Chicago Art Deco Society records, ca. 1973-2008 (bulk 1981-2008)

 

Descriptive Inventory for the Collection at Chicago History Museum, Research Center

By Courtney Herman and Dominique Tremblay, 2009

 

 

Chicago History Museum

1601 North Clark Street

Chicago, IL 60614-6038

Website: http://www.chicagohistory.org/research

 

 

© Copyright 2009, Chicago Historical Society

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Title: Chicago Art Deco Society records [manuscript], ca. 1973-2008 (bulk 1981-2008)

Main entry: Chicago Art Deco Society

Inclusive dates: ca. 1973-2008 (bulk 1981-2008)

Size: 1.75 linear ft. (5 boxes)

Restriction: Research use of this collection is governed by the standard rules and regulations of the Chicago History Museum Research Center.

Accession number: 2009.0029.1

Provenance statement: Gift of Chicago Art Deco Society (2009.0029.1).

Terms governing use: Donor deeded all rights owned by the donor to this material, including copyright, to Chicago Historical Society. Copyright may be retained by the creators of items, or their descendents, as stipulated by United States copyright law, unless otherwise noted.

Please cite this collection as: Chicago Art Deco Society records (Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description, date, and box/folder number of a specific item.

 

This descriptive inventory contains the following sections:

Biographical/historical note,

Summary description of the collection,

Description of some materials related to this collection,

List of online catalog headings about the collection,

Arrangement of the collection,

Detailed description of the archival series in the collection,

List of contents of the collection.

 

Biographical/historical note:

The Chicago Art Deco Society was founded in 1981 as an offshoot of the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Under the guidance of its first president Lynn Abbie, the non-profit organization sent its first newsletter and began organizing events related to the art deco style. As the membership grew, the newsletter adopted a magazine format, and CADS sponsored more tours and events. Other presidents have been Chuck Kaplan (to 2000), Bennett Johnson, Joe Loundy (2007- ).

 

Summary description of the collection:

Correspondence, minutes, financial records, event materials, and publications of the Chicago Art Deco Society (CADS), an organization of people interested in the art deco style used in the design and decoration of many Chicago area buildings of the 1920s and 1930s. Also included in the collection are the papers of Lynn Abbie, founder of CADS, containing correspondence and notes related to classes she taught as well as several papers and notes about historic preservation. Also included are notes on architectural tours given by CADS in the city of Chicago and lists of art deco-style buildings.

 

Description of some materials related to this collection:

Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Chicago Art Deco Society photograph collection (2009.0029.2) and issues of its periodical cataloged separately.

 

List of online catalog headings about the collection:

The following index headings for this collection were entered in the online catalog.

Subjects:

Chicago Art Deco Society

Abbie, Lynne

Chicago Architecture Foundation.

Century of Progress International Exposition (1933-1934 : Chicago, Ill.)--History.

Architecture--Illinois--Chicago Metropolitan Area--20th century.

Art deco--Illinois--Chicago Metropolitan Area--Societies, etc.

Art deco--Illinois--Chicago Metropolitan Area--Periodicals.

Art, Modern--20th century--Periodicals.

Decoration and ornament, Architectural--Illinois--Chicago Metropolitan Area--20th century--Periodicals.

Historic preservation--Illinois--Chicago Metropolitan Area.

Chicago Metropolitan Area (Ill.)--Buildings, structures, etc.--20th century.

 

Form/genre:

Correspondence.

Financial records.

Minutes.

Periodicals.

 

Added entries:

Abbie, Lynne

United States--Illinois--Cook County--Chicago.

 

Arrangement of the collection:

The collection is arranged in three series:

Series 1. Administrative records, 1981-2008 (box 1-2)

Series 2. Publications, 1981-2008 (box 3-4)

Series 3. Lynn Abbie files, 1973-1999 (box 5)

 

Detailed description of archival series in the collection:

Series 1. Administrative records, 1981-2008 (box 1-2)

The first series contains records relating to the organization and processes of the Chicago Art Deco Society. Their not-for-profit status is noted in the many documents related to tax form filings and IRS correspondence. Also included in this series are several operating documents such as the society’s by-laws, insurance information, meeting minutes, correspondence and member lists. There are also many copies invitations to events sponsored by the society over the years.

 

Series 2. Publications, 1981-2008 (box 3-4)

The second series contains copies of the Chicago Art Deco Society newsletter and magazine from its conception in 1981 to 2008. Also included is a complete list (index) of articles found in each publication divided by author, title, and subject. There also is a limited-edition, commemorative Art Deco Calendar that the society made available in 2007, which is filled with photographs of art deco examples in the Chicago area.

 

Series 3. Lynn Abbie files 1973-1999 (box 5)

Series 3 contains the personal papers of the Chicago Art Deco Society’s first president and founder, Lynn Abbie. This series includes correspondence, research and notes related to a class she taught on ethnic expressions in architecture. Also in this series is research related to historic preservation efforts as well as papers and assignments from a docent training program. Notes from walking tours conducted in specific parts of the metropolitan area, including Near North, Gold Coast, and Michigan Avenue, are also included.

 

List of contents of the collection:

Series 1. Administrative records, 1981-2008 (box 1-2)

Box 1

Folders:

1          By laws: original, 1982-1984

2          By laws: amendments, 1983

3          By laws, 2002

4          By laws, CADS history, 2002-2007

5          Expenses, 2003

6          IRS correspondence, sample, 1984

7          IRS correspondence [Form 1023], 1979

8          IRS correspondence [Form 1023], 1983

9          IRS correspondence, 2000-2004

10        IRS correspondence, 1983-1984

11        IRS correspondence, 1987-1991

12        Bank sign documents, 1991

13        Insurance, 2001-2002

14        Minutes, 1999-2007

15        Grants and funding, 1988-2005

16        Grants and funding, 1986-1990

17        Grants and funding, 1988

18        Grants and funding, 1986-2005

19        Correspondence, 1984-2008

20        Events and invitations, 1982-2008

21        Events and invitations, 2000-2008

22        Events and invitations, 2000-2008

23        Events and invitations, 2000-2008

24        Events and invitations, 2000-2008

25        Events and invitations, 2000-2008

26        Art deco buildings list, 2005

27        Other publications, 1982-2002

28        Other publications, 1981-1984

29        Other publications, 1989-2002

 

Box 2

Folders:

1          Treasurer's report, 1991-1993

2          Treasurer's report, 1994-1995

3          Treasurer's report, 1996-1997

4          Treasurer's report, 1998-1999

5          Treasurer's report, 2000-2001

6          Treasurer's report, 2002-2003

7          Treasurer's report, 2004-2005

8          Minutes and agendas, 1992

9          Minutes and agendas, 1993

10        Minutes and agendas, 1994

11        Minutes and agendas, 1995

12        Minutes and agendas, 1996

13        Minutes and agendas, 1997

14        Minutes and agendas, 1998

15        Minutes and agendas, 1999

16        Minutes and agendas, 2000

17        Minutes and agendas, 2001

18        Minutes and agendas, 2002

19        Minutes and agendas, 2003

20        Minutes and agendas, 2004

21        Minutes and agendas, 2005

22        By laws, undated

23        By laws, 2001

24        By laws, 2001-2002

25        By laws, 2002

26        By laws, 2004

27        Advisory board, 1988

28        List of events, 1990-2008

 

Series 2. Publications, 1981-2008 (box 3-4)

Box 3

Folders:

1          Listing of CADS magazines (Index): articles, subjects, authors, 1981-2008

2          CADS newsletter: December 1981-March/April 1983

3          CADS newsletter: January/February 1984-Winter 1985-1986

4          CADS newsletter: Spring 1986-Winter 1987-1988

5          CADS newsletter: Spring 1988-Winter 1989-1990

6          CADS newsletter: Spring 1990-Winter 1992

7          CADS newsletter: April 1992-Winter 1992-1993

8          CADS magazine: Spring 1993-Winter 1993-1994

9          CADS magazine: Spring 1994-Spring 1995

10        CADS magazine: Summer 1995-Spring 1996

11        CADS magazine: Summer 1996-Spring 1997

12        CADS magazine: Summer 1997-Spring 1998

13        CADS magazine: Summer 1998-Spring 1999

14        CADS magazine: Fall/Winter 2002 & 2003-Spring/Summer 2003

15        CADS magazine: Summer 1999-Spring 2001

 

Box 4

Folders:

1          CADS magazine: Fall/Winter 2003 & 2004-Spring/Summer 2004 including special color issue

2          CADS magazine: Fall/Winter 2004 & 2005-Fall/Winter 2005-2006

3          CADS magazine: Spring/Summer 2006-Fall/Winter 2007 & 2008

4          Miscellaneous magazine/newsletter inserts

5          Chicago Art Deco in the 1930s limited edition calendar 2007

 

Series 3. Lynn Abbie files, 1973-1999 (box 5)

Box 5

Folders:

1          Central City [tour information and research], 1978-1992

2          Central City [tour information and research], 1978-1993

3          Deco information, 1984-1987

4          Preservation research, 1975

5          Preservation research, 1987

6          Preservation research, 1974-1975

7          Docent programs, 1973-1975

8          Tour notes, 1974

9          Tour notes, 1974

10        Tour notes, 1981

11        Correspondence: Ethnic Expressions class, summer 1982

12        Ethnic Expressions class, 1982

13        Research: Ethnic Expressions class, summer 1982

14        Near North tour information, 1993

15        Near North tour information, 1999

16        Near North/Gold Coast-Michigan Avenue/Merchandise Mart, 1981-1993

17        Graphics, posters & collectibles research, 1978-1999