A Couple of Chicago Drive Byes

(March 30, 2018) Chicago, Illinois

I joined my family in Chicago again this year for Passover Seder. Having some personal time on a Windy City Good Friday I soloed into the city to scout out some history.

First stop was at the Pritzker Military Museum and Library directly across Michigan Avenue from the Art Institute of Chicago. I was aware but not familiar with the PMML. Several months ago, when surfing the Internet stalking my Gettysburg battlefield guide, Ed Bearss, I found an enlightening video interview of Ed by author – historian, David Hackett Fischer. The video was produced by this unique museum. The Bearss’ interview was first class.

Upon investigation, I learned the video was among an archive of nearly eight hundred videos the PMML has produced. Access to the videos is largely limited to Museum members. Entry level annual membership is $25.00 and well worth the investment. Besides Internet access to the videos, the basic membership includes free admission, borrowing privileges, frequent newsletters, and admission to some lectures and events. Admission without membership is $5.00, though complimentary to students, members of the Armed Forces, and Veterans

The museum's website indicates that free tours of the museum are offered at 11:00am each day. I presented myself for the tour and was instructed a guide would join me shortly. My guide was Paul Grasmehr, a reference coordinator. Paul was knowledgeable, a Bobby Britannica. The museum and library was founded in 2003 and endowed by Colonel Jennifer Pritzker, one of several heirs to the Hyatt Hotels. The museum and library are first class and reflect the deep pockets and deep character of the Colonel. My guide pointed out financially the goal was to make the institution self-sustaining over time. 

Physically the exhibits and library are located on the second and third floors of the historic Monroe Building. The building was constructed in 1912 primarily for use by doctors and architects. Because of those occupations need for light, the building’s dominant architectural feature is large windows. The penthouse of the Monroe Building was first occupied by Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural firm; though Wright personally worked out of his home and studio in Oak Park. When the Pritzker interests purchased the building, they completely restored the Monroe Building. The finishes are beautiful. The library’s environment is elegant in a pristine kind of way yet comfortable and inviting for study.

The museum and library “is dedicated to improving the public understanding of military history.” Their mission is to collect, preserve, and share this history. Their scope includes the entire history of military engagement and affairs, though there is an added emphasis on Colonel Pritzker’s Illinois National Guard.

The Library’s initial collection of about 7,500 volumes related to military or historic subjects was contributed by the Pritzker family from their private libraries. Today the collection includes 32,000 volumes, 33,000 artifacts, and an extensive collection of 3,000 military posters.

Putting my family aside being in the library is practically enough to make me want to move to Chicago. What a great place to hang out. The welcoming and beautiful reading room with many current periodicals relating to history, a research room with carrels, a staff librarian to assist you with research requests, and a library at your disposal with thousands of volumes. 

The good news is you can almost fully utilize the PMML remotely. In addition to their wonderful video archives, you can access the library’s excellent website that includes extensive digital materials. Physical books can be checked out to members through interlibrary loan with your local public library, excepting their rare book collection. Research assistance is also available by telephone and I presume email.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention an important service the PMML offers, their Veterans Information Center. The center has information services available to assist Veterans. These services include: Leadership opportunities, resources for families, information on benefits including health and education assistance, career opportunities, with a special focus on information services for women veterans.

My tour lasted over two hours and was extensive. Hitting the highlights: The facilities include a fully equipped oral history studio, a beautiful intimate 116 seat auditorium, rare books storage, an event space that doubles as display space, a kitchen to service special events, library stacks, rare books storage, and offices to support their mission. The PMML has 23 employees. My guide informed me the most popular subjects of interest by patrons are the Civil War and World War II.

Displayed throughout the library are many of their artifacts, posters, paintings and photographs.

The Museum has a permanent display honoring America’s Medal of Honor recipients. Currently their primary exhibit is “Lest We Forget” commemorating the 100^th anniversary of the end of World War I. The event space contained an interesting exhibit detailing Illinois role in World War I. Future exhibits being researched and planned are: World War II Prisoners of War with a focus on downed aviators and an exhibit spotlighting Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist, Bill Mauldin. Mauldin who had a strong Chicago connection was famous for his World War II reporting containing depictions of Willie and Joe, two average GIs. 

My personal favorites were a beautifully focused print of the famous photograph of the Marines raising the American flag at Iwo Jima inscribed to Major Pritzker by the photographer, Joe Rosenthal; an autographed first edition of “Heart of the Antarctica – Volume 1”, autographed in 1911 by Sir Ernest Shackleton; and the Journals of Captain James Cook’s Voyages.

If you have an interest in the military or American history, the Pritzker Library is a great resource.

After a quick lunch, I stopped at a quaint depository of American history, the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, in Chicago’s River West neighborhood, just west of downtown. 

The shop is an affiliate of a frequent blog I visit, Author’s Voice. This showroom of rare books is a stronghold for anyone interested in American history and more specifically Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. The shop also has a large selection of Lincoln collectibles and memorabilia (which they term Lincolniana) for sale.

The book shop is essentially a suite of offices located on the first floor in a contemporary small office building. To gain access to the temple you must be buzzed through two security checkpoints. Their space contains three large offices on the perimeter for their staff of combination sales agent / appraiser / curator / administrators. The center of the space is dominated with a large approximately 1200 square foot for display. Most of the space is occupied by shelving with books they have for sale. The balance of the sales floor contains photographs, prints, documents, sculpture, and other Lincoln, political, or historical memorabilia.

Many of their books are out of print, many are first editions, and many are signed (occasionally personalized) by their authors, subjects, or someone connected to the subject. My estimate is they have 3,000 volumes, maybe more. Their primary subject of course is the Railsplitter. Lincoln sub categories include the Assassination and Mary Todd Lincoln. The Civil War section is extensive with special sections for U. S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. Other principal subject areas include the Presidents and Americana.

I was assisted by an extremely well-informed staff member, Bjorn Skaptason, who made many suggestions, and was more than gracious indulging my questioning. Bjorn also is the executive producer of Author’s Voice.”

There were many intriguing items but unfortunately, they are a commercial establishment not a lending library. The least expensive item I had an interest in was a biography of poet Carl Sandburg authored by Harry Golden. The first edition was signed by both Sandburg and Golden. The asking price for this gem was $145. As we say in South Dakota, “spendy.”

Other items catching my eye were “Beauregard in Mexico” written by T. Harry Williams and “Partisan Life with Col. John S. Mosby” written by John Scott in 1867 ($495.)

The Lincoln Book Shop was a small cherry garnish on top of my large Pritzker ice cream sundae.