University of Chicago Press A History of Chicago – From Town to City 1848–1871 V 2

The first major history of Chicago ever written, A History of Chicago covers the city’s great history over two centuries, from 1673 to 1893. Originally conceived as a centennial history of Chicago, the project became, under the guidance of renowned historian Bessie Louise Pierce, a definitive, three-volume set describing the city’s growth―from its humble frontier beginnings to the horrors of the Great Fire, the construction of some of the world’s first skyscrapers, and the opulence of the 1893 World’s Fair. Pierce and her assistants spent over forty years transforming historical records into an inspiring human story of growth and survival. Rich with anecdotal evidence and interviews with the men and women who made Chicago great, all three volumes will now be available for the first time in years. A History of Chicago will be essential reading for anyone who wants to know this great city and its place in America. “With this rescue of its history from the bright, impressionable newspapermen and from the subscription-volumes, Chicago builds another impressive memorial to its coming of age, the closing of its first ‘century of progress.’”―E. D. Branch, New York Times (1937) About the Author Bessie Louise Pierce (1888 1974) was professor of history at the University of Chicago until her retirement in 1954. "As Others See Chicago", a collection of observations and opinions of visitors to the city, was published in 1933. The three volumes of "A History of Chicago" were published between 1937 and 1957.