Photographs from the Chicago Daily News, 1902-1933
In a hurry? Save or print these Collection Connections as a single file.
Go directly to the collection, Photographs from the Chicago Daily News, 1902-1933, in American Memory, or view a Summary of Resources related to the collection.
Historical Research Capabilities
This collection provides researchers with a wealth of raw material in the form of photographs that can be used to enhance the study of social and political history during the Progressive Era. Although the overwhelming majority of the photographs focus on Chicago and its environs, they reflect virtually all aspects of life in the first generation of the twentieth century and, as such, mirror the nation at large.
Specific topics that may be researched in this collection include the Eastland disaster, the Chicago race riots of 1919, and the famous trial of Leopold and Loeb.
On July 24, 1915, thousands of employees and their families gathered along the Chicago River for the Western Electric's annual picnic. Families boarded the S.S. Eastland to cross Lake Michigan for the picnic and festivities to be held in Michigan City, Indiana. Over 800 people, including 22 entire families, lost their lives when the Eastland rolled over at the wharf in the Chicago River. Search on Eastland for over 100 photographs of the Eastland disaster.
Search on Chicago race riot for photographs following the riots of what James Weldon Johnson called "The Red Summer" of 1919. Images document heightened security and the destruction of property left in the wake of the riot, which lasted from July 27 to August 8. The noted American poet Carl Sandburg, on the staff of the Daily News during riot, reported on the uprising in a front page article published in the July 28 issue of the newspaper.
Continue your research outside of the collection to learn more about the causes of the riot.
- What were the long term causes of the Chicago race riot?
- What were the immediate causes of the riot?
Search on Leopold and Loeb for photographs relating to the "trial of the century," in which two extremely bright but mislead scholars, Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, were sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping and murdering the 14 year-old son of a prominent Chicago family. Photographs include an image of the ransom letter in the murder case, police photographs of the defendants, and a portrait of defense attorney Clarence Darrow, who gave a heroic, twelve-hour summation against the death penalty.