Attending #AHA26 in Chicago? Join Malachy McCarthy, Ellen Skerrett, Holly Fiedler, and CCC for our discussion, Broadening the Scholarly Paradigm: Documenting, Preserving, and Creating a Framework for Chicago History. aha.confex.com/aha/2026/web...

Let's end this most challenging year with our favorite Dill Pickles and their Bawl M'ass'k courtesy of member @newberrylibrary.bsky.social (citation below) 2026 has to be better, right? Right????

It was a very somber and scary weekend but finding some bright spots: 1. seeing @robertloerzel.bsky.social and Andy Pierce discuss their amazing book, The Uptown, encompassing not just the theater but the neighborhood and 2. hearing Chance the Rapper make @chicagocta.bsky.social announcements

1/2 We had our last board meeting of the calendar year and discussed what challenging times these are. But archives and the scholars who use them can still reveal history, good and bad.

Could not be more proud to work with such a great group of Chicago heritage workers through @chicollections.bsky.social to keep our EXPLORE portal running as a trusted diverse source: www.raceandequityproject.org/training-hig...

Dominic Pacyga, an urban historian and author, has researched immigration history for decades. As ICE raids hit local communities, he sees parallels to how different groups have mobilized around a common cause. https://www.citybureau.org/newswire/2025/12/2/dominic-pacyga-immigration-raids-chicago

One of the great things about working with colleagues who love Chicago history is appreciating how they title articles. We happily present "No Little Plans: Constructing a Local Controlled Vocabulary in EXPLORE Chicago Collections" by Kate Flynn and Erin Matson: journals.ala.org/index.php/lr...

1/4 We know we're one organization among many reaching out on #GivingTuesday and that it's a challenging year.

Enjoying some digital images of Christmas on this snowy day from CCC members in our portal. Don’t let the innocent act fool you. Those paws can turn caps lock in a heartbeat.

No matter what *someone* says, it's still World AIDS Day. Member University of Chicago has the ACT UP Chicago records because history cannot be covered up or whitewashed. explore.chicagocollections.org/ead/uchicago...

We're taking tomorrow off so we're giving early thanks to our members and all of you in our community and what better way than from a program from our favorite, the Dill Pickle Club!

It's a sad anniversary, the death of Mayor Harold Washington in 1987 OTD, but we love this image of him with union members. Credit to member UIC.

We were thrilled to be invited by the Department of Aviation to decorate a tree at out O'Hare! We hope you get to take a look in your holiday travels! Find us at Terminal 5 between gates M18 and M20. All images from our portal featuring members' collections!

Yup, this tracks! Check out bubbel.blue

Not scary news this Halloween, great news that transit is funded! In honor of that, we're sharing Estelle Wong's brilliant Ode to the L, a winner of our Making History Come Alive Through Words poetry competition in 2024. Thanks Estelle and @chicagocta.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLZe...

“Chicago is the future.“ @joseolivarez.bsky.social for @chicagomag.com

This sounds familiar . . .

Aka the Tronc guy www.npr.org/2018/12/12/6...

This is a great read from @chicagocovenants.bsky.social The parallels to today--a white criminal preferable to a black homeowner . . . www.chicagocovenants.com/research/al-...

Remember when we did protection instead of deportation? Midwest Committee for Protection of Foreign Born records, 1947-1963, bulk 1950-1958 explore.chicagocollections.org/ead/chicagoh...

Kevin M. Schultz and Daniel Kaliszyk describe troubling cuts at the Chicago History Museum. chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/...

Right exhibit in the right place! We look forward to seeing it. Member DePaul has the Young Lords collection: explore.chicagocollections.org/ead/depaul/8...

The View from the Ground archive is a searchable collection of Jamie Kalven’s original reporting and a robust collection of black and white film photographs by Patricia Evans from the final chapter of high-rise public housing in Chicago.

Man, the world is scary, so why not go down the rabbit hole of Chicago Stadium research with a coworker

We're here for whatever Dominic Pacyga writes!

Chilling. Let's remember that in Chicago, we don't censor history.

The vibe we needed this morning! Hellhole, amirite?

The Museum of Broadcast Communications is a member of ours! We're thrilled for a new physical home for them!

We know there is A LOT going on but access to history is important too. If you were a fan of the late Dennis McClendon, his Sanborn site is now only available via the Wayback Machine: web.archive.org/web/20241227...

So grateful for Wintrust support in highlighting us this August on their billboard! See it live just east of 90/94 at North Ave. Thank you, Wintrust!

Don't miss the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame's induction ceremony -- for Timuel Black, Oscar Brown, Jr., & Harriet Gillem Robinet --this Saturday, July 12th at 1:00 pm at the Woodson Regional Library! chicagoliteraryhof.org/events_entry...

When the world is going to hell, it helps to look at Brubaker images from UIC with a coworker

We’re loving this in-person gathering of CCC members! Thank you to member DePaul University and their art museum for the hospitality!

At our annual meeting today, Patti Swanson, founder and ED of Chicago for Chicagoans, extolled the online photos in the portal. Old Town Art Fair this weekend is a great time to look back in our digital exhibit! exhibits.chicagocollections.org/a-snapshot-o...

“Libraries are a cornerstone of democracy—where information is free and equally available to everyone. People tend to take that for granted, and they don’t realize what is at stake when that is put at risk.”—Dr. Carla Hayden #Libraries #WisdomWednesday #ILA

One of our favorite people in conversation with us on 5/21! Register now to visit with @rmartincole.bsky.social! chicagocollections.org/news-events/...

We do like to share good news. Member Puerto Rican Arts Alliance is hosting the program Diasporic Creators: Puerto Rican Identity on the Move from 6-7:30 pm tomorrow, 5/15, at 3000 N Elbridge Ave, 60618

No one under 16 can get a Library of Congress reader card. If you are 16 or 17, you need a permission signed by a parent or guardian.

Trump fired the Librarian of Congress without cause! Send an email to your representative to stop Trump's attack on the Library of Congress. action.everylibrary.org/emailhayden via @everylibrary.bsky.social

She is Dr. Hayden, you asshats. www.npr.org/2025/05/09/g...

So many atrocities competing for our attention. Today, feeling despair at the absolute gutting of IMLS and NEH--the resources they provided, the talented staff they employed.

It's May Day! Thanks member UIC! explore.chicagocollections.org/image/uic/29...

When a National Endowment for the Humanities grant was cancelled last week, so was a project to make historical Wyoming newspapers more accessible. Note: some comments show a profound lack of understanding of history and librarianship

It's not just #NationalLibraryWeek, today is #NationalLibraryWorkersDay! A huge shout out to library workers everywhere and especially those at our member institutions. They make discoverable incredible collections that don't whitewash history. 1/2

ALA is deeply concerned by reports that IMLS is sending notices to libraries claiming to cancel grants that are required by law. This harmful action will disrupt libraries' ability to serve their communities. Tell Congress to protect library funding: bit.ly/CallCongressForLibraries #ForOurLibraries

Calling all high school poets because poetry, art, and history are STILL IMPORTANT! Deadline of 4/30 for submission to our poetry competition, Making History Come Alive through Words: chicagocollections.org/news-events/...

What does the IMLS mean to us and to our members? Here's one example--in 2017 member @chicagomuseum.bsky.social got an IMLS grant to hire a project cataloger to get small archival collections into the online catalog and also into the Explore Chicago Collections portal. 1/2

Seriously, the darkest timeline

Chilling: “After departing the office, Sonderling sent an email to staff emphasizing the importance of libraries and museums in cultivating the next generation’s perception of American exceptionalism and patriotism."