First Illinois paperback, 2012
2008 by Cheryl R. Ganz
All rights reserved
Manufactured in the United States of America
1 2 3 4 5 C P 5 4 3 2 1
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ganz, Cheryl.
The 1933 Chicago Worlds Fair : century of progress / Cheryl R. Ganz.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13 978-0-252-03357-5 (cloth : alk. paper)
ISBN-10 0-252-03357-4 (cloth : alk. paper)
1. Century of Progress International Exposition
(193334 : Chicago, Ill.)History. I. Title.
T501.B1G356 2008
907.4'77311dc22 2008006403
PAPERBACK ISBN 978-0-252-07852-1
Uncredited images are from the authors collection.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
For twenty-five years I lived along Chicagos lakefront with a thirty-third-floor view overlooking the site of the 193334 Chicago worlds fair. I found inspiration in the city, its skyline, and its people every day. Perry Duis, Richard John, and Margaret Strobel have each provided me with guidance, encouragement, and support, challenging and changing my thinking and my writing as I worked on this book. Susan Levine and John DEmilio broadened my horizons with their insights. For additional intellectual support and encouragement I thank Michael Alexander, Eric Arnesen, Manfred Bauer, Jen Boyle, Dorothy Crombie, Tom Crouch, Pete Daniel, Ron Davies, Roberta Feldman, Kathy Franz, Jim Hill, Melvin Holli, Thomas Hughes, Anne Meis Knupfer, Dieter Leder, Mike Leiderman, Miriam Levin, Ted Light, Sonya Michel, Don and Margit Naden, Bessie Neal, Sean M. OConnor, Rick Rann, Christopher Reed, Leo Schelbert, Lisa Schrenk, Todd Shuman, John Staudenmaier, Gordon Vaeth, Linda Van Puyenbroeck, Lynn Weiner, and especially Bonnie Campbell Lilienfeld and Art Molella.
I am indebted to those who extended financial assistance. The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), the UIC History Department, the UIC Gender and Womens Studies Program, and the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum supported my research through fellowships, assistantships, and travel grants. It was inspirational to work one year in Jane Addamss office at Hull-House. The UIC Deans Scholar Fellowship allowed me to use the Jefferson Room at the Library of Congress as my research cubicle, which was truly historian heaven. A fellowship at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, was a research dream come true. The Lemelson Center at the National Museum of American History and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency further supported my research travels. The UIC Graduate College, the UIC Graduate Student Council, the Midwest Art History Society, the Society for the History of Technology, and the Business History Conference supported travel to present my research at conferences in the United States, France, Germany, and Mexico. The Folger Shakespeare Library provided repeated access to housing in a setting with dynamic scholars. Most recently, Allen Kane of the Smithsonian Institutions National Postal Museum has supported my study.
I am grateful to those scholars who have researched international expositions and the 193334 Chicago worlds fair, A Century of Progress, as well as those who have written inspiring works on related topics and important themes, especially John E. Findling, Thomas Hughes, Lenox Lohr, Roland Marchand, David F. Noble, Ruth Oldenziel, Robert W. Rydell, Lisa Diane Schrenk, and John M. Staudenmaier.
The thrill of the hunt in an archive can be matched only by the dedication of outstanding resource specialists who surpass their job descriptions to assist the researcher. I am especially grateful to Patricia Bakunas, Mary Ann Bamberger, Carmen De Leon, Julia Hendry, and the entire staff at the Special Collections Department of the University Library at the University of Illinois at Chicago for unearthing many, many files and for making me feel like one of the family. Ana Ortiz in Interlibrary Loans at the University Library continued to amaze me when she filled my requests for obscure publications. John Fleckner, Venessa Broussard Simmons, and the staff at the Archives Center of the National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institution ensured my research would be productive and pleasurable. Cecilia Wertheimer gave me access to precious materials at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Mary Wilke, Center for Research Libraries at the University of Chicago, compiled a useful source list of the libraries collections. I am very grateful to Lesley Martin, who pointed out important collections and negotiated my entre to unprocessed files from the Sally Rand papers at the Chicago History Museum.
I am thankful to many others who shared images from their collections or archives to supplement the ephemera from my own collection, including Jim Adams, Barbara S. Evans, Linda Goes, Bud Graske, Norine McSweeney Murphy, Joan Reisig, and Gordon Vaeth. Howard and Betty Bauman were family friends, but only after their deaths did I learn from their daughter Barbara that Howard, a talented amateur photographer, had taken many wonderful photographs at the fair. I am grateful to Roger, Barbara, Tom, Bill, Carolyn, Nancy, and their families for making them available, and to Toms son, Sam, who scanned the original negatives.
It was a joy to work with the University of Illinois Press, and I especially appreciate the support and professionalism of Joan Catapano, Associate Director and Editor in Chief; Copenhaver Cumpston, Art Director; and Carol Betts, Associate Editor.
Underlying the professional assistance has been the unflagging loyalty of my family and friends. My parents, Donald and Daryl Johnson, not only modeled the work ethic and passion needed to sustain me in this mission but provided a writing environment on Washington Island, Wisconsin, that included Dads fresh-caught fish and Moms home cooking. Dan Portincaso gave me a tour of the Chicago Womans Club building (now owned by Columbia College). I am especially grateful to Barb Rykaczewski for her assistance in researching biographical information. My dear friend Patricia Haines did not live to see me finish my work, but she picked up mail, watered plants, and gave me sustenance as I researched this book. William Asher and Theresa Pfister served as my sounding boards for all kinds of issues. Eloise DeYoung proofread every draft of every chapter as I wrote my manuscript. She opened the world of grammar and syntax to me in new ways. Terry Sheahan joined me as my copy editor, writing coach, and intellectual sparring partner. Both a cheerleader and disciplinarian, she got me to the finish line. She shared my vision and helped bring it to life. My late husband, Felix, would have been so proud of my accomplishments. His voice was with me every step of the way. These and many other special people have inspired me and enriched my life immeasurably. Thank you.
