The Newberry Library, free and open to the public since 1887, is an independent research library and educational institution dedicated to making humanities resources and scholarship accessible to a diverse community of learners. The Newberry's collections number 1.5 million books, five million manuscript pages, and 300 thousand historic maps. Collection strengths include the history and literature of western Europe, the history and literature of North and South America, music, religion, genealogy, maps and cartography, printing and the history of the book. The Newberry offers a wide variety of exhibits, lectures, classes, and concerts related to its collections.

The Chicago Historical Society, a major museum and research center, was founded in 1856, and is the city's first cultural institution. The Historical Society houses more than 20 million objects, images and documents. These include books, manuscripts, paintings, sculpture, costumes, prints, photographs, news film, architectural drawings and fragments. Nationally recognized for its major collections, the CHS specializes in the diverse and evolving history of Chicago and Illinois, as well as selected areas of American history. Popular permanent and special exhibitions, educational programs, dynamic Web site, publications and research guidance to the collection and historical reference are offered to the public year-round.