Special Collections and University Archives, UIC

This is the blog of the Special Collections and University Archives department (SCUA) at the University of Illinois at Chicago, which aims to share our five divisions (rare books, manuscripts, library of the health sciences, maps, and university archives), as well as SCUA news and events. SCUA can be contacted via our website at http://library.uic.edu/collections/special-collections-university-archives. Any materials provided are for personal or scholarly use and you are responsible for obtaining copyright permissions for any further use of any materials provided. Ask A Librarian: http://library.uic.edu/contact var sc_project=9370719; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_security="67e9705e"; var scJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://secure." : "http://www."); document.write("");

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#World’s Fair Wednesday

It's 'curtains' for those familiar, old, green Pullman curtains. They're out. This photo posed to show the new arrangement in the flashing, 110-miles-an-hour, all-aluminum streamlined Pullman Pacific train which is being exhibited at the World's Fair of 1934 in Chicago. Just close the aluminum door and presto, it's a nice private drawing room, convenient and homelike even if it was just a Pullman section during the daytime.

To find out more about the Century of Progress World’s Fair that took place in Chicago in 1933-34, visit the Century of Progress collection finding aids or check out other photos in this digital collection: Images of Progress: Views from A Century of Progress International Exposition, 1933-1934.  

[COP_17_0006_00235_006], Century of Progress Records, 1927-1952, University of Illinois at Chicago Library.

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#World’s Fair Wednesday

Helena Rubenstein, international beauty authority, gets a glimpse of the beauty that is A Century of Progress through a window in the ultra-modernistic Trustees' room of the Administration building. Her guide, who is pointing out the sights, is Lucia Lewis.

To find out more about the Century of Progress World’s Fair that took place in Chicago in 1933-34, visit the Century of Progress collection finding aids or check out other photos in this digital collection: Images of Progress: Views from A Century of Progress International Exposition, 1933-1934.  

[COP_17_0006_00249_015], Century of Progress Records, 1927-1952, University of Illinois at Chicago Library.

[uicspecialcollections]

#World’s Fair Wednesday

Herbert Laufman, 13, of Houston, Texas, is showing his fellow townsman, Ervin Lee Stein, 11, just how the model "L" cars operate at the Rapid Transit exhibit in the Hall of Science at the World's Fair in Chicago. The two boys visited A Century of Progress as guests of the Houston Examiner.

To find out more about the Century of Progress World’s Fair that took place in Chicago in 1933-34, visit the Century of Progress collection finding aids or check out other photos in this digital collection: Images of Progress: Views from A Century of Progress International Exposition, 1933-1934.  

[COP_17_0004_00133_001], Century of Progress Records, 1927-1952, University of Illinois at Chicago Library.

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#World’s Fair Wednesday

George Blagden, husky long distance swimmer, who represented the Junior Chamber of Commerce of Memphis, Tenn., in the 15 mile marathon grind at A Century of Progress in 1933, finishing second to Marvin Nelson, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, is out to capture the championship event when it is again staged on Sunday, July 22nd, at the World's Fair in Chicago. Nelson set a new American record of 7 hours, 22 minutes and 24 3-5 seconds to lead Blagden across the finishing line. Blagden is reported in great trim for the grueling battle. The race is sponsored by William Randolph Hearst, who has posted a purse of $10,000, the winner to receive $5,000.The race will start at the Seventy-ninth Street beach on Chicago's south side, with the course laid along the shore line of Lake Michigan and the last seven miles to be swum in the World's Fair Lagoon.

To find out more about the Century of Progress World’s Fair that took place in Chicago in 1933-34, visit the Century of Progress collection finding aids or check out other photos in this digital collection: Images of Progress: Views from A Century of Progress International Exposition, 1933-1934.  

[COP_17_0002_00035_002], Century of Progress Records, 1927-1952, University of Illinois at Chicago Library.

[uicspecialcollections]

#World’s Fair Wednesday

Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr., son of the President, pays a visit to the International World Clock at the New World's Fair. Left to right: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr.; F.L. Wessen, International Business Machines representative, in which exhibit the clock is located; Donald E. Jackson of Providence R.I., companion of Franklin; and C.W. Hope, in charge of the exhibit.

To find out more about the Century of Progress World’s Fair that took place in Chicago in 1933-34, visit the Century of Progress collection finding aids or check out other photos in this digital collection: Images of Progress: Views from A Century of Progress International Exposition, 1933-1934.  

[COP_17_0004_00146_003], Century of Progress Records, 1927-1952, University of Illinois at Chicago Library.

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#World’s Fair Wednesday

Bud Fisher who climbs the high flag poles on the Avenue of Flags at A Century of Progress, gives the crowds there a real thrill when he poises as for a dive to the asphalt 90 feet below him, on the top rung of the Mack fire truck extension ladder. He performs thrilling feats on the ladder daily when not busy with the flags.

To find out more about the Century of Progress World’s Fair that took place in Chicago in 1933-34, visit the Century of Progress collection finding aids or check out other photos in this digital collection: Images of Progress: Views from A Century of Progress International Exposition, 1933-1934.  

[COP_17_0002_00031_001], Century of Progress Records, 1927-1952, University of Illinois at Chicago Library.

[uicspecialcollections]

#World’s Fair Wednesday

Built to demonstrate the use of light as an architectural element in the appearance of buildings, this model city in the General Electric exhibit at A Century of Progress is complete to the stalled automobile being towed to a nearby garage.

To find out more about the Century of Progress World’s Fair that took place in Chicago in 1933-34, visit the Century of Progress collection finding aids or check out other photos in this digital collection: Images of Progress: Views from A Century of Progress International Exposition, 1933-1934.  

[COP_17_0001_00014_001], Century of Progress Records, 1927-1952, University of Illinois at Chicago Library.

[uicspecialcollections]

#World’s Fair Wednesday

From left to right: Wallace Sample, Cyril Hill, Mrs. W.B. Wilson, Mrs. W.T. Hall, Mrs. D. Q. Wilson and D. Q. Wilson are shown in the exhibit of the Oriental Institute in the Hall of Social Science on Northerly Island at A Century of Progress. They are inspecting a mummy which is believed to date from the 7th century B.C. Portions of the mummy's wrappings have been cut away so that visitors to this popular exhibit may see the method used by the ancients in wrapping the mummies. The specimen is loaned by the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago.

To find out more about the Century of Progress World’s Fair that took place in Chicago in 1933-34, visit the Century of Progress collection finding aids or check out other photos in this digital collection: Images of Progress: Views from A Century of Progress International Exposition, 1933-1934.  

[COP_17_0003_00086_001], Century of Progress Records, 1927-1952, University of Illinois at Chicago Library.

[uicspecialcollections]

#World’s Fair Wednesday

Championship Fair-goer Gets Season Ticket No. 1 for 1934. Mrs. Ruby Phelps, 5301 Kimbark Avenue, Chicago, shown buying ticket from Martin M. Tveter, Comptroller of A Century of Progress. She attended the Fair 147 times in 1933.

To find out more about the Century of Progress World’s Fair that took place in Chicago in 1933-34, visit the Century of Progress collection finding aids or check out other photos in this digital collection: Images of Progress: Views from A Century of Progress International Exposition, 1933-1934.  

[COP_17_0004_00151_001], Century of Progress Records, 1927-1952, University of Illinois at Chicago Library.

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UIC Special Collections and University Archives temporarily closing for upgrades!

UIC Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) in the Richard J. Daley Library will be closed for equipment and storage upgrades from Oct. 18, 2018 to Jan. 13, 2019.

We apologize for the inconvenience, as we know that we are here to facilitate your research. Once we complete these upgrades, our library and public services will operate more efficiently.

Limited online reference services will be available. 

We may not be able to fulfill photocopy/scan/high resolution requests from materials in the Daley Library SCUA.

The SCUA reading room in UIC’s Library of the Health Sciences-Chicago will remain open for researchers who need to use rare books, manuscripts and university archives related to the health sciences.

Please ask us if you have any questions!

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Just a reminder that the Special Collections and University Archives in the Richard J. Daley Library will be closed until January 13, 2019. 

The Special Collections and University Archives at UIC’s Health Sciences Library will remain open as usual.

[uicspecialcollections]

#World’s Fair Wednesday

A talking kitchen which explains itself, a working kitchen where meals are prepared, and between them a planning room where modern electric kitchens are designed represent the General Electric Kitchen Institute in the company's exhibit at A Century of Progress.

To find out more about the Century of Progress World’s Fair that took place in Chicago in 1933-34, visit the Century of Progress collection finding aids or check out other photos in this digital collection: Images of Progress: Views from A Century of Progress International Exposition, 1933-1934.  

[COP_17_0001_00014_011], Century of Progress Records, 1927-1952, University of Illinois at Chicago Library.

[uicspecialcollections]

#World’s Fair Wednesday

Ahead of schedule, all exhibits of Ford and twenty-one co-exhibitors are en route for their new home in the Ford Exhibition Building at A Century of Progress, Ford officials announced Saturday. Above, a 15-ton rubber mill, to show the 'how' of rubber-making to an estimated attendance of 25,000,000 begins its last stage of the journey to the World Fair's summer home.

To find out more about the Century of Progress World’s Fair that took place in Chicago in 1933-34, visit the Century of Progress collection finding aids or check out other photos in this digital collection: Images of Progress: Views from A Century of Progress International Exposition, 1933-1934.  

[COP_17_0001_00018_008], Century of Progress Records, 1927-1952, University of Illinois at Chicago Library.

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View the exhibit "Chicago Alert! The City Plans for Atomic Attack" in Special Collections at UIC with a special (free!)  tour and discussion of items on display and see additional artifacts on how to survive nuclear war in Chicago that are not part of the public exhibit.

This event is tomorrow, October 10, 3:00 - 4:30 pm, in the Special Collections and University Archives, Third floor, 801 S Morgan St. Chicago, IL 60607. Click the link to register!

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UIC Special Collections and University Archives temporarily closing for upgrades!

UIC Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) in the Richard J. Daley Library will be closed for equipment and storage upgrades from Oct. 18, 2018 to Jan. 13, 2019.

We apologize for the inconvenience, as we know that we are here to facilitate your research. Once we complete these upgrades, our library and public services will operate more efficiently.

Limited online reference services will be available. 

We may not be able to fulfill photocopy/scan/high resolution requests from materials in the Daley Library SCUA.

The SCUA reading room in UIC’s Library of the Health Sciences-Chicago will remain open for researchers who need to use rare books, manuscripts and university archives related to the health sciences.

Please ask us if you have any questions!

[uicspecialcollections]

#World’s Fair Wednesday

The Monforte Sisters (the four women playing the instruments standing towards the rear left) perform at the Century of Progress Italian Village.

To find out more about the Century of Progress World’s Fair that took place in Chicago in 1933-34, visit the Century of Progress collection finding aids or check out other photos in this digital collection: Images of Progress: Views from A Century of Progress International Exposition, 1933-1934.  

[COP_17_0001_00019_029], Century of Progress Records, 1927-1952, University of Illinois at Chicago Library.

[uicspecialcollections]

#World’s Fair Wednesday

Pottery artist working at the Century of Progress Mexican Village.

To find out more about the Century of Progress World’s Fair that took place in Chicago in 1933-34, visit the Century of Progress collection finding aids or check out other photos in this digital collection: Images of Progress: Views from A Century of Progress International Exposition, 1933-1934.  

[COP_17_0001_00019_024], Century of Progress Records, 1927-1952, University of Illinois at Chicago Library.

[uicspecialcollections]

#World’s Fair Wednesday

Sarita Valiente, 10 year old visitor from Havana, Cuba, with both hands clutching nickels, is well prepared for her Children's Day visit to the Chicago World's Fair. A nickel is all it takes for anyone under 12 to pass practically any ticket office on the grounds that day. She is shown here in front of the Puerto Rican exhibit in the Court of States to which she paid a neighborly visit. Little Sarita is a niece of Guillermo Valiente, recently appointed Cuban vice-consul to Chicago.

To find out more about the Century of Progress World’s Fair that took place in Chicago in 1933-34, visit the Century of Progress collection finding aids or check out other photos in this digital collection: Images of Progress: Views from A Century of Progress International Exposition, 1933-1934.  

[COP_17_0004_00118_001], Century of Progress Records, 1927-1952, University of Illinois at Chicago Library.