Chicago History Fair Research Guide

History Fair Research

The Newberry holds primary and secondary sources related to our core subjects, including maps, manuscripts, photographs, postcards, ephemera, and books on Chicago's history and people.

Use the sections below to explore. Please call the reference desk at (312) 255-3512 with questions about our holdings, or contact a librarian with research questions.

What is the Newberry Library?

The Newberry is an independent research library focused on the humanities. The library does not circulate (check out) materials outside of the building, everything is viewed onsite in either the General Collections Reading Room or Special Collections Reading Room.

• You must be 14 years old or in high school to do research at the Newberry. If you are under 14, you can email reference@newberry.org and we will do our best to help through email.
• Everyone who visits the reading rooms in person to look at materials needs to have a reader’s card.
• Reading Room Hours: Tuesdays-Saturdays 10-4. We stop retrieving materials one hour before we close at 3pm.
• The Newberry is a research library, no materials may leave the building.
• For more information visit Use the Collection in Person

History Fair Research

The Newberry holds primary and secondary sources related to our core subjects, including maps, manuscripts, photographs, music, postcards, and books related to the people and history of Chicago. 

Use the sections below to explore. Please call the reference desk at (312) 255-3512 with questions about our holdings, or contact a librarian with research questions.

What does the Newberry have?

• The Newberry has 11 collection strengths that we call the Core Collections: American History and Culture; American Indian and Indigenous Studies; Chicago and the Midwest; Genealogy and Local History; History of the Book; Maps, Travel, and Exploration; Medieval, Renaissance and Early Modern Studies; Modern Manuscripts and Archives; Performing Arts; Postcards; Religion.
• We have books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, postcards, and other ephemera, as well as some artwork and artifacts.
• Digital collections. Some of the collection, but not all, has been digitized.
• Everyone can check the online catalog and online finding aids to see what we have.
• Once you find something you would like to look at, you can place a request by either clicking the Request for Use at the Newberry Library link in the online catalog or Request button in the finding aids.
• We have research guides available to help you get started. 

How do I get started?

The Newberry has a vast collection of Chicago history materials, both primary and secondary sources. Before beginning your research at the Newberry, you will need to have some background information on your topic (for example, names, dates, locations, etc). Below is a list of resources to get you started.

Electronic Resources

• Encyclopedia of Chicago. This is a free electronic encyclopedia of all things Chicago history.
• African American Communities This resource presents multiple aspects of the African American community through pamphlets, newspapers and periodicals, correspondence, official records, reports and in-depth oral histories.
• Chicago History The magazine of the Chicago History Museum, publishes articles on various aspects of the history of Chicago: cultural, political, economic, social, architectural, and other topics. Chicago History has been published continuously since 1945, and in its current form since 1970.
• Digital Collections for the Classroom. This is a free source that includes primary source images from the Newberry’s collections selected by educators, with essays and discussion questions for use in the humanities classroom.
• Chicago Tribune Historical Archive (1849-1995). This is a subscription database available at several institutions including the Newberry and Chicago Public Library. To use the database at the Newberry you must be in the building. If you have a CPL card, you can use this database from anywhere.
• Chicago Defender Historical Archive (1909-1975). This is a subscription database, available at Newberry and Chicago Public Library. To use the database at the Newberry you must be in the building. If you have a CPL card, you can use this database from anywhere.
• Chicago Biography and Industry File. An index to over 48 volumes, published between 1876 and 1937, containing industrial and biographical sketches. Some items are available for free electronically and some are only available to view in the library.
• Explore Chicago Collections. Explore Chicago Collections lets researchers, teachers and students search many locations at once. This unified search lets you locate thousands of archival collections and digital images at member institutions all over the Chicago area.
• Chicago Public Library’s Chicago History Page. This guide provides access to the Chicago History Blog, Chicago Timeline, Chicago Facts, and other helpful resources.

Print Resources:

• Chicago: A Chronological & Documentary History: 1784-1970.  Furer, Howard B., ed. Dobbs Ferry, NY: Oceana Publications, 1974. Newberry Library Call Number:  Chicago Browsing F 548.3 .F87 (2nd Floor)
• Chicago: Its History and Its Builders. Currey, J. Seymour. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1912. Newberry Library Call Number: Chicago Browsing F 548.3 .C97 (2nd Floor)
• Ethnic Chicago: A Multicultural Portrait. Holli, Melvin G. and Peter d’Alroy Jones, eds. Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1995. Newberry Library Call Number: Chicago Browsing F 548.9 A1  E85 1995 (2nd Floor)
• Women Building Chicago 1790-1990: A Biographical Dictionary. Schultz, Rima Lunin and Adele Hast, eds. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2001. Newberry Library Call Number: Local History Ref HQ 1549 .C47 W66 2001 (2nd Floor)
• All of the works listed above are available on the open shelf in the General Reading Room on the second floor of the Newberry. You don’t need to place requests to view these materials. They are also available at the Chicago Public Library, be sure to check their catalog for availability.

How do I ask for help?

• You can email reference@newberry.org or click on the Ask a Librarian link on our website
• We have reference librarians available in person during reading room hours, just ask at the reading room desks.
• It helps us to know what work you have already done on your topic: what other libraries you have already visited, what resources you have already found, and what you are hoping to find next.

What else should I know?

When you view an item in the library, there usually isn’t any context for that item provided and it is up to you to figure out what it says and how it can help with your research. Before you visit the Newberry, make sure you know:

• The difference between a primary and secondary source. This may help: Skills Lesson: Types of Sources.
• The various types of formats you may be looking at, such as manuscripts, maps, or ephemera.
• Is the item handwritten and can you read handwriting?
• Is the item in another language and can you read that language?
• Look over the online catalog records carefully as they may help to provide some context for the items.
• Give yourself plenty of time. It can take longer than you think to speak with a librarian, place requests, and read through the materials. Sometimes you may have to look through sources that are not helpful, as well as those that are helpful. That is the research process.
• Arrive before 3pm. We stop retrieving materials one hour before we close, even if you placed your requests before 3pm.