05 Jan anna jirak krause’s historically important 1933 “century of progress” scrapbook joins bldg. 51 museum chiago world’s fair collection

chicagoan anna jirak krause compiled a detailed and vivid account of the 1933-1934 century of progress international exposition—also known as the chicago world’s fair—through a souvenir album containing pages of handwritten notes and attached ephemera.

this album represents one of the most comprehensive first-hand records documenting the fair and its exhibitions that i have had the opportunity to discover and analyze.

the images below provide an overview of the souvenir book, as well as the methods and materials krause utilized in creating her account of the fair.

images courtesy of eric j. nordstrom and the bld. 51 archive. all rights reserved. 2026.