The Archives comprises four primary collections or categories of service, including: the Institutional Archives, the Institutional Photography Archive, the Ryerson and Burnham Art and Architecture Archive, and the museum’s digital preservation and records management program.
To better understand the scope of our collections, you can explore the other webpages linked above, review our finding aids, or dig into our digital collections. We currently have publicly-accessible finding aids for the Ryerson and Burnham Art and Architecture Archive collections only.
The Ryerson and Burnham Art and Architecture Digital Collections consist of over 55,000 searchable images and texts, offering a limited but representative selection of objects from our archive. However, this is a very small portion of our total holdings; the majority of our collections are not yet digitized. Below is a list of our current archival collections and the digitization status of each (i.e., fully, partially, or undigitized), including links to digital content when available. Please note that collections marked as “fully digitized” may not include digital surrogates of duplicate or low-value materials.
Also, see our Digital Publications page for a selection of curated digital content from both library and archival collections.
Please contact us via our Contact and Application for Access form with any questions or comments.
70+: Chicago Visual Artist Oral History Archive
900 North Michigan Avenue Building Collection, 1925-1938
Bein, Maurice L., Papers, 1920-1936
Chicago Architectural Sketch Club Collection (CASC)
Chicago Architects Oral History Project (CAOHP)
Historic Architecture and Landscape Image Collection (HALIC), c.1865-1873 (bulk 1890-1945)
Juhl, Finn, Chair Design Collection, 1950
Lake Shore Drive (Outer Drive) and Link Bridge Photograph Album, c.1937
Lipp, Franz, Papers, 1930-1997
Magic of America, The, c.1937-1949
New York World’s Fair Collection, 1937-1940
Pullman Town Construction Photographs, c.1880-1881
Sailor, Homer Grant, Papers, 1914-1993
Steif, B. Leo, Collection, 1916-1953
Sullivan/Van Allen Building Collection, 1910-1918
Taylor, J.W., Photograph Collection, c.1880-1910
Tribune Tower Collection, 1922-2001
World’s Columbian Exposition Photographs by C. D. Arnold, 1891-1894
Adler, Dankmar, Collection, 1844-2017
Adler, David, Collection, 1860-2014 (bulk 1925-2001)
Albright, Ivan, Collection, 1888-1995 (bulk 1900-1980)
Allen, Harold, Egyptomania Collection, c.1920s-2015 (bulk 1950-1988)
Anderson, William Peirce, Collection, 1886-1915
Architects’ and Designers’ Papers, 1767-2014 (bulk 1889-1920)
Architects’ Portraits Collection, 1865-c.1982 (bulk c.1982)
Artists’ Papers, 1636-2007 (bulk 1800s-1980s)
Baldwin Kingrey Collection, 1939-2004 (bulk 1947-1957)
Beman, Solon S., and Spencer S. Beman Collection, 1892-1985
Bennett, Edward H., Collection, 1901-2015 (bulk 1905-1950)
Berg, Peter, Silver Designs Collection, c.1909-c.1956
Bizzarri, Michael and Jane, House Papers, 1949-1990
Brenner Danforth Rockwell Records, 1957-2016 (bulk 1963-1977)
Brubaker, C. William, Papers, 1948-1999 (bulk 1963-1989)
Burleigh, Thomas R., Collection, 1940-2000 (bulk 1940-1942)
Burnham, Daniel H., Collection, 1836-2019 (bulk 1880-1925)
Burnham, Daniel H., Jr. and Hubert Burnham Papers, 1890-1978 (bulk 1920-1950)
Burnham Plan Centennial Committee Records, 2003-2010
Carson Pirie Scott Collection, 1857-c.2000
Century of Progress Collection, c.1920s-1980 (bulk 1931-1934)
Chamales, Christopher John, Papers, 1919-1987
Chicagoland Building Brochure Collection, c.1920-2018 (bulk 1998-2005)
Chicagoland Memorabilia and Map Collection, 1855-2019 (bulk 1929-1968)
Clark, Edwin H., Papers, 1885-1960
Colburn, Irving W., Papers, 1953-1992 (bulk 1955-1983)
Collins, George R., Archive of Catalan Art and Architecture, 1864-2016
Commission on Chicago Landmarks Photograph Collection
Crane, Barbara, Collection, 1972-2019
Dana/Thomas House Restoration Plans and Documents, 1981-1989
Dart, Edward, Collection, 1841-2021 (bulk 1940-1993)
Duckett, Edward A., Collection, 1931-1978
Dunlap, William E., Papers, 1921-1957 (bulk 1926-1950)
Dunning, Hugh and N. Max, Collection, 1901-1994
Fagg, William B., Archive, 1949-1982
First National Bank of Dwight Collection, 1905-1920 (bulk 1905-1906)
Gelbin, Allan J., Papers, 1900-2005 (bulk 1949-1994)
Glass, Henry P., Papers, c.1942-2000
Goff, Bruce A., Archive, 1893-2012 (bulk 1920s-1980s)
Goldberg, Bertrand, Archive, 1933-2003 (bulk 1937-1997)
Graham, Bruce, Papers, 1939-2017 (bulk 1960s-1980s)
Granada Theater Collection, 1925-1987
Greene, Herb, Papers, 1956-2009 (bulk 1956-1985)
Griffin, Walter and Marion Mahony, Collection, 1911-2016
Guaranty Building Collection, 1894-1980s (bulk 1894-1970s)
Hilberseimer, Ludwig Karl, Papers, c.1885-1995 (bulk 1938-1967)
Hiratsuka, Un’ichi, Papers, 1956-2001
Historic Architecture and Landscape Image Collection (HALIC): Modern, c.1945-
Holgate, Francis Burdette, Papers, 1947-1963
Inspired Partnerships Collection, 1898-2002
Institute of Design Collection, c.1934-1955
Jacobs, Herbert and Katherine, Residence and Frank Lloyd Wright Records, 1924-1974
Jensen, Elmer C., Papers, 1871-2014 (bulk 1880s-1950s)
Judson, Sylvia Shaw, Collection, 1915-1998 (bulk 1940-1998)
Karr, Joe, and Associates Records, 1962-2005
Kerbis, Gertude Lempp, Archive, 1948-2017 (bulk 1954-2001)
Khan, Fazlur R., Collection, 1944-2017
Llewellyn, J.C., and Associates Records, 1894-2018 (bulk 1920-1960)
Luxfer Prism Collection, 1897-c.1920
Manny, Carter H., Jr. Papers, 1893-2017 (bulk 1961-1993)
McNally and Quinn Records, 1880-1977 (bulk 1925-1965)
Mellerio, André, Papers, 1867-1943 (bulk 1895-1925)
Mies van der Rohe, Ludwig, Collection, 1907-2018 (bulk 1948-1960)
Miniature Building Collection, 1920-2002
Nickel, Richard, Archive, 1850-2011 (bulk 1945-1972)
Painter, David, Papers, 1935-c.1980s (bulk c.1935-c.1960)
Palmer, Bertha Honoré, Correspondence Collection, 1883-1899
Patton and Fisher Records, c.1885-1908
Penn, Irving, Archive, c.1924-2004
Percier and Fontaine Collection, c.1790-c.1875
Pond and Pond Collection, c.1895-1938
Powell/Kleinschmidt Records, 1969-1993 (bulk 1976–1984)
Prairie School Press Archives 1887-1991 (bulk 1961-1979)
Preston, Jessie M., Scrapbook, c.1911-1943
Reynolds, Mary, Collection, 1892-1972 (bulk 1941-1964)
Rogers, Mary Long, Collection, 1931-1953
Ryerson and Burnham Libraries Book Collection
Schillo Motor Sales Company Collection, 1917
Schlossman, Norman, Collection, 1925-1987 (bulk 1932-1967)
Schmidt, Garden and Martin Records, 1903-c.1985
Schwartz, Kit, Oral History Archive
Shaw, Alfred P. and Patrick, Collection
Shaw, Howard van Doren, Collection, 1875-2019 (bulk 1896-1925)
Shearer, Sybil, Collection of Ray Johnson, 1951-1956 (bulk 1955-1956)
Speyer, A. James, Collection, 1931-2005 (bulk 1947-1974)
Sullivaniana Collection, 1780-2018 (bulk 1870-1930)
Sutnar, Ladislav, Collection, 1941-1970
Tallmadge, Thomas Eddy, Collection, 1908-1938
Taylor, Crombie, Papers, 1914-1999 (bulk 1949-1980)
Ten Eyck, Richard, Papers, c.1940s-c.1990s
Textile Sample Books, 1935-1968
Tigerman, Stanley, Papers, 1941-1993 (bulk 1966-1990)
Tomlinson Subdivision Collection, 1887-1998 (bulk 1988-1990)
Trade Catalog and Product Sample Collection, 1890-1975
Twentieth-century Decorative Arts Collection, 1928-1929
Van der Meulen, John, Papers, 1922-2003 (bulk 1940s-1970s)
Voorhees, Gmelin & Walker Photographs, 1930-c.1933
Weber, Peter J., Papers, 1888-c.1945 (bulk 1893-1922)
Weese, Ben, Papers, 1925-2009 (bulk 1971-1997)
Weese, Harry, Papers, c.1915-2004 (bulk 1937-1985)
Wight, Peter Bonnett, Papers, 1863-1915
Woltersdorf, Arthur, Papers, 1870-1948 (bulk 1899-1933)
Works Progress Administration Federal Art Project Photograph Collection, 1930s
World’s Columbian Exposition Collection, 1890-1896
World’s Fair and Exposition Collection, 1882-1985
Wrightiana Collection, c.1897-2017 (bulk 1949-1969)
YMCA College Building Collection, c.1988
Yost and Taylor Collection, 1928-c.1994 (bulk 1935-1965)
Finding aids for undigitized collections can be browsed here.
Adams, Robert Henry, Gallery Records
Altman Saicheck Adams Records
American Mural Painting Scrapbooks, 1929-1944 (bulk 1934-1944)
ARC Gallery Records
Architects Club of Chicago Records, 1925-1937
Armin, Emil, Papers, 1929-2018
Art Alliance of America Scrapbook, 1918-1919
Artemisia Gallery Records
Auditorium Building Collection
Bagley, Joseph J., Cottage Collection, c.1916-c.1925
Baum, Don, Papers
Benjamin Galleries Records, 1920-2013
Betts, Louis, Collection, 1918-1994
Bevis, Mildred B., Notebook of Designs for the Kalo Shop, c.1910-1913
Brand, Herbert, Collection, 1903-2014 (bulk 1920-1959)
Brenner, Daniel, Papers, 1947-1986
Brewster, Walter S., Collection of Whistleriana, 1871-1947 (bulk 1917-1937)
Bromley, Judith, Photograph Collection
Brown, A.J., Papers, 1929-1963 (bulk 1930-1956)
Burnham Library-University of Illinois Project to Microfilm Architectural Documentation Daybooks Collection, 1950-1952
Butler Street Foundry and Iron Company Records
Byrne, Francis Barry, Collection, 1926-1952
Carrara, Arthur A., Collection, 1910-2016 (bulk 1961-1974)
Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid Collection, 2006-2009
Chicago Architectural Club Records
Chicago Architectural Exhibition League Records, 1924-c.1990s (bulk 1924-1953)
Chicago Library Design Competition Collection, 1987-1990
Childerly Chapel Photograph Album, c.1926-c.1930
Clarkson, Ralph E., Papers, c.1900-1941
Continental and Commercial National Bank Photographs Collection, c. 1914
Cowles, Knight Cheney, Album, c.1929-1931
Danforth, George, Papers, 1921-2007 (bulk 1864-1988)
Deson, Marianne, Gallery Records
Dirsmith, Ron, Papers
Ebsworth Chapel Collection
Faggi, Alfeo, Collection, 1914-1950
Fischer, John B., Papers, c.1900-c.1920s
Forsberg, Elmer A., Collection, c.1920-1950
Frost and Granger Records
Frost, Charles S., Letterpress Copybook, 1922-1930
Fuhrer, Ruth Frieder, Collection, 1926-1954
Furhoff, Robert A., Papers, 1975-2007 (bulk 1990-1995)
Googerty, Thomas F., Collection, c.1902-c.1909
Grell, Louis, Collection, 1918-2015
Gutnayer, J. Marion, Papers, 1931-2002 (bulk 1934-1990)
Hagerstrom, Ernst, Collection, 1927-1966
Hall, Gilbert P., Collection, c.1930-1934
Hammond, Charles Herrick, Papers, 1894-1963
Hammond, James Wright, Papers, 1951-c.1985
Harrison/Morse Research Collection, The, 1960-1988
Hind, Arthur, Collection, 1912-1943
Historic American Building Survey (HABS) Collection
Hoeckner, Carl, Papers, 1896-1984 (bulk 1922-1960)
Hoerr Schaudt Records
Hoffmann, Donald, Collection, 1897-2008 (bulk 1963-2000)
Hoffman, Rhona, Gallery Records
Hurter Family Collection, 1894-1999
Hyland, Paul Vincent, Papers, 1914-c.2010 (bulk 1926-1934)
Iannelli Studios Collection
Illinois Society of Architects Records
Inland Architect Correspondence Collection
Juergens, Alfred, Sketchbook, c.1897
Koehnemann, Renard, Collection, 1913-1991 (bulk 1950-1991)
Kuh, Gertrude, Collection, 1942-2021 (bulk 1967-1972)
Late Entries to the Chicago Tribune Competition Collection, 1980
Line, Ralph Marlowe, Collection, 1944-1960
Loebl Schlossman Hackl Records
London Guarantee and Accident Company Building Collection, 1921-1990
Lowe, David Garrard, Historic Chicago Photograph Collection
Mayor Dever’s Committee of 75 Records
Maywood Company Records, 1869-1901
Maxwell Street Foundation Collection
McCormick Place on the Lake (1971) Collection, 1967-1972
Mell, Alfred L., Papers, 1941-1971
Metschke, Walter G., Papers
Mies van der Rohe, Ludwig,/Metropolitan Structures Collection, 1961-1969
Milles, Carl, Photograph Collection, c.1938-1939
Mintz, Harry, Papers, 1914-1995 (bulk 1931-1995)
Moorman, The World of Charlotte, Collection, 1957-2000
Morgan, Charles L., Papers, 1892-1976 (bulk 1916-1944)
Municipal Art League Records
Myers, Terry R., Papers, 1965-2020 (bulk 1989-2017)
Nagle Hartray Architecture Records
National Register of Historic Places Nomination Collection, 1981-2005
Neal, Isobel, Gallery Records, 1985-2019 (bulk 1986-1997)
New Art Examiner Records
New Deal Federal Art Project Research Collection, 1934-1982
Newman, Edgar, Papers, 1863-1977 (bulk 1863-1977)
Old Northwest Territory Art Exhibit Collection, 1947-1951
Otis Elevator Company Collection, 1903-1906
PACE Associates Records, 1924-2009 (bulk 1948-1986)
Penfield, Louis, Residence Collection, 1959-1982
Perkins, Dwight, Research Collection
Picardi, E. Alfred, Papers, 1949-2011 (bulk 1965-1975)
Poetry Foundation Building Papers
Purdy, Arthur, Collection, c.1933-1995
Radford Architectural Company Collection, c.1903
Randall, John D., Papers, 1884-1993
Redon, Odilon: Prince of Dreams, 1840-1916 Exhibition Research Collection, 1833-2001
Reese, Michael, Hospital Collection
Regensteiner, Else, Collection, 1914-2018 (bulk 1943-1997)
Richter, Catherine Moore, Papers
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, Memorial Competition Collection, 1959-1960
Rouault, Georges, Collection, 1946-1972
Schmidt, Garden & Erickson Records
Schultz, Richard, Papers
Schwartz, Kit, Oral History Archive
Schweikher, Paul, House and Studio Collection, 1964-1988 (bulk 1984-1988)
Siebrits-Bartz Anti-Apartheid Collection
Siegel, Arthur, Papers, 1927-1985
Skinner, Richard M., Residence Records, 1878-1979
Smith, Benjamin K., Papers, 1935-c.1980s
Sobel, Walter, Papers
Sparks, Esther, Papers, 1969-1972
Statsinger, Evelyn, Papers
Stein, Ethel, Papers
Stewart, Graeme, Papers
Taft, Lorado, Collection, c.1908-c.1930s
Teague, James, Papers, c.1950s-c.1980s
Theobald, Paul, and Company Records, 1935-1988 (bulk 1946-1955)
Thill, Nancy, Papers
Thorpe, John Garrett, & Associates Architectural Archive, 1901-2012
Tigerman McCurry Archive
Trebilcock, Paul, Photograph Collection, c.1930-c.1970
Tribune Tower Records
Twentieth-century Libraries Collection, c.1950-1990
Urry, Steven Jay, Research Collection, 1960-2012
Van Bergen, John S., Collection
Vinci, John, Papers, 1909-2001 (bulk 1971-1979)
Walker, Nellie V., Collection, 1901-1973
Wentworth, Michael, Collection, c.1882-2002 (bulk 1962-2002)
Wilson, Melvin, Papers, 1960-1993
WWI Recruiting Posters and Ephemera from Great Britain, c.1914-c.1922 (bulk 1914)
Wright, Frank Lloyd, in Michigan Collection, 1945-1988
Young, Donald, Gallery Records
