03 Mar drawings from chicago’s earliest building preservation newsletter rediscovered and documented

the chicago heritage committee was formed in 1960 by richard nickel and thomas stauffer shortly after nickel finished documenting the garrick theater. the committee was essentially created to save the garrick theater.

the grass-roots organization was the first of its kind devoted to architectural preservation in chicago. a total of four newsletters were issued between 1960-1968. the first issue (see below) was written in part by richard nickel, addressing the status of the garrick theater in 1960. 

when i acquired an original copy of the 1960 newsletter, john vinci shared with me that he contributed the artwork for inclusion in the copies printed and distributed to people concerned over the fate of the theater. a total of four drawings were made, which included the front elevation of the schiller and/or garrick, followed by three drawings of interior and/or exterior building design elements (i.e., geometric flower and intricately designed leafage comprised of terra cotta, and a fret-sawn oak wood panel from the lady’s lounge door). 

after weeks of searching through vinci’s archive i was delighted to find and quickly digitize the fragile drawings used in a newsletter representing the very beginning of chicago preservation movement. the four drawings are show below, in the exact state i found them. like the newsletter, i hope to have the drawings restored and placed in proper storage.