10 Mar john drury research materials used for publication of “old chicago houses” joins bld. 51 museum and archive
March 10, 2026
in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions, New Products, Uncategorized
old chicago houses is a landmark book published in 1941 by journalist john drury. it serves as a “personal biography” of 110 historic homes in chicago. the book originated from a series of weekly articles in the chicago daily news, which ran from 1939 until february 1941, presenting “a blend of historical, biographical, architectural, and social facts” for each house profiled.
the book’s main features include, but are not limited to:
historical scope: it covers residences ranging from the early 19th-century widow clarke house to the then-modern 1908 robie house by frank lloyd wright.
format: each entry is approximately 1,000 words and is accompanied by contemporary 1941 photography.
neighborhood focus: drury ventured beyond downtown to explore neighborhoods like cragin, jefferson park, and auburn park, documenting often-overlooked local treasures.
preservation record: because the book was written before modern landmark laws, it serves as a critical record of many structures—roughly two-thirds of the featured houses have since been demolished, including the potter palmer mansion.
the book has remained a staple for chicago historians and was notably reprinted in 1975 by the university of chicago press.
a selection of original photographic images used for the book are found below.
