The Encyclopedia of Chicago (Hardcover)

by James R. Grossman (Editor), Ann Durkin Keating (Editor), Janice L. Reiff (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
*Starred Review* Developed over the last 10 years by the Newberry Library with the cooperation of the Chicago Historical Society, the monumental Encyclopedia of Chicago will be the definitive historical reference source on Chicago for years to come. Funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the John D and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the City of Chicago, the state of Illinois, and three major Chicago corporations helped ensure a very reasonable price. Some 633 experts from across the U.S. wrote the more than 1,400 entries. The encyclopedia is enhanced with numerous photos, engravings, and maps.

Entries treat such topics as Acting, ensemble; Agrarian movements; Annexation; Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Literary images of Chicago; Machine politics; and much, much more. Besides encompassing Chicago history, ethnic groups, businesses, cultural institutions, sports, crime, architecture, religions, and other topics, the editors wanted to have the broadest geographic coverage. In addition to the 77 recognized Chicago neighborhoods, 298 suburban municipalities in the six surrounding counties in northern Illinois and two in northern Indiana are covered. Biographical entries of prominent Chicagoans are not included since these would duplicate information in such readily available sources as the American National Biography (Oxford, 1999) and Woman Building Chicago, 1790-1990 (Indiana Univ., 2001). Instead there is a "Biographical Dictionary" at the end of the book that lists 2,000 deceased Chicagoans with short entries noting birth, death, and occupation. There is also a separate "Dictionary of Leading Chicago Businesses, 1820-2000" that offers brief historical summaries for 236 for-profit companies. Important companies are also discussed in entries on significant industry sectors such as Clothing and garment manufacturing, Department stores, Iron and steel, and transportation. These entries are very detailed and give a complete history of each industry and its place in Chicago.

The encyclopedia is set up in an A-Z format with three types of entries--broad essays of 1,000 to 4,000 words, midlevel entries of 200 to 1,000 words, and basic entries of 200 words. The broad essays give an overview and synthesize scholarship on a subject, while the basic entries focus on a specific event or institution and give brief information to identify what it is and why it is important. The midlevel entries are meant to fill in the gaps left by the broad essays and give more analysis than is found in the basic entries. All entries are signed and cross-referenced and list a bibliography of related books and articles for further reading. The work also features 21 long interpretative essays that reflect recent scholarship in urban history (for example, Racism, ethnicity, and white identity; Street life); numerous sidebars that offer varying viewpoints on different topics; a time line of Chicago history; a list of Chicago mayors; historical population statistics for all municipalities; several inserts with color photos and maps; and a comprehensive 60-page index. Fifty-six maps cover topics such as blues clubs in Chicago, Chicago's Deep Tunnel system, Indian settlement patterns in 1830, street railways in 1890, and movie theaters in Chicago in 1926, 1937, and 2002. A notable feature of the volume is the 400 thumbnail maps that show where each municipality and neighborhood is located in the Chicagoland region.

The scope of entries and their readability make the encyclopedia outstanding. All ideas, facts, people, and places are explained fully and in terms high-school and general readers can understand. This is a superb ready-reference work on Chicago, a good starting point for students doing research, and just a wonderful book to browse through. There is no other source that contains the breadth and depth of information found here. The Encyclopedia of Chicago is a must purchase for every academic, public, and school library in Illinois. Academic and large public libraries across the U.S. will want it as well. Merle Jacob
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
Remarkable. . . . . easily the most comprehensive reference book on the Chicago region ever published. -- Chicago Sun Times, September 9, 2004

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1104 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press; 1 edition (October 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226310159
• ISBN-13: 978-0226310152
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.8 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #358,532 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captures the size, wonder, and complexity of the metropolis, September 16, 2004

By	Jonathan E. Bruner (Chicago) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This encyclopedia is a joint effort of the Newberry Library and the Chicago Historical Society, two organizations eminently qualified to condense one of the greatest cities in the world into a single volume. Each page holds a plethora of memory-worthy facts. Maps and diagrams both small and large abound that describe everything from racial distributions to abandoned coal-delivery infrastructure. Scattered among the main entries are special-interest boxes with passages from qualified commentators-- see especially the discussion of the meaning of "downstate" written by former governor James Thompson.

Each of the Chicago area's myriad neighborhoods and localities gets its own detailed entry, including a locator map, that discusses history and present disposition. These are joined by longer discussions of the great social changes that have taken place in Chicago over the years as well as case studies of several neighborhoods that include extensive graphic explanations.

Though it is laid out alphabetically like any other encyclopedia, this volume is a pleasure to browse. A wander through its pages is facilitated by a helpful system of references set into the text and cross-listings provided at the end of each article.

If you've ever walked (or driven, or taken the El over) the streets of Chicago and wondered what's under, over, and around you, you'll become absorbed by this book. What's more, the next time you walk through the city, you'll do so with a more thorough understanding of what you're experiencing.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars From a fellow author, January 29, 2006

By	Karen Kruse "Firehouse Author" (Glenview, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am very interested in Chicago history (being the author of "A Chicago Firehouse: Stories of Wrigleyville's Engine 78) myself. The "Encyclopedia of Chicago" has some great information, but I found some of the places it was listed as confusing. This is a HUGE undertaking and realize pulling all that information together was not an easy project, however, I felt some entries should have been included under their own headings, such as Biograph Theater or John Dillinger. Even so, I learned a multitude of information and enjoyed reading through the volume. It will be kept on my reference shelf for many years to come.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The absolute best book on Chicago, May 9, 2006

By	Jeremy C (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This book is amazing. It is, by far, the most complete compedium on all things Chicago that there is.
Many of the entries are brief, but some major topics get full essay treatment. The section on architecture is a fantastic introduction to the architectural history of Chicago.

This is an encyclopedia, and therefore it contains information on a huge range of topics, but is not exceptionally detailed. It does provide reference to related topics within the book, and it provides a number of sources for further reading.

The book employees many excellent charts and maps, as well as a very thorough timeline on the history of this city.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves this great city and wants to know more.