| Dates: | 1892-1893 |
| Size: | 1.5 linear feet in 1 box |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60605 |
| Collection Number: | spe.wce.yc |
| Immediate Source of Acquisition: | Materials found in collection; no documentation concerning the provenance of these materials exists. |
| 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: Youth’s Companion Collection, [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library |
| Finding Aid Author: | Original author and process date unknown. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Johanna Russ, 2021. |
Abstract
Youth's Companion was a weekly journal published in Boston. This collection consists of 36 issues, dating from October 20, 1892 to December 21, 1893, and containing articles and/or works of fiction related to various aspects of Fair activities, as well as advertisements of companies exhibiting their wares at the World’s Columbian Exposition.
Biographical/Historical
The Youth’s Companion was a children’s magazine published in Boston for just over 100 years, 1827-1929. In the 1890s, it increased its target audience to include adults, becoming more of a family magazine. In 1929, it merged with American Boy Magazine which continued to be published until 1941.
In 1893, Chicago hosted the World’s Columbian Exposition, a World’s Fair celebrating the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas. The Fair took place in Jackson Park, on Chicago’s South Side, and ran from May through October of 1893. During those six months, more than 27 million people from around the world visited the Fair. Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, and architect and planner Daniel Burnham, collaborated with many other luminaries to bring the Fair into existence.
Scope and Contents
The World’s Columbian Exposition Youth’s Companion Collection consists of 36 issues of the weekly journal, published in Boston, Massachusetts. The numbers, dating from October 20, 1892 to December 21, 1893, cover the period before, during and immediately after the World’s Columbian Exposition. All the issues in the collection contain articles and/or works of fiction related to various aspects of Fair activities, as well as advertisements of companies exhibiting their wares at the World’s Columbian Exposition.
During the months of operation of the Exposition, May 1 – October 28, 1893, the Youth's Companion – similar to today’s Life Magazine – consistently provided information to a national audience on Fair activities. Articles describing how easy it was to reach Chicago via the railways, descriptions of specific exhibits or pavilions, or announcements of special events provided the reader with much practical information about the World’s Columbian Exposition. Poems and short stories (for both children and adults) added to the rich body of fiction that evolved as a result of the Exposition. Other articles told of artists who worked on the buildings and grounds at Jackson Park, special visitors, and humorous anecdotes or other observations.
Many companies and manufacturers who exhibited or sold their products at the Exposition advertised in the pages of the Youth's Companion. These advertisements gave the 19th century visitor to the Fair an idea of the scope of the goods and services available there.
Arrangement
The Youth's Companion Collection is arranged chronologically.
Subjects
- World's Columbian Exposition (1893 : Chicago, Ill.)
Related Material
- The May 5, 1893 issue of the Youth’s Companion was published as a Special Number specifically about the World's Columbian Exposition. This issue is cataloged separately in Special Collections at call number T500.B1Y6.
- Many examples of the souvenir advertisements found in the World's Columbian Exposition Ephemera Collection can also be found advertised in the pages of the Youth’s Companion.
- Special Collections holds additional years of the Youth's Companion.
- Charles Dudley Arnold Photographic Collection
- Book of the Fair
- Elizabeth Chandler Papers
- Ellsworth-Arnold Photograph Albums
- James W. Ellsworth Papers
- Moses P. Handy Papers
- E.R. Walker Photograph Album
- World's Columbian Exposition U.S. War Department Exhibit Photographs
- World's Columbian Exposition, Bureau of Music, Official Report
- World’s Columbian Exposition Catholic Educational Exhibit
- World's Columbian Exposition Ephemera Collection
- World’s Columbian Exposition Glass Plate Lantern Slides
- World’s Columbian Exposition Miscellaneous Photographs
- World’s Columbian Exposition Snapshots Collection
- World’s Congress Auxiliary Congress of Authors Collection
- World’s Congress Auxiliary Pre-Publications, Programs and Circulars Collection
Collection Inventory
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | V. 65 (#42) “A Wise Choice”; re: the New Jersey State Building, p. 521 | 1892 October 20 |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | V. 65 (#43), Advertisement for the Boston Rubber Shoe Company, p. 574 | 1892 October 27 |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | V. 65 (#45), Contains announcements on articles on the World’s Fair that will appear in v. 66, insert | 1892 November 10 |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | V. 65 (#48), “Ode to Chicago,” p. 637 | 1892 December 1 |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | V. 65 (#51), “Going to the World's Fair”; re: passenger rail and travel to the World’s Fair, p. 676 | 1892 December 22 |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | V. 66 (#6), “What to see at the World’s Fair,” by George R. Davis, Director General of the World’s Columbian Exposition. Article directed to children on Fair activities, p. 74 | 1893 February 9 |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | V. 66 (#7), “The World’s Fair.” Article on how the Exposition will increase foreign awareness of U.S. resources and industries, p. 84 | 1893 February 16 |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | V. 66 (#8), “An Artist’s Boyhood”; re: Francis Millet, a designer of the World’s Columbian Exposition and member of the Fair’s Department of Works, p. 105. | 1893 February 23 |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | V. 66 (#10), “His Inspiration”: re: Francis Millet, p. 128 | 1893 March 9 |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 | V. 66 (#13), Advertisement for Hill’s Guide to Chicago and the World’s Fair. Chicago: Laird & Lee Publishers, [1893], p. 172 | 1893 March 30 |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | V. 66 (#17), Advertisement for the World’s Fair Number of the Youth’s Companion, p. 213 | 1893 April 27 |
| Box 1 | Folder 12 | V. 66 (#18), “The World’s Fair.” Article on the World’s Columbian Exposition, included with the World's Fair Extra Number of the Youth’s Companion, p. 228 | 1893 May 4 |
| Box 1 | Folder 13 | V. 66 (#19), Advertisement for Lundborg perfumes, p. 241 | 1893 May 11 |
| Box 1 | Folder 13 | V. 66 (#19), Advertisement for the Columbian Hotel & Baggage Transfer Company, p. 248 | 1893 May 11 |
| Box 1 | Folder 14 | V. 66 (#22), “May Day at the World’s Fair” by C.A. Stephens, p. 279. Article on the Opening Ceremonies of the World’s Columbian Exposition held on May 1, 1893 | 1893 June 1 |
| Box 1 | Folder 14 | V. 66 (#22), Advertisement for the World’s Fair Extra Number of the Youth’s Companion, p. 281 | 1893 June 1 |
| Box 1 | Folder 14 | V. 66 (#22), “Alaska at the World’s Fair,” p. 282; re: Alaskan attractions at the Exposition, including the Alaska mining exhibit, timber, fisheries, and furs | 1893 June 1 |
| Box 1 | Folder 15 | V. 66 (#23), “Done in Corn”; re: the Iowa state Building, p. 294 | 1893 June 8 |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | V. 66 (#25), “Photographed for His Pass,” p. 320; re: issuance of passes at the Exposition | 1893 June 22 |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | V. 66 (#25), “Drinking Water at the Fair,” p. 323. Article about the availability of drinking water on the Fairgrounds, and the Hygeia Springs Water Company | 1893 June 22 |
| Box 1 | Folder 17 | V. 66 (#26), Cover Illustration: Statue of the Republic | 1893 June 29 |
| Box 1 | Folder 17 | V. 66 (#26), Advertisement for Christy Knives, p. 333 | 1893 June 29 |
| Box 1 | Folder 17 | V. 66 (#26), “Savagely Assaulted,” p. 334; re: the rail travels of the Zulu Colony at the World's Fair | 1893 June 29 |
| Box 1 | Folder 17 | V. 66 (#26), “Ingenious,” p. 334. Article on the poachers exhibit at the Exposition | 1893 June 29 |
| Box 1 | Folder 17 | V. 66 (#26), "The Mezzin at the World’s Fair,” p. 337, re: the Mohammedan Mosque in the Turkish Village at the World's Fair. | 1893 June 29 |
| Box 1 | Folder 18 | #3451, “Clergymen as Guards.” Article on the Columbian Guard of World’s Columbian Exposition, p. 356 | 1893 July 13 |
| Box 1 | Folder 19 | #3453, “A German Exhibitor at the World’s Fair,” p. 374; re: the German gold and silver department in the Manufactures & Liberal Arts Building | 1893 July 27 |
| Box 1 | Folder 19 | #3453, “George Washington’s False Teeth” [in the Manufactures & Liberal Arts Building], p. 374 | 1893 July 27 |
| Box 1 | Folder 20 | #3454, “Cows at the Fair,” p. 384; re: the dairy cow contest | 1893 August 3 |
| Box 1 | Folder 20 | #3454, “Gondola Against Quakuhl Canoe,” p. 386. Article about the race between the Quakuhl Indian tribe and the Italian gondoliers on the South pond | 1893 August 3 |
| Box 1 | Folder 20 | #3454, “Kodaks at the World’s Fair,” p. 387; students and their photographic pursuits at the Exposition | 1893 August 3 |
| Box 1 | Folder 20 | #3454, "In the Citrus Belt,” p. 388. Article about the tower of oranges and the Liberty Bell of oranges in the Horticultural Building | 1893 August 3 |
| Box 1 | Folder 21 | #3455, “World’s Congresses”; re: the World’s Congress Auxiliary, p. 392 | 1893 August 10 |
| Box 1 | Folder 22 | #3456, “A City Under a Glass Roof”; re: the Manufactures & Liberal Arts Building, p. 399-400 | 1893 August l7 |
| Box 1 | Folder 23 | #3457, “Kit Columbus at the World’s Fair.” Children’s fiction, p. 415 | 1893 August 24 |
| Box 1 | Folder 24 | #3458, Advertisement for Mellin’s Food Exhibit (showing “The Awakening” by Perrault), p. 427 | 1893 August 31 |
| Box 1 | Folder 24 | #3458, Advertisement for Crown Pianos, p. 428 | 1893 August 31 |
| Box 1 | Folder 25 | #3459, Advertisement for the World’s Fair Souvenir Puzzle, Burleigh & Enwright Manufacturing Company, p. 438 | 1893 September 7 |
| Box 1 | Folder 25 | #3459, Advertisement for the Liebig Company's Extract of Beef, p. 440 | 1893 September 7 |
| Box 1 | Folder 26 | #3461, “The Rich and the Poor,” p. 456. Princess May of Great Britain “works” in the Woman’s Building and brings together the two classes of women. | 1893 September 21 |
| Box 1 | Folder 26 | #3461, “His Apt Reply,” p. 460. A “Countess” tries to get a complementary ticket to the Wor1d's Fair. | 1893 September 21 |
| Box 1 | Folder 26 | #3461, “Elsie at the World’s Fair,” p. 461. Children’s fiction: Elsie visits the Eskimo village. | 1893 September 21 |
| Box 1 | Folder 26 | #3461, "Newspaper Men at the Fair,” p. 462; re: the printed media at the Exposition. | 1893 September 21 |
| Box 1 | Folder 27 | #3462, “In the Cliff Dwellers Cave,” p. 467 | 1893 September 28 |
| Box 1 | Folder 28 | #3465, “The Parliament of Religions” [of the World’s Congress Auxiliary], p. 504 | 1893 October 19 |
| Box 1 | Folder 29 | #3467, “Elsie at the World’s Fair.” Children’s Fiction: Elsie visits A Street in Cairo on the Midway Plaisance, p. 566 | 1893 November 2 |
| Box 1 | Folder 30 | #3468, “An American Exhibit.” An elevator breaks in the Woman’s Building and almost causes panic, p., 572 | 1893 November 9 |
| Box 1 | Folder 31 | #3469, “The Close of the Fair,” p. 584; re: the Closing Ceremonies of the World’s Columbian Exposition | 1893 November 16 |
| Box 1 | Folder 31 | #3469, Advertisement for Perry Mason & Company Power Scroll Saws, p. 585 | 1893 November 16 |
| Box 1 | Folder 31 | #3469, Advertisement for Kirk’s Juvenile Soap, World’s Fair award winner, p.585 | 1893 November 16 |
| Box 1 | Folder 32 | #3470, Advertisement for Vose & Sons Piano Company, World’s Fair award winner, p. 585 | 1893 November 23 |
| Box 1 | Folder 32 | #3470, Advertisement for Mellin’s Foods, World’s Fair award winner, back page | 1893 November 23 |
| Box 1 | Folder 32 | #3470, Advertisement for Lundborg Perfumes, World’s Fair award winner, p. III | 1893 November 23 |
| Box 1 | Folder 32 | #3470, Advertisement for Burnett’s Flavoring Extracts, World’s Fair award winner, p. III | 1893 November 23 |
| Box 1 | Folder 33 | #3471, Advertisement for Walter Baker & Company, p. 620 | 1893 November 30 |
| Box 1 | Folder 34 | #3472, “Frightful Symptom,” p. 625; tale of an Oriental visitor to the Exposition | 1893 December 7 |
| Box 1 | Folder 34 | #3472, Advertisement for Ayer's Sasparilla, p. 636 | 1893 December 7 |
| Box 1 | Folder 35 | #3473, Advertisement for Glimpses of the World’s Fair. Chicago: Laird & Lee Publishers, [1893], p. 642 | 1893 December 14 |
| Box 1 | Folder 36 | #3474, Advertisement for Chickering & Sons Pianos, World’s Fair award winner, p. 636 | 1893 December 21 |
| Box 1 | Folder 36 | #3474, Advertisement for Mellin’s Foods, p. III “Babies at the World’s Fair,” p. 664; re: the Children's Building at the Exposition | 1893 December 21 |
