| Dates: | Circa 1870s-circa 1890s |
| Size: | 1 photograph album, 56 photographs |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605 |
| Collection Number: | spe.n00145 |
| Immediate Source of Acquisition: | Donated by Oak Park River Forest Museum in 2020. The album was donated to OPRF Museum by a family friend of Kathryn M. Slack, but because the content focused on Chicago rather than Oak Park, the Museum donated it to CPL. |
| 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 Slack Family Album, [Page #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library |
| Finding Aid Author: | Johanna Russ, 2020. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Johanna Russ, 2021. |
Abstract
Kathryn M. Slack spent the first few decades of her life in Chicago's Austin neighborhood before moving to Oak Park. It is presumed the album contains images of Kathryn M. Slack’s ancestors. The portraits include children, adults and older family members, and provide a view on the typical clothing and styles of a white family with the means to purchase photographic services in the late 1800s in Chicago.
Biographical/Historical
The biographical information below was gathered by OPRF Museum staff.
Kathryn M. Slack was born in Chicago on December 25, 1913. Her parents were John Charles Slack (born March 7, 1874) and Kathryn Bain Sharp (born October 26, 1880). The Slack family lived at 1035 N. Lorel Ave. in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago.
John Charles Slack was an accountant in his early career and later became superintendent at Chicago Policlinic and Hospital. Slack also ran for Illinois State Senate from the 23rd District as a Republican candidate. Slack took his own life in 1930.
Following her father’s death, Kathryn and her mother moved to Oak Park, where they lived for the rest of their lives. Kathryn Bain Sharp died June 12, 1967, and Kathryn M. Slack died in 1995.
Scope and Contents
The people in the 56 photographs in this album are not identified, but many of the prints bear stamps from Chicago photography studios. It is presumed the album contains images of Kathryn M. Slack’s ancestors. The portraits include children, adults and older family members, and provide a view on the typical clothing and styles of a white family with the means to purchase photographic services in the late 1800s in Chicago. A wedding announcement for John Charles Slack and Kathryn Bain Sharp is included in the back of the album. The album itself is covered in purple velvet, with a large metal clasp.
Related Collections
Austin Community Collection
Subject Headings
Austin (Chicago, Ill.)
Collection Inventory
| Box 1 | Slack Family photograph album |
