Chicago Public Library
Special Collections and Preservation Division
Neighborhood History Research Collection
Knowles Postcard Collection, c. 1890 – c. 1967
93 postcards, 3 postcard booklets
Call number: Archives_KPC
Scope and Content | Arrangement
Provenance | Access | Postcard Inventory
The Knowles Postcard Collection consists of over 100 color and black-and-white postcards of Chicago scenes dated from between c. 1890 and c. 1967. Areas of focus include scenes of Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue, the Water Tower, and O’Hare Airport. The collection includes postcards that are both stamped and addressed with a short note, and others which are blank, as well as three postcard booklets.
Postcards
The postcards are arranged by subject, then alphabetically by date. Subjects include: Business Establishments, Clubs and Organizations, Municipal Agencies, Museums, Parks, Religious Organizations, Residences, Schools, Streets, Transportation, and World Fairs. The postcard dates are taken from the print date of the postcards when possible, or from the postmark if no publication date is known.
Sarah Kathlane Baxter McCool and her daughter, JoAnn Baxter Zeisel, formed the original collection, which numbered between 8,000 and 10,000 postcards. Over 100 of these postcards are scenes of Chicago, and were donated to the Chicago Public Library by K. Johnson and Catherine Knowles, who inherited the collection in the 1990s.
The Knowles Postcard Collection is available to the public for research in the Special Collections and Preservation Division Reading Room on the 9th floor of the Chicago Public Library’s Harold Washington Library Center, 400 South State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60605. The collection does not circulate although photocopy services are available depending upon the condition of the materials. First time patrons to the Special Collections and Preservation Division Reading Room must present photo identification and complete a Reader Registration Form. Telephone inquiries on this collection and other Special Collections holdings can be directed to 312-747-4875.
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Business Establishments | |
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1.1 |
American Furniture Mart, n.d. |
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1.2 |
Blackstone Theatre, 1911 |
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1.3 |
Board of Trade, 1908 |
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2.2f |
Congress (Pick) Hotel, Greater Chicago, 1963 |
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2.1j |
Drake Hotel and Palmolive Building, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
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1.4 |
Drake Hotel, n.d. |
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1.5 |
Edgewater Beach Hotel, entrance, 1934 |
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1.6 |
Edgewater Beach Hotel, entrance, n.d. |
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1.7 |
Edgewater Beach Hotel, Beach Walk, n.d. (2 copies) |
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1.8 |
Edgewater Beach Hotel, Edgewater Beach Yacht Club, 1942, 1946 (2 copies) |
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1.9 |
Edgewater Beach Hotel, flower shop, n.d. |
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2.2e |
Hilton (Conrad) Hotel, Greater Chicago, 1963 |
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1.10 |
Hotel Kaiserhof, 1905 |
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1.11 |
Hotel Sheraton, Camelot Room, 1954 |
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1.12 |
John Hancock Center, n.d. |
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1.13 |
John Hancock Center, n.d. |
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1.14 |
Marshall Field and Co.’s Retail Store, 1917 |
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1.15 |
Merchandise Mart, n.d. |
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2.1i |
Merchandise Mart at dusk, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
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1.16 |
W. P. Nelson Company, salesroom, 1910 |
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1.17 |
News [Chicago Daily News] and Civic Opera Buildings, 1931 |
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1.18 |
Palmer House, n.d. |
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1.19 |
Palmer House, n.d. |
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2.2a |
Prudential Building, Greater Chicago, 1963 see also: Parks, Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain and Prudential Building, 1963, 1.60; Streets, Michigan Avenue (“The New Look”) showing Prudential Building, Art Institute of Chicago, Tribune Tower, n.d., 1.81; Parks, Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain |
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1.20 |
Record-Herald Building, 1908 |
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1.21 |
Riverview Park, Carasoul [sic] and Circle Swing, 1911 |
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1.22 |
Stock Yard Inn, n.d. |
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1.23 |
Tribune Tower, n.d. see also: Business Establishments, Wrigley [Building] and Tribune Towers, 1953, 1.25; Streets, Michigan Avenue (“The New Look”) showing Prudential Building, Art Institute of Chicago, Tribune Tower, n.d., 1.81 |
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1.24 |
Wellington Arms Hotel (2970 Sheridan Road), aeroplane view, n.d. |
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1.25 |
Wrigley [Building] and Tribune Towers, 1953 |
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2.1d |
Wrigley Building Reflections, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
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1.26 |
Union Stock Yards, 1951 |
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1.27 |
Y.M.C.A. Hotel, main lobby, n.d. |
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Clubs and Organizations | |
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1.28 |
Elk’s Memorial, n.d. |
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Municipal Agencies | |
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1.29 |
Chicago Public Library, n.d. |
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1.30 |
Civic Center, 1965 |
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1.31 |
New County Building, n.d. |
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1.32 |
New Court House n.d. |
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1.33 |
U.S. Court House, n.d. |
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1.34 |
McCormick Place, 1964 |
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1.35 |
McCormick Place, n.d. |
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1.36 |
New Post Office Building, 1912 |
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1.37 |
Water Works and Tower, 1905 |
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1.38 |
Chicago Avenue Water Tower (Palmolive Building in rear), 1941 |
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2.1g |
Old Water Tower, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
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1.39 |
Water Tower at night, 1964 |
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1.40 |
Old Water Tower at night, n.d. |
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1.41 |
Chicago Water Tower, n.d. |
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1.42 |
Water Tower, n.d. |
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1.43 |
Famed Water Tower, n.d. |
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1.44 |
Water Works, Chicago Avenue, 1890, 1904 (two postmarks) |
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1.45 |
Waterworks (North Station. Foot of Chicago Avenue), 1913 |
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1.46 |
Chicago Avenue Pumping Station, n.d. |
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1.47 |
University of Illinois at Navy Pier, U. S. Naval Reserve Training Center, 1954 |
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Museums | |
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1.48 |
Adler Planetarium and Astronomical Museum, 1941 |
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1.49 |
Adler Planetarium, n.d. |
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2.2c |
Art Institute – Chicago, Greater Chicago, 1963 see also: Streets, Michigan Avenue (“The New Look”) showing Prudential Building, Art Institute of Chicago, Tribune Tower, n.d., 1.81 |
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2.2l |
Field Museum of Natural History, Greater Chicago, 1963 |
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1.50 |
[Field Museum] Museum of Natural History, 1964 |
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1.51 |
Field Museum, n.d. |
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1.52 |
Field Museum of Natural History, n.d. |
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2.1h |
Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
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1.53 |
Museum of Science and Industry, n.d. |
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1.54 |
Museum of Science and Industry, n.d. |
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1.55 |
Shedd Aquarium, 1953 |
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1.56 |
Shedd Aquarium, n.d. |
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Parks | |
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1.57 |
Coliseum, 1913 |
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1.58 |
Coliseum, n.d. |
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1.59 |
Grant Park and Outer Drive, 1947 |
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1.60 |
Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain and Prudential Building, 1963 |
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2.2g |
Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain and Prudential Building, Greater Chicago, 1963 |
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1.61 |
Soldier Field and Field Museum, Grant Park, 1947 |
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1.62 |
Soldier Field, Pan American Games, 1959 |
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Religious Organizations | |
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1.63 |
Masonic Temple, view from, 1908 |
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1.64 |
Moody Church, n.d. |
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1.65 |
Old St. Mary’s Church, 1967 |
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Residences | |
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2.2h |
Marina City, Twin Towers, Chicago, Greater Chicago, 1963 |
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2.1m |
Marina City, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
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1.66 |
Marina City, 1965 |
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1.67 |
Marina City, n.d. |
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1.72 |
Lake Shore Drive [view of Potter Palmer’s Residence], 1906 |
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1.73 |
Lake Shore Drive [view of Potter Palmer’s Residence], 1906 |
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1.76 |
Lake Shore Drive [view of Potter Palmer’s Residence], 1910 |
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1.77 |
Lake Shore Drive [view of Potter Palmer’s Residence], n.d. |
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1.78 |
Lake Shore Drive [view of Potter Palmer’s Residence], n.d. |
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1.79 |
Lake Shore Drive [view of Potter Palmer’s Residence], n.d. |
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Schools | |
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1.68 |
University of Illinois, University Hall, 1966 |
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Streets | |
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General | |
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1.69 |
Aerial view of Chicago, showing Navy Pier and Chicago River, 1964 |
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1.70 |
Aerial view, east from the Kemper Building, n.d. |
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2.1a |
Chicago River and Skyline, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
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2.2i |
Chicago River Skyline, Greater Chicago, 1963 |
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1.71 |
Chicago Skyline at night, looking south on Michigan Avenue, 1955 |
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2.1f |
Chicago Skyline at night, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
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2.2d |
Chicago’s Downtown Skyline, Greater Chicago, 1963 |
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2.1c |
Chicago Skyline and Lake Front, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
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Alphabetical | |
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1.74 |
Lake Shore Drive, 1908 |
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1.75 |
Lake Shore Drive, 1909 |
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1.80 |
Lake Shore Drive, n.d. see also: Residences, Lake Shore Drive [view of Potter Palmer’s Residence] 1.72-1.79 |
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2.1k |
Michigan Avenue at night, looking north, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
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2.1b |
Michigan Avenue, nite [sic] view of, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
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1.81 |
Michigan Avenue (“The New Look”) showing Prudential Building, Art Institute of Chicago, Tribune Tower, n.d. |
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1.82 |
Michigan Avenue looking north, n.d. |
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1.83 |
Michigan Avenue Boulevard, n.d. |
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1.84 |
Chicago’s Old Town, 1967 |
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2.1e |
State Street at night, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
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2.2j |
State Street, looking north, Chicago, Greater Chicago, 1963 |
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2.1l |
Wacker Drive at night, Chicago, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
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Transportation | |
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Rail |
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1.85 |
Dearborn Street Station, 1951 |
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1.86 |
LaSalle Street Station, n.d. |
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1.87 |
Union Station, 1913 |
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2.2k |
Union Station - Chicago, Greater Chicago, 1963 |
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1.88 |
Union Station, n.d. |
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Air |
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2.2b |
O’Hare Airport, Terminals No. 2 and No. 3, Greater Chicago, 1963 |
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2.3a |
O’Hare Airport, Greetings from Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, Top View: Exterior Terminal Building, Bottom View: Concourse area, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, n.d. |
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2.3b |
O’Hare Airport, Aerial View, new terminal buildings, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, n.d. |
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2.3c |
O’Hare Airport, View showing elevated and lower roadway to terminal, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, n.d. |
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2.3d |
O’Hare Airport, Night view showing elevated and lower entrance, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, n.d. |
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2.3e |
O’Hare Airport, Planes at ramp area showing fuel tanks in background, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, n.d. |
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2.3f |
O’Hare Airport, A bird’s-eye view showing planes loading and unloading, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, n.d. |
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2.3g |
O’Hare Airport, A telescopic passenger loading facility, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, n.d. |
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2.3h |
O’Hare Airport, Planes loading at the concourse, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, n.d. |
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2.3i |
O’Hare Airport, Waiting room lobby, #2, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, n.d. |
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2.3j |
O’Hare Airport, Planes waiting their turn for take off, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, n.d. |
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2.3k |
O’Hare Airport, View of first floor lobby, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, n.d. |
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2.3l |
O’Hare Airport, View of second floor lobby, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, n.d. |
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2.3m |
O’Hare Airport, Air view showing parking area, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, n.d. |
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World Fairs | |
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World’s Columbian Exposition | |
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1.89 |
Mines and Mining Building, 1907 |
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Century of Progress | |
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1.90 |
Michigan Avenue, north from Lake Street, 1933 |
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1.91 |
Midget Village, Chicago World’s Fair, 1934 |