gloria cassens Collection

Dates: circa 2012-2016
Size: .5 linear feet in 3 boxes, includes 908 photographs
Repository: Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605
Collection Number: spe-n00047
Immediate Source of Acquisition: Donated by gloria cassens in 2015
Conditions Governing Access: Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use: Research copies may be made. For any other reproductions, permission must be obtained from the Photographer.
Preferred Citation: When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: gloria cassens Collection, [Photograph #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library.
Finding Aid Author: Morag Walsh, 2016. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Michelle McCoy, 2023.

Abstract

gloria cassens is a writer and a photographer. While her work covers several genres, including architectural photographs and shots of nature, but her main focus, and the content of this collection, is on individuals she encounters in her daily wandering in Chicago’s Loop and Near North Side. Her photographs graphically depict the human conditions that some people, young and old, men and women, experience.

Biographical/Historical

gloria cassens is a photographer and writer who began taking photographs around 2010 with a mobile phone she found on a train. She takes pictures of whatever captures her interest while walking around the streets of Chicago. While her work covers several genres, including architectural photographs and shots of nature, her main focus depicts human conditions, individuals she encounters in her daily wandering. All other photographs she takes are secondary.

Two women have played important roles in gloria cassens’ life – Nancy Vincent and Nancy Stone. Nancy Vincent from the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago took an interest in gloria cassens’ work and originally contacted Special Collections about the collection on her behalf. As gloria cassens says, “I owe Nancy Vincent an unfaltering debt of gratitude for her friendship, kindness and appreciation for me and my photographs.” In 2013, gloria cassens met Chicago Tribune photographer Nancy Stone. A friendship grew and Stone produced a short film, gloria cassens: Street photographer, available on You Tube. In 2015 gloria cassens published another film on You Tube, gloria cassens: Bits and Pieces, where she gave the following artist’s statement about her work:

The streets of Chicago are unforgiving. The majestic buildings that dot Chicago’s shore and grace its city, unforgettable. The weary worn and wary individuals that line, litter and lace Chicago’s streets are my interest. Not with compassion at the forefront but for their photographic beauty, their resolve, resilience and tenacity. Along with the knowing that it takes a lot to hold onto nothing and not everyone has someone they can cry to. I have been snapping photos for the past five years. Monday through Friday I am a supper guest at Catholic Charities where I receive top of the line meals, served by very extraordinary, gracious and caring volunteers. One of these volunteers is the founder of Chicago Help Initiative, Jacqueline Hayes. She does so much more than providing meals. She makes sure each and every supper guest know they matter. I am grateful for all that has been contributed to the easing of bits and pieces of my life’s journey. Snapping photos has been my saving grace. My name is gloria cassens.

gloria cassens’ work has been exhibited at the Catholic Charities’ After Supper Visions and is in several private collections.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains 908 prints, mostly 4” x 6” and 3½” x 5,” taken by gloria cassens, between the years 2012 and 2015. Most photographs are color, but there are a few black and white prints. The photographs were taken by cameras on several mobile telephones and with a point-and-shoot Canon digital camera.

Most of these photographs were taken in Chicago’s Loop or Near North Side and feature many of the same people over time. They graphically depict the difficulties that some people, young and old, men and women, experience. Many of these photographs starkly juxtapose struggling people with hopeful, sometimes ironic backgrounds. While gloria cassens’ primary motivation for taking these photographs is the creation of photographic beauty, she has a high regard for her subjects and is respectful of their circumstances.

The collection also contains several artists’ statements created by gloria cassens which accompanied her photo exhibits and some promotional pieces for the same.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged sequentially by albums that were composed and donated by gloria cassens. The photographs have been removed from the albums but their order has been maintained. The prefix denotes in which album the photograph originally appeared. For example, photographs with the number 1.1 or 1.2 came from the first album and photographs numbered 2.1 and 2.2 are from the second. An “a” or “b” following the number indicates that it was tucked into the same display pocket in the album. For example, photographs 1.5a, 1.5b, 1.5c, 1.5d and 1.5e were all inside the same display pocket with 1.5a showing on top, and the others concealed behind. The photographer purposely arranged these albums creating a narrative of sorts. This original order has been preserved by the archivist. Some photographs appear in several places depending on the photographer’s arrangement.

  • Album # 1, 195 photographs
  • Album # 2, 228 photographs
  • Album # 3, 245 photographs
  • Album # 4, 185 photographs
  • Album # 5, 55 photographs

An index has been created for photographs where location or specific subject matter is indicated or obvious, but not all photographs are not included in these categories.

Subject Headings

  • cassens, gloria -- Archives.
  • Homeless women -- Illinois -- Chicago -- Photographs.
  • Homeless men -- Illinois -- Chicago -- Photographs.
  • Older homeless persons -- Illinois -- Chicago -- Photographs.
  • Alcoholism -- Illinois -- Chicago -- Photographs.
  • Substance abuse -- Illinois -- Chicago -- Photographs.
  • Mental illness -- Illinois -- Chicago -- Photographs.
  • Loop (Chicago, Ill.) -- Photographs.
  • Portraits -- Illinois -- Chicago.
  • Photographs -- Illinois -- Chicago.

Related Materials

  • David Gremp Photographs
  • Mike Pocius Photographs
  • Akito Tsuda Photographs

Collection Inventory

Box 1 Folder 1 Artist’s statements written to accompany exhibits, circa 2013-2016
Box 1 Folder 2 Promotions for exhibit, After Supper Visions, 2013
Box 2 Photographs 1.1-3.99b circa 2012-2015
Box 3 Photographs 3.100-5.42 circa 2012-2015
Box 3 Photographs 3.167b, 4.95, 5.1 cassens, gloria, circa 2012-2015
Box 2 Photograph 1.148 Chicago Avenue, circa 2012-2015
Box 3 Photographs 4.40a, 4.40b, 5.5 Chicago River, Bridge House Museum, circa 2012-2015
Box 2 Photographs 1.30, 1.47, 1.114, 1.116, 2.6, 2.43b, 2.77, 2.87, 2.102, 2.120, 2.130, 2.149a, 2.149b, 2.150a, 2.150b, 2.174, 2.190, 2.191, 3.28, 3.64, 3.83 Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), buses, bus stops, circa 2012-2015
Box 3 Photographs 3.156, 3.158, 3.182, 4.75, 4.101, 4.138, 5.3 Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), buses, bus stops, circa 2012-2015
Box 2 Photographs 1.32a, 1.32b, 1.34, 1.46, 1.56, 1.62, 1.74a, 1.89a, 1.99a, 1.104b, 1.141, 1.152, 2.43a, 2.69, 2.140, 2.180b, 3.43 Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), trains, elevated, subway, circa 2012-2015
Box 3 Photographs 3.177, 3.181, 3.202, 3.203, 4.9, 4.16, 4.115b, 4.149, 5.6a, 5.6b, 5.13, 5.36 Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), trains, elevated, subway, circa 2012-2015
Box 2 Photographs 1.5a, 1.5b, 1.5c, 1.5d, 1.137, 2.135 Dearborn Street, Daley Plaza, Marc Chagall Mural, Four Seasons, circa 2012-2015
Box 3 Photographs 3.199, 4.24, 4.157, 5.41 Dearborn Street, Daley Plaza, Marc Chagall Mural, Four Seasons, circa 2012-2015
Box 3 Photograph 4.54 Diversey Parkway and Clark Street, circa 2012-2015
Box 3 Photograph 4.68 Franklin Street, circa 2012-2015
Box 2 Photograph 2.188 Lake Shore, Lake Michigan, circa 2012-2015
Box 2 Photographs 2.113a, 2.113b Michigan Avenue, circa 2012-2015
Box 3 Photographs 3.133, 5.5 Michigan Avenue, circa 2012-2015
Box 2 Photographs 2.4, 2.26, 2.145, 3.40 Millennium Park, circa 2012-2015
Box 2 Photographs 1.34, 1.50, 1.75, 1.77, 1.78, 1.79, 1.85, 1.89a, 1.89b, 1.115, 1.119a, 1.132, 1.141, 2.16, 2.23, 2.28, 2.36, 2.37, 2.44, 2.55, 2.72, 2.73, 2.83, 2.86, 2.94, 2.97, 2.106a, 2.125, 2.136a, 2.136b, 3.1, 3.20, 3.33, 3.39a, 3.39b, 3.45, 3.53, 3.80, 3.82c, 3.85 People holding signs, circa 2012-2015
Box 3 Photographs 3.134, 3.154, 3.157, 3.162, 4.9, 4.12, 4.21, 4.27, 4.43, 4.55, 4.57a, 4.57b, 4.96, 4.99, 4.100, 4.102, 4.105, 4.106, 4.147, 4.151, 4.155, 5.5 People holding signs, circa 2012-2015
Box 2 Photographs 1.90, 1.102, 1.135, 1.138a, 1.138b, 2.17, 2.20, 2.148, 3.18, 3.46a, 3.46b Pritzker Park, Harold Washington Library Center (State Street), circa 2012-2015
Box 3 Photographs 3.106, 3.178, 3.201, 4.19, 4.119, 5.14, 5.25 Pritzker Park, Harold Washington Library Center (State Street), circa 2012-2015
Box 2 Photograph 1.80 Randolph Street, circa 2012-2015
Box 2 Photograph 3.12 St. Clair Street, Streeterville, circa 2012-2015
Box 3 Photograph 4.103 St. Stanislaus Kostka, Noble Street, circa 2012-2015
Box 2 Photographs 1.1, 1.27b, 1.46, 1.56, 1.62, 1.74a, 1.74b, 1.75, 1.76, 1.80, 1.89a, 1.89b, 1.90, 1.102, 1.122, 1.128a, 1.128b, 1.128c, 1.129, 1.131c, 1.135, 1.136, 1.136, 1.138a, 1.138b, 1.140, 1.141, 1.152, 2.1, 2.10, 2.14, 2.17, 2.20, 2.28, 2.37, 2.42, 2.43a, 2.43b, 2.67, 2.75, 2.76, 2.143, 2.148, 3.1, 3.18, 3.34, 3.41, 3.46a, 3.46b, 3.75a State Street, circa 2012-2015
Box 3 Photographs 3.106, 3.112a, 3.134, 3.201, 4.119, 4.132, 4.140a, 4.151, 5.6a, 5.6b, 5.14, 5.24, 5.25, 5.40, 5.42 State Street, circa 2012-2015
Box 3 Photograph 5.1 Stone, Nancy, Chicago Tribune photographer, circa 2012-2015
Box 3 Photographs 4.36a, 4.36b Union Station, circa 2012-2015
Box 3 Photographs 3.171a, 4.46a, 4.46b Van Buren Street, circa 2012-2015
Box 2 Photograph 1.42 Wabash Avenue, circa 2012-2015
Box 3 Photographs 3.164, 4.140b Wabash Avenue, circa 2012-2015
Box 3 Photographs 4.17, 4.18a, 4.18b, 4.18c Wacker Drive (Lower), circa 2012-2015
Box 3 Photographs 3.120, 3.193 Wacker Drive (Upper), circa 2012-2015
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