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A Wild Kind of Boldness: The Chicago History Reader
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First published May 1, 1998
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May 28, 2021
This book is a collection of scholarly articles from Chicago History, a magazine put out by the Chicago Historical Society. I did not know this magazine existed until I read this book and now I'm seriously considering a subscription because I'm a fucking nerd. Anyway, I really liked this book! Not every single essay was thrilling, of course, but I'm probably going to scan some of the articles onto my computer for future reference while writing. Of particular interest to me:
"Goodbye, Madora Beaubien: The Americanization of Early Chicago Society," which discusses the culture and ethnic makeup of Chicago during its earliest days as a trading post.
"Upstairs-Downstairs in Chicago 1870-1907: The Glessner Household," which is about servants and their treatment, what was expected of them, and servant-employer relations, particularly in the context of one wealthy woman's extensive diaries. Also contains tantalizing references some exciting ancient drama which I want to know more about but probably never will. (Really, though, it sounds like there was enough drama in the acceptance or lack thereof of Christmas presents in the household.)
"Hull-House as Women's Space," which, I feel like the title is self-explanatory.
"Don't Shake -- Salute!", an article about the 1918-19 influenza pandemic. I am a little skeptical on the author's take on masks -- looking into it further I get the impression they would've helped if social distancing etc. had been recommended and enforced. Aside from that, an unhappily familiar article which was written in 1990.
"Claude A. Barnett and the Associated Negro Press" was really interesting, and I had never heard of the ANP before. (Also discusses some conflicts between them and the Defender, which I am more familiar with.)
"'Rent Reasonable to Right Parties': Gold Coast Apartment Buildings, 1906-1929," relevant to my interests because architecture, but also discusses some of the hazards of being an architect for rich assholes, and so relevant to my interests because drama.
(There were also a ton of articles about labor strikes, but I can't really pick one to recommend because most of them kind of blend together into one continuous blob of frustration with capitalism.)
"Goodbye, Madora Beaubien: The Americanization of Early Chicago Society," which discusses the culture and ethnic makeup of Chicago during its earliest days as a trading post.
"Upstairs-Downstairs in Chicago 1870-1907: The Glessner Household," which is about servants and their treatment, what was expected of them, and servant-employer relations, particularly in the context of one wealthy woman's extensive diaries. Also contains tantalizing references some exciting ancient drama which I want to know more about but probably never will. (Really, though, it sounds like there was enough drama in the acceptance or lack thereof of Christmas presents in the household.)
"Hull-House as Women's Space," which, I feel like the title is self-explanatory.
"Don't Shake -- Salute!", an article about the 1918-19 influenza pandemic. I am a little skeptical on the author's take on masks -- looking into it further I get the impression they would've helped if social distancing etc. had been recommended and enforced. Aside from that, an unhappily familiar article which was written in 1990.
"Claude A. Barnett and the Associated Negro Press" was really interesting, and I had never heard of the ANP before. (Also discusses some conflicts between them and the Defender, which I am more familiar with.)
"'Rent Reasonable to Right Parties': Gold Coast Apartment Buildings, 1906-1929," relevant to my interests because architecture, but also discusses some of the hazards of being an architect for rich assholes, and so relevant to my interests because drama.
(There were also a ton of articles about labor strikes, but I can't really pick one to recommend because most of them kind of blend together into one continuous blob of frustration with capitalism.)
Displaying 1 of 1 review