Glory, Darkness, Light: A History of the Union League Club of Chicago

by James D. Nowlan, Union League Club (Creator)

With roots in the Civil War, the Union League Club of Chicago grew up, prospered, and suffered alongside its city. Glory, Darkness, A History of the Union Club of Chicago tells an honest story of how the Club and its members have built, boosted, and squabbled with their city for 125 years.

The Union League Club of Chicago is unique among the country's 2,000 city clubs in its rich mix of civic, artistic, and charitable missions. In 1893, Club leaders saved and then presented the incomparable World's Columbian Exposition to 27 million awed visitors. Today the walls of its 23-story clubhouse are gilded with a noted art collection whose pieces overlook elegant dining rooms as well as offices for its four Boys & Girls clubs and two other charitable foundations. However, the Club history also has its darker chapters. Half the members of the Club board of directors in 2003--Jews, blacks, women--would have been neither eligible not acceptable for membership a half-century earlier. Based on their own records, the Club's resistance to these groups as members is recounted in sharp detail.

Drawing on interviews, oral histories, and the Club's extensive archives, Glory, Darkness, A History of the Union League Club of Chicago is both a grand city history and a revealing look at what goes on behind the brass plaque of a prominent city club.

312 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2004

About the author

James D. Nowlan is a senior fellow in the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He served as an Illinois state representative from 1969 to 1973 and as an aide to three Illinois governors. Samuel K. Gove is director emeritus and professor emeritus of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs. Richard J. Winkel Jr. is the director of the Office of Public Leadership in the Institute of Government and Public Affairs. He served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003 and in the Illinois Senate from 2003 to 2007.

(Barnes and Noble)

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a member of the Union League Club of Chicago and after reading "The Devil in the White City," which referred to the architects who were ULC members, I found myself curious about the history of the Club. This book was separated into 3 section: "Glory" spoke about the prominent lawyers, architects, bankers, and businessmen in the late 19th century who played a very influential role in Chicago politics and changed the course of history. "Darkness" spoke about how the ULC was slow to admit Jews, African-Americans, and Women to the Club and how the Club was criticized for such action. Finally, "Light" spoke about how the ULC came out of that period and highlights the current activities and opportunities that the Club has to offer.