EXHIBIT – UNDER STUDY: THE HISTORY OF THE NEAR WEST SIDE IN MAPS AND PHOTOGRAPHS

The history can be read in the maps and photographs that document the neighborhood which began as empty land on the edge of Chicago.
The exhibit was organized into the following categories of maps and photographs.
Rise and Fall of The West Side “Gold Coast”
Glossop’s West Division Guide Map which shows the intense business center and fashionable residence districts locating the parks, churches, public and private institution, railroad depots, hotels, prominent business houses, leading manufacturers, etc.
The Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad Map with location of railroad and names of the stations. This map shows branches to and from which trains run identified as Logan square, Humboldt Park, Garfield Park, and Douglas Park.
City of Chicago Map showing the Boulevards and map system, and the Twelve Miles of Lake Frontage of the city engraved by Rand, McNally and co. This map highlights Lakeview and Jefferson Park on the North side; Central Park, Humboldt Park, and Douglas Park on the West Side; Hyde Park, South Park, and Oakwoods on the South Side.
Living In The Neighborhood
In 1901, the City Homes Association founded by reformers interested in urban housing, published Tenement Conditions in Chicago. The study examined the housing in three Chicago neighborhoods including the Near West Side. The map and photographs in this category show the comparison of ground area occupied by houses and yards of rich and poor families in Chicago.
Mapping Morality
Map of Chicago’s Gangland prepared by Fredrick M. Thrasher. Map of 19th Precinct, First Ward Chicago bounded by Harrison, Dearborn, Polk Street, and Clark.
A Tour of Near West Side
This map highlights Fulton Colored District, Medical School District, Little Italy, Jewish District, Pilsen, Red Belt, Factory Zone, Fulton Market, and Greek district. Within this category was the map of Medical Center of Chicago which covers UIC Medical Center.
Regenerating Chicago
Map of Near West Side Conservation Project showing boundary within Ashland Avenue, Morgan Street, Van Buren Street, and Roosevelt Road.
Growing Pains
Great Fire of 1871- Following the great fire of 1871, publishers compiled real estate atlases to both encourage and to document the rapid growth of the city. The map of Chicago showing the burnt district, it reflects that there was more damage in downtown area.
At the Festival of Maps program, the UIC Library Curator gave an opening speech and introduced the speakers. She described map as a visual representation of an area, it is a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of a space. She said maps are very useful, they are used by urban planners and developers, they are used as learning aids in classrooms, etc. She talked about the creation of UIC Map Section by the support of Newberry Library.
Dr. Robert W Karrow He talked about the exhibit; Bringing “Maps” to Chicago. He talked about how he has been instrumental in the organization as well as collecting maps from Europe and all over the United States for the show.
The idea of map exhibit originated from “The World Encompassed” held in Baltimore in 1952. Dr Karrow worked with Jim to compile the list of maps for the exhibit. They traveled all around to borrow and gather maps from various museums and universities in England, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Washington DC, California, Maryland, Boston and Newberry Library, Chicago was the greatest lender to the exhibit.
He also spoke about the process of packing maps. 130 items from 65 institutions all over the country; supervised by Field Museum Curator. Maps were kept in wooden boxes and accompanied with instructions on storage conditions from light and required temperature.
Prof Gerald Danzer
He spoke on “What Do Maps Teach Us?”
He worked on collection of 36 Chicago maps and compiled them into a book titled Chicago’s Historic Maps. He talked about how to turn a map into historical document; this is achieved when you make a map teach something.
Graphs were organized chronologically by decades in his book.
Two types of map.
Small scale – covers a large area.
Large scale – covers a small area.
The Chicago River flows backwards.
X mark in graph, indicates that the building houses animal.
He spoke about turning land into a commodity, adding value to land.