getting sick. We love seeing our researchers but that comes with lots of exposure to germs.

The majority of our collections are housed outside of the Abakanowicz Research Center. See the Abakanowicz Research Center Guide for more details. Call slips are available on each table and should be filled out as completely as possible so that staff can retrieve the material. Material will not be paged after 2:30 p.m. on weekdays and 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

Some material, including color photographs, must be requested at least 48 hours in advance; a note in the catalog record will alert you to this type of restriction. Most of our material is fragile, so please respect the following policies: Pencils only. No food, drink, or gum.

Photocopying Fees
$.50/page
$.25/page for History Fair students
Please note: Photocopies will not be made of city directories, newspapers, scrapbooks, maps, color photographs, and original photographs created prior to 1900. Depending on demand, photocopies may not be available for same-day pick up.

Camera Use Policy
Researchers may photograph most Abakanowicz Research Center material. If you wish to use your camera, please notify an ARC staff member upon arrival. By registering, you agree to our Camera Use Policy.

If you have a group of high school, college, or graduate students who would like to learn about using the ARC for their research, our FAQ page has details about the on-site class orientation process. Learn more here.