Title: Clarence John Laughlin Collection, 1962-1963

Storage: Box Lot (2 11 x 14 in. boxes, 6 16 x 20 in. boxes, 1 oversize package)

Accession number: G1985.0428

This descriptive inventory includes:
1. Biographical sketch
2. Description of the collection
3. Container list

Biographical Sketch
Clarence John Laughlin was a self-taught photographer known for his architectural photographs and use of the elements of fantasy and surrealism in the photographic medium. He was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana in 1905 and lived part of his youth on a plantation near New Iberia, Louisiana. His family moved to New Orleans when he was seven and he resided there much of the remainder of his life.

Laughlin once stated that he did not start out as a photographer but as a writer. Certainly he developed an interest in literature and writing during his late teens. His work was influenced by this and other interests in painting, architecture, and psychology. Of primary importance were the writings of Charles Baudelaire and the French Symbolists.

Laughlin's career was as varied as his interests. He worked as a bank clerk in New Orleans from 1924 to 1935. From 1936 to 1940 he was a Civil Service Photographer for the U.S. Engineer Corps on the Mississippi River, in New Orleans and in Vicksburg. The following year he worked as a fashion photographer for Vogue Studios in New York. In 1941-42, he was employed by the Photography Department of the National Archives in Washington, D.C. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army with the Signal Corps Photographic Unit in New York and later with the Office of Strategic Services in Washington, D.C. Following the war, he returned to New Orleans and practiced free-lance architectural photography. This he continued throughout the rest of life in addition to his more imaginative work in the photographic medium.

Laughlin began exhibiting his photographic work as early as 1936. He had over 200 exhibits in his lifetime, including several in Chicago at the Art Institute (1952), Chicago Historical Society (1963), Carson Pirie Scott (1967), and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago Center for Contemporary Photography (1976). The exhibition prints in this collection are from the Society's exhibit, "The Romantic Period in Chicago Architecture," which opened in April of 1963.

Laughlin's photography is the subject of numerous books and articles, including his New Orleans and Its Living Past (1941), Ghosts Along the Mississippi (1948, reprinted 1962), and Clarence John Laughlin: The Personal Eye (1973). Photographs of Victorian Chicago (1968), a publication accompanying an exhibit at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. (1968), shows a few other Chicago photographs. A comprehensive bibliography located in Contemporary Photographers (New York: St. Martin's Press, [1982]).

The photographic work of Clarence John Laughlin appears in many collections throughout the United States and Europe. Among the institutions are the University of Louisville, Kentucky (Archives); International Museum of Photography, George Eastman House, Rochester, N.Y.; New Orleans Museum of Art; Historic New Orleans Collection; and the Art Institute of Chicago. The negatives for the Society's collection of photographs are located at the Historic New Orleans Collection.

Laughlin died after a long illness at the age of seventy-nine on January 2, 1985.

Description of the Collection
The Clarence John Laughlin Collection at the Chicago Historical Society includes 400 black and white silver gelatin photographs measuring 8 x 10 inches, and 149 11 x 14 inch images of selected prints from the above group. The 11 x 14 inch group is dry mounted and matted. These images were printed by Laughlin from his original negatives for exhibition in 1963.

The subject of the collection is the vestigial remains of Victorian architecture in Chicago. The photographs were taken during the early Summer of 1962. While the majority of the photographs are views of building exteriors, there are a good number of interiors and details. Laughlin's work was funded in part by the architectural firms of Holabird and Root, Charles F. Murphy and Associates, and Shaw Metz and Associates.

Included are mansions along Prairie Avenue, such as the George Ellery Wood Mansion (1885), The William Read Mansion (1894), and the W.W. Kimball Mansion (1892). Other mansions once belonged to John G. Shedd (1896-98) on Drexel Blvd. and August and Francis J. Dewes mansions on Wrightwood Ave. In addition, the collection contains small groups of hotels, restaurants, churches, public and commercial buildings built between 1872 and the early 1900s. Laughlin concentrated on selected Chicago areas including the near North side, the Old Town "Triangle" area, the near West side centering on Division and Hoyne (1200 N., 2100 W.), and the Kenwood area centering on 45th and Drexel Blvd. (900E.).

Laughlin annotated his work extensively, giving the angle and the location of the photograph as well as points of interest. Notes appear on the back of the print and in a separate typescript provided by him. He divided the 400 master prints into twenty series by type of structure, e.g., mansions, park sculpture, public buildings, and then by neighborhood streets or areas. The collection remains organized according to his numerical order. The exhibition prints retain the numeration from the master prints. For several of the structures he has identified date, architect, past and present owners. A few of the buildings have since been demolished.

A separate information file includes a photocopy of Laughlin's type-script notes, a copy of the exhibition arrangement for the enlargements, a copy of Photographs of Victorian Chicago (Washington, D.C.: Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1968), a copy of the Society's press release for "The Romantic Period of Chicago Architecture" (1963), and a holiday greeting card from Aldis & Company which used some of these prints.

Inventory by: Diane Ryan, November, 1985

Container List
Master Prints
Box 1
Mansions
1
1-4 George Ellery Wood mansion. 2801 S. Prairie Ave. Exterior views.
5-19 __________________________. Interior views.
20-21 William Read mansion. 2013 S. Prairie. Exterior views.
22-29 ____________________. Interior views.
30 W.W. Kimball mansion. 1801 S. Prairie. Exterior views.
31-33 John G. Shedd mansion. 4515 S. Drexel. Exterior views.
34-40 _____________________. Interior view.

2
41-47 John G. Shedd mansion. Interior views.
48-51 Unidentified mansion. 4455 S. Drexel. Exterior views.
52-56 Gates mansion. 2944 S. Michigan Ave. Exterior views.
57-64 _____________. Interior views.
65-68 Unidentified mansion. 3656 S. Parkway. Exterior views.
69-70 ____________________. Interior views.
71-79 Francis J. Dewes mansion. 503 W. Wrightwood. Exterior views.
80 Francis J. Dewes mansion. Interior view.

3
81-107 Francis J. Dewes mansion. Interior views.
108-110 August Dewes mansion. 509 W. Wrightwood. Exterior views.
111-112 John B. Murphy Memorial Building. 50 E. Erie. Exterior views.
113-115 Samuel J. Nickerson mansion. 40 E. Erie. Exterior views.
116-120 ___________________________. Interior views.

4
121-138 Samuel J. Nickerson mansion. Interior views.
139-142 E.E. Ayer mansion. 2 E. Banks. Exterior views.
143-144 Unidentified mansion. 1029 N. Dearborn. Exterior views.
145-148 Unidentified mansion. 1614 N. LaSalle. Interior views.
149-150 House. 624 W. Fullerton. Exterior views.
151-153 _____. Interior views.
154-155 Wooster mansion. 1323 N. State Parkway. Exterior views.
156-160 Unidentified mansion. 2026 W. Schiller. Exterior views.

5
161-162 Unidentified mansion. 2026 W. Schiller. Exterior views.
163-167 Unidentified mansion. 1521 N. Hoyne. Exterior views.
168-171 ____________________. Interior views.

The Parks of Chicago
172-175 Lincoln Park. St. Gauden's Lincoln.
176 Lincoln Park. De La Salle statue.
The Public Buildings of Chicago
177 1st Infantry Armory. 16th & S. Michigan. Exterior view.
178 Unidentified building. 801 N. Milwaukee. Exterior view.
179 Lincoln Turnhalle. 1003 W. Diversey. Exterior view.
180-182 George F. Harding Museum. 4855 S. Lake Park Ave. Exterior views.
183-184 Gold Coast Theater. 1548 N. Clark. Exterior views.
185 Old Janet Moore Theater. 617 W. North Ave. Exterior view.
186-188 Plaza Hotel. S.E. corner of North Ave. & Clark St.

Box 2
1
201-207 Germania Club. Interior views.
208 Worthington Hotel. 747-745 N. Clark St. Exterior views.
209 Atlantic Hotel. 328-316 S. Clark St. Exterior views.
210-219 Atlantic Hotel. Interior views.
220-221 2nd Presbyterian Church. Cullerton & S. Michigan.

Exterior views.
227 St. Ambrose Cathedral. 1004 E. 47th St. Exterior view. v228-229 Church of Holy Angels. 607 E. Oakwood. Exterior views.
230-232 St. Chrysotom's Protestant Episcopal Church. 1424 N. Dearborn. Exterior views.
233-234 St. Ita Roman Catholic Church. 5500 N. Broadway. Exterior view.
235 Quigley Seminary Church. 103 E. Chestnut. Exterior view.
236 St. Mary of the Angels. Cortland & Hermitage. Exterior view.
237-238 St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church. Noble & Evergreen. Exterior view.
239 St. John Cantius Roman Catholic Church. Ogden Ave. Exterior view.
240 Ferdinand Henrotin Public Bath. 2417 Marshfield St. Exterior view.

2
241 Engine Co. #63. 6330 S. Maryland. Exterior view.
242 Police Station. 2128 N. Halsted. Exterior view.
243-244 Schoenhofen Brewery. 18th & Normal. Exterior view.
245 Inn. 3323 N. Southport. Exterior view.
246-248 Red Goose Inn. 1801 W. Division Ave. Exterior views.

The "Triangle"
249 Crilly Court.
250 House. 221 W. Eugenie. Exterior view.
251 House. 225 W. Eugenie. Exterior view.
252 Park. Eugenie & Wells.
253 House. 152-160 W. Eugenie. Exterior view.
254 House. 166-164 W. Eugenie. Exterior view.
255 House. 1733 N. Wells. Exterior view.
256 House. 1711-1709 N. Wells. Exterior view.
257 House. 1728 N. Wells. Exterior view.
258 Buildings. 1352-1356 N. Lincoln. Exterior view.
259-260 Wacker mansion. 1838 N. Lincoln Park West. Exterior view.
261 House. 1826-1830 N. Lincoln Park West. Exterior view.
262 House. 1831 N. Lincoln Park West. Exteriorview.
263-264 House. 1817 N. Lincoln Park West. Exterior view.

North Clark Street
265 House. 1918 N. Clark. Exterior view.
266 Lane Hotel. 878 N. Clark. Exterior view.
267 Building. 1039 N. Clark Exterior view.
268 Biddle Building. 679-677 N. Clark. Exteriorview.
269 H. Malcolm Building. 662 N. Clark. Exterior view.

North Wells Street
270 Building. 1004 N. Wells. Exterior view.
271 Buildings. 1001 & 949 N. Wells. Exterior view.
272-273 Second City Theater. 1844 N. Wells. Exterior view.
274 Houses. 831-825 N. Dearborn. Exterior view.

North LaSalle Street
275 House. 1216 N. LaSalle. Exterior view.
276-279 Unidentified mansion. 1338 N. LaSalle. Exterior views.

3
North Mohawk & North Cleveland
280 House. 2049 N. Mohawk. Exterior view.
281 House. 2045 N. Mohawk. Exterior view.
282 House. 2319-2317 N. Cleveland. Exterior view.
283 House. 2825 N. Cleveland. Exterior view.
284 House. 2151 N. Cleveland. Exterior view.
285 House. 2147 N. Cleveland. Exterior view.
286 House. 1726 N. Cleveland. Exterior view.
287 House. 1930 N. Cleveland. Exterior view.
288 Building. 2058 N. Cleveland. Exterior view.
289 Building. 2112 N. Cleveland. Exterior view.
290 House. 2212 N. Cleveland. Exterior view.

North State Street & Parkway
291-292 House. 1448 N. State. Exterior view.
293 House. 1438 N. State. Exterior view.
294 House. 1432 N. State. Exterior view.
295 Houses. 1438-1440 N. State. Exterior view.
296 House. 1430-1432 N. State. Exterior view.
297 Three Arts Club. 1300 N. State [i.e., Dearborn] Exterior view.
298-299 Hotel Cedar. 1118 N. State. Exterior view.
300-301 House. 1024 N. State. Exterior view.
302-303 Houses. 1318-1322 Ritchie Court. Exterior view.
304 House. 1305 Ritchie Court. Exterior view.
305 House. 1307 Ritchie Court. Exterior view.

East Goethe & North Astor Streets
306 Houses. 17-23 E. Goethe. Exterior view.
307 Houses. 21-23 E. Goethe. Exterior view.
308 Houses. 1200 block of N. Astor. Exterior view.
309 Houses. 1300 block of N. Astor. Exterior view.
310 House. 1444 N. Astor. Exterior view.
311 House. 1448 N. Astor. Exterior view.
312 Unidentified mansion. 20 E. Burton Place. Exterior view.
313 Holm House. 1412 N. Astor. Exterior view.
314 House. 1400 N. Astor. Exterior view.
315 House. 1248 N. Astor. Exterior view.

West North Avenue
316 Building. 822 W. North Ave. Exterior view.
317-319 Building. 640 W. North Ave. Exterior view.

4
320-321 Building. 534 W. North Ave. Exterior view.
322 Building. 539-543 W. North Ave. Exterior view.
323 Building. 535 W. North Ave. Exterior view.

Miscellaneous Streets
324 Wolfram's farm house. 830 W. Wolfram St. Exterior view.
325-326 House. 2715 N. Pine Grove Ave. Exterior view.
327 Unidentified mansion. 2714 N. Pine Grove. Exterior view.
328 House. 1719 Des Plaines St. Exterior view.
329 S. Bloomenfeld house. 8 W. Chicago Ave. Exterior view.
330 Building. 25 E. 23rd St. Exterior view.
331 Building. 1034 N. Milwaukee Ave. Exterior view.
332 Building. 2986 N. Elston Ave. Exterior view.
333-334 Unidentified mansion. 2434 W. Addison. Exterior view.
335 Fritz C. Nehls Building. 716 W. Blackhawk. Exterior view.
336 House. 3700 S. Ellis. Exterior view.
337-338 Coorlas Apartment House. 1412-1414 W. Montrose. Exterior view.
339 House. 1107 N. Damen. Exterior view.
340-341 Building. 418 W. Belden. Exterior view.
343 Houses. 30-32 E. Scott St. Exterior view.
344 House. 51 E. Division. Exterior view.

North Dearborn Street
345-346 Unidentified mansion. 1415 N. Dearborn.Exterior view.
347 Unidentified mansion. 1547 N. Dearborn. Exterior view.
348-349 House. 1401 N. Dearborn. Exterior view.
350-351 House. 1325 N. Dearborn. Exterior view.
352 House. 1337 N. Dearborn. Exterior view.
353 House. 1339 N. Dearborn. Exterior view.
354 Houses. 1335-1327 N. Dearborn. Exterior view.
355 House. 731 N. Dearborn. Exterior view.
356-357 House. 1245 N. Dearborn. Exterior view.

North Lincoln Avenue
358 House. 2248 N. Lincoln Ave. Exterior view.
359 House. 2248-2250 N. Lincoln Ave. Exterior view.

5
North Hoyne
360 House. 1114 N. Hoyne. Exterior view.
361-362 House. 1134 N. Hoyne. Exterior view.
363 Unidentified mansion. 1036 N. Hoyne. Exterior view.
364 House. 1125 N. Hoyne. Exterior view.
365 House. 1520 N. Hoyne. Exterior view.
366 Unidentified mansion. 1427 N. Hoyne. Exterior view.
367 House. 1046 N. Hoyne. Exterior view.
368 House. 1236 N. Hoyne. Exterior view.
369 House. 1339 N. Hoyne. Exterior view.

North Halsted Street
370 Buildings. 1626-1628 N. Halsted. Exterior view.
371 Buildings. 1565-1563 N. Halsted. Exterior view.

South Drexel Boulevard
372 Unidentified mansions. 4639-4643 S. Drexel. Exterior view.
373 Houses. 3900 block of S. Drexel. Exterior view.
374 House. 3946 S. Drexel. Exterior view.
375 Houses. 3975-3981 S. Drexel. Exterior view.
376 Houses. 3983-3987 S. Drexel. Exterior view.
377 Houses. 4101-4105 S. Drexel. Exterior view.
378 House. 4101 S. Drexel. Exterior view.
379 House. 4105 S. Drexel. Exterior view.
380 Unidentified mansion. 4825 S. Drexel. Exterior view.
381 Houses. 4104-4112 S. Drexel. Exterior view.
382 Houses. 4244-4240 S. Drexel. Exterior view.
383 House. 4250 S. Drexel. Exterior view.
384-385 Unidentified mansion. 4825 S. Drexel. Exterior view.
386 House. 4331 S. Drexel. Exterior view.
387 House. 4339 S. Drexel. Exterior view.
388 Fuller mansion. 4353 S. Drexel. Exterior view.
389 Unidentified mansion. 4518 S. Drexel. Exterior view.
390 Tudor Gables Apartments. 4840 S. Drexel. Exterior view.

West Pierce & West Schiller
391-394 House. 2137 W. Pierce. Exterior view.
395-397 House. 2138 W. Pierce. Exterior view.
398 Unidentified mansion. 1941 W. Schiller. Exterior view.
399 Unidentified mansion. 1953 W. Schiller. Exterior view.

West Armitage
400 Buildings. 917-925 W. Armitage. Exterior view.

Exhibition Prints: 11 x 14 " prints of the above series
Box 3
1