CHICAGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Programs
Chicago History Education Programs
EDUCATION AND AUDIENCE - At the heart of the Chicago History Museum's mission to connect people to Chicago's history and each other, is our commitment to design and offer meaningful and relevant programs, resources, and experiences within and beyond the museum walls. We strive to empower and inspire learners of all ages and backgrounds to investigate Chicago's rich histories and nurture their curiosity and potential to be active history makers. Through rich and diverse educational experiences and programs, we hope to inspire lifelong learning and contribute to shaping an urban society that is inclusive, empathetic, and aware of its power to learn from and make history and influence positive change for future generations. In FY22, a set of key programming and learning guidelines was established to ensure departmental learning was in alignment with CHM's institutional mission, contemporary museum learning discourse, and the nuanced needs of the groups the department serves. These guidelines required programming to be learner-centered, culturally responsive, inquiry and civic-minded, and actively anti-racist; allowing audiences to see themselves in history and make meaningful connections to their lives and Chicago.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2021 – Jun 30, 2022Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$6.1MResearch and Collections Access
COLLECTIONS AND RESEARCH CHM houses a premier collection, estimated at 25 million objects, documents and images, including an unparalleled set of materials pertaining to Abraham Lincoln; one of the largest and most significant costume collections in the world; the Hedrich Blessing architecture photography collection; the photo morgues of the Chicago Daily News and the Chicago Sun-Times newspapers; color works by Vivan Maier; and the complete library of Studs Terkel's WFMT interviews. CHM seeks to maximize the discoverability of its collections, making primary source material available to researchers. Our onsite vehicle for public access is the Research Center, a non-circulating library of publications, images, documents, and artifacts, which served nearly 4,000 patrons in 2021. CHM's website introduces hundreds of thousands of annual online visitors to collection holdings and offers access to its Research Center staff, who address research inquiries. The Research Center also hosts hundreds of History Day students every season, who visit to conduct research on their selected topics.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2021 – Jun 30, 2022Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$1.7MChicago Historical Exhibitions
EXHIBITIONS CHM shares Chicago's stories, enabling visitors to explore historical themes and events and reflect on the city's diverse communities. CHM exhibits photos, videos, artifacts, and interactive displays that connect audiences to history. Exhibits are designed, fabricated, and installed according to national industry best practices and with an eye for innovative methods of interpretation. In addition to maintaining permanent exhibitions such as the landmark Chicago: Crossroads of America, Facing Freedom, and Sensing Chicago, CHM offered several temporary exhibitions in 2022. They include Remembering Dr. King: 1929-1968; Millions of Moments: the Chicago Sun-Times Photo Archive; Vivian Maier: In Color; and City on Fire: Chicago 1871, and Treasured Ten: Selections from the Costume Collection.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2021 – Jun 30, 2022Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$1.5M
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