Marshall Field's and Chicago
Highland Park —- Highland Park Historical Society will host ‘Marshall Field’s and Chicago,’ with Sarah Sullivan on November 19th at 7:00 pm via Zoom. This program is from a grant from Illinois Humanities, who would like your feedback by completing this survey and emailing back to archives@highlandparkhistory.org.
For over 150 years Marshall Field and Company was Chicago’s premier department store, established by the most innovative retailer of the 19th Century. Chicago natives could easily identify a Field’s distinctive green shopping bag at a hundred paces, and Chicago brides wouldn’t consider getting married until they registered at Marshall Field and Company. The store’s history is tightly entwined with that of Chicago. Most significant events in the city’s history have a Marshall Field and Company connection, including the Chicago Fire, the 1893 World’s Fair and the Eastland disaster. Many of the city’s cherished institutions have been funded in part by Field money, including the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago History Museum (formerly known as the Chicago Historical Society), the Museum of Science and Industry, and the University of Illinois at Chicago.
In this presentation we will review the events, features, and personalities that made Marshall Field’s “Chicago’s store.”
Sarah Sullivan is a full-time history instructor at McHenry County College where she has taught history and business classes for over 20 years. She holds advanced degrees in American history, management, and human resources management. Her special areas of focus include women’s history, the American Revolutionary Period, and 19th Century political and social history. Sarah enjoys making history accessible, interesting, and relevant to everyone, and loves sharing a good history story.
Admission is free. For further information or a zoom link, please contact the Highland Park Historical Society: 847.432.7090 or archives@highlandparkhistory.org.
About the Highland Park Historical Society: The mission of the Highland Park Historical Society is to preserve our community’s past, to inspire an appreciation of our history and culture, and to share with the community and scholars the rich history of Highland Park, Illinois. The Society is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and is administered by a volunteer Board of Directors. The Archives and Research Collections are housed in the Highland Park Public Library. For more information about the Highland Park Historical Society, visit https://highlandparkhistory.com
About Illinois Humanities: Illinois Humanities strengthens the social, political, and economic fabric of Illinois through constructive conversation and community engagement. Founded in 1974 as the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Illinois Humanities is the only statewide proponent of the public humanities in Illinois. Through public programs, education, and training, and grantmaking, Illinois Humanities connects Illinoisans who might not otherwise encounter one another.