| Dates: | circa 1890 – circa 1967 |
| Size: | 2 linear feet in 2 boxes, including 129 postcards |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60605 |
| Collection Number: | spe.kpc |
| Immediate Source of Acquisition: | Donated to the Chicago Public Library by K. Johnson and Catherine Knowles in the 1990s. |
| Custodial History: | Sarah Kathlane Baxter McCool and her daughter, JoAnn Baxter Zeisel, formed the original collection, which numbered between 8,000 and 10,000 postcards. K. Johnson and Catherine Knowles inherited this collection in the 1990s and gave over 100 postcards that depict scenes of Chicago to Chicago Public Library. |
| Conditions Governing Access: | Materials are open without restrictions. |
| Conditions Governing Use: | Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection. |
| Preferred Citation: | When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Knowles Postcard Collection [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library. |
| Finding Aid Author: | Original author unknown. Processed 1990s. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Johanna Russ, 2021. |
Abstract
The collection includes 100 postcards with scenes of Chicago.
Biographical/Historical
The Knowles Postcard Collection was formed by separating 129 postcards depicting Chicago scenes from a larger collection of 8,000-10,000 postcards.
Scope and Contents
The Knowles Postcard Collection consists of over 100 color and black-and-white postcards of Chicago scenes dated between circa 1890 and circa 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.
Arrangement
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.
Subjects
- Postcards — Illinois — Chicago.
- Chicago (Ill.) — Pictorial works.
Related Materials
Collection Inventory
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.1 | Business Establishments - American Furniture Mart, undated |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.2 | Business Establishments - Blackstone Theatre, 1911 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.3 | Business Establishments - Board of Trade, 1908 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.2f | Business Establishments - Congress (Pick) Hotel, Greater Chicago, 1963 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.1j | Business Establishments - Drake Hotel and Palmolive Building, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.4 | Business Establishments - Drake Hotel, undated |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.5 | Business Establishments - Edgewater Beach Hotel, entrance, 1934 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.6 | Business Establishments - Edgewater Beach Hotel, entrance, undated |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.7 | Business Establishments - Edgewater Beach Hotel, Beach Walk, undated (2 copies) |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.8 | Business Establishments - Edgewater Beach Hotel, Edgewater Beach Yacht Club, 1942, 1946 (2 copies) |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.9 | Business Establishments - Edgewater Beach Hotel, flower shop, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.2e | Business Establishments - Hilton (Conrad) Hotel, Greater Chicago, 1963 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.10 | Business Establishments - Hotel Kaiserhof, 1905 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.11 | Business Establishments - Hotel Sheraton, Camelot Room, 1954 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.12 | Business Establishments - John Hancock Center, undated |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.13 | Business Establishments - John Hancock Center, undated |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.14 | Business Establishments - Marshall Field and Co.’s Retail Store, 1917 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.15 | Business Establishments - Merchandise Mart, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.1i | Business Establishments - Merchandise Mart at dusk, Chicago at Night , 1963 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.16 | Business Establishments - P. Nelson Company, salesroom, 1910 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.17 | Business Establishments - News [Chicago Daily News] and Civic Opera Buildings, 1931 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.18 | Business Establishments - Palmer House, undated |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.19 | Business Establishments - Palmer House, undated |
| Business Establishments - Palmolive Building, see Box 1, Postcard 1.38 and Box 2, Postcard 2.1j | ||
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.2a | Business Establishments - Prudential Building, Greater Chicago. [See also, Box 2, Postcard 1.60; Box 2, Postcard 1.81; Box 2, Postcard 2.2g], 1963 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.20 | Business Establishments - Record-Herald Building, 1908 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.21 | Business Establishments - Riverview Park, Carasoul [sic] and Circle Swing, 1911 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.22 | Business Establishments - Stock Yard Inn, undated |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.23 | Business Establishments - Tribune Tower. [See also Box 1, Postcard 1.25; Box 2, Postcard 1.81], undated |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.24 | Business Establishments - Wellington Arms Hotel (2970 Sheridan Road), aeroplane view, undated |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.25 | Business Establishments - Wrigley [Building] and Tribune Towers, 1953 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.1d | Business Establishments - Wrigley Building Reflections, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.26 | Business Establishments - Union Stock Yards, 1951 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.27 | Business Establishments - Y.M.C.A. Hotel, main lobby, undated |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.28 | Clubs and Organizations - Elk’s Memorial, undated |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.29 | Municipal Agencies - Chicago Public Library, undated |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.30 | Municipal Agencies - Civic Center, 1965 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.31 | Municipal Agencies - New County Building, undated |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.32 | Municipal Agencies - New Court House undated |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.33 | Municipal Agencies - U.S. Court House, undated |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.34 | Municipal Agencies - McCormick Place, 1964 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.35 | Municipal Agencies - McCormick Place, undated |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.36 | Municipal Agencies - New Post Office Building, 1912 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.37 | Municipal Agencies - Water Works and Tower, 1905 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.38 | Municipal Agencies - Chicago Avenue Water Tower (Palmolive Building in rear), 1941 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.1g | Municipal Agencies - Old Water Tower, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.39 | Municipal Agencies - Water Tower at night, 1964 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.40 | Municipal Agencies - Old Water Tower at night, undated |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.41 | Municipal Agencies - Chicago Water Tower, undated |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.42 | Municipal Agencies - Water Tower, undated |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.43 | Municipal Agencies - Famed Water Tower, undated |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.44 | Municipal Agencies - Water Works, Chicago Avenue, 1890, 1904 (two postmarks) |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.45 | Municipal Agencies - Waterworks (North Station. Foot of Chicago Avenue), 1913 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.46 | Municipal Agencies - Chicago Avenue Pumping Station, undated |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.47 | Municipal Agencies - University of Illinois at Navy Pier, U. S. Naval Reserve Training Center, 1954 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.48 | Museums - Adler Planetarium and Astronomical Museum, 1941 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.49 | Museums - Adler Planetarium, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.2c | Museums - Art Institute – Chicago, Greater Chicago. [See also Box 2, Postcard 1.81], 1963 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.2l | Museums - Field Museum of Natural History, Greater Chicago, 1963 |
| Box 1 | Postcard 1.50 | Museums - [Field Museum] Museum of Natural History, 1964 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.51 | Museums - Field Museum, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.52 | Museums - Field Museum of Natural History. [See also Box 2, Postcard 1.61], undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.1h | Museums - Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.53 | Museums - Museum of Science and Industry, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.54 | Museums - Museum of Science and Industry, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.55 | Museums - Shedd Aquarium, 1953 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.56 | Museums - Shedd Aquarium, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.57 | Parks - Coliseum, 1913 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.58 | Parks - Coliseum, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.59 | Parks - Grant Park and Outer Drive, 1947 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.60 | Parks - Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain and Prudential Building, 1963 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.2g | Parks - Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain and Prudential Building, Greater Chicago, 1963 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.61 | Parks - Soldier Field and Field Museum, Grant Park, 1947 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.62 | Parks - Soldier Field, Pan American Games, 1959 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.63 | Religious Institutions - Masonic Temple, view from, 1908 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.64 | Religious Institutions - Moody Church, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.65 | Religious Institutions - Old St. Mary’s Church, 1967 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.2h | Residences - Marina City, Twin Towers, Chicago, Greater Chicago, 1963 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.1m | Residences - Marina City, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.66 | Residences - Marina City, 1965 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.67 | Residences - Marina City, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.72 | Residences - Lake Shore Drive [view of Potter Palmer’s Residence], 1906 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.73 | Residences - Lake Shore Drive [view of Potter Palmer’s Residence], 1906 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.76 | Residences - Lake Shore Drive [view of Potter Palmer’s Residence], 1910 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.77 | Residences - Lake Shore Drive [view of Potter Palmer’s Residence], undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.78 | Residences - Lake Shore Drive [view of Potter Palmer’s Residence], undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.79 | Residences - Lake Shore Drive [view of Potter Palmer’s Residence], undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.68 | Schools - University of Illinois, University Hall, 1966 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.69 | Streets: General - Aerial view of Chicago, showing Navy Pier and Chicago River, 1964 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.70 | Streets: General - Aerial view, east from the Kemper Building, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.1a | Streets: General - Chicago River and Skyline, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.2i | Streets: General - Chicago River Skyline, Greater Chicago, 1963 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.71 | Streets: General - Chicago Skyline at night, looking south on Michigan Avenue, 1955 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.1f | Streets: General - Chicago Skyline at night, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.2d | Streets: General - Chicago’s Downtown Skyline, Greater Chicago, 1963 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.1c | Streets: General - Chicago Skyline and Lake Front, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.74 | Streets: Alphabetical - Lake Shore Drive, 1908 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.75 | Streets: Alphabetical - Lake Shore Drive, 1909 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.80 | Streets: Alphabetical - Lake Shore Drive, undated see also: Residences, Lake Shore Drive [view of Potter Palmer’s Residence] 1.72-1.79 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.1k | Streets: Alphabetical - Michigan Avenue at night, looking north, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.1b | Streets: Alphabetical - Michigan Avenue, nite [sic] view of, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.81 | Streets: Alphabetical - Michigan Avenue (“The New Look”) showing Prudential Building, Art Institute of Chicago, Tribune Tower, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.82 | Streets: Alphabetical - Michigan Avenue looking north, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.83 | Streets: Alphabetical - Michigan Avenue Boulevard, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.84 | Streets: Alphabetical - Chicago’s Old Town, 1967 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.1e | Streets: Alphabetical - State Street at night, Chicago at Night , 1963 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.2j | Streets: Alphabetical - State Street, looking north, Chicago, Greater Chicago, 1963 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.1l | Streets: Alphabetical - Wacker Drive at night, Chicago, Chicago at Night, 1963 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.85 | Transportation: Rail - Dearborn Street Station, 1951 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.86 | Transportation: Rail - LaSalle Street Station, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.87 | Transportation: Rail - Union Station, 1913 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.2k | Transportation: Rail - Union Station - Chicago, Greater Chicago, 1963 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.88 | Transportation: Rail - Union Station, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.2b | Transportation: Air - O’Hare Airport, Terminals No. 2 and No. 3, Greater Chicago, 1963 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.3a | Transportation: Air - O’Hare Airport, Greetings from Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, Top View: Exterior Terminal Building, Bottom View: Concourse area, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.3b | Transportation: Air - O’Hare Airport, Aerial View, new terminal buildings, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.3c | Transportation: Air - O’Hare Airport, View showing elevated and lower roadway to terminal, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.3d | Transportation: Air - O’Hare Airport, Night view showing elevated and lower entrance, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.3e | Transportation: Air - O’Hare Airport, Planes at ramp area showing fuel tanks in background, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.3f | Transportation: Air - O’Hare Airport, A bird’s-eye view showing planes loading and unloading, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.3g | Transportation: Air - O’Hare Airport, A telescopic passenger loading facility, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.3h | Transportation: Air - O’Hare Airport, Planes loading at the concourse, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.3i | Transportation: Air - O’Hare Airport, Waiting room lobby, #2, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport , undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.3j | Transportation: Air - O’Hare Airport, Planes waiting their turns for take-off, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.3k | Transportation: Air - O’Hare Airport, View of first floor lobby, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.3l | Transportation: Air - O’Hare Airport, View of second floor lobby, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 2.3m | Transportation: Air - O’Hare Airport, Air view showing parking area, Chicago – O’Hare International Airport, undated |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.89 | World’s Fairs: World’s Columbian Exposition - Mines and Mining Building, 1907 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.90 | World’s Fairs: Century of Progress - Michigan Avenue, north from Lake Street, 1933 |
| Box 2 | Postcard 1.91 | World’s Fairs: Century of Progress - Midget Village, Chicago World’s Fair, 1934 |
