Spring 2026 Newsletter
Dear Friends,
The Historical Society is excited to share with you some of the multitude of things we’ve been busy behind the scenes with this winter: a new board, new programs, and new partnerships.
We are excited to welcome new board members Anwulika Anigbo, Mikolaj Czerwinski, Ryan Fazio, Rebecca Hall, Sarah Lynch-Noren, Jessica Musselwhite, and David Rice, and to thank our returning members, Kathy Huff, Jerry Levy, Gary Ossewaarde, Jack Spicer, and Mallory Price. We held our first board retreat in many years at the beginning of March. Our forthcoming newsletters will include profiles of each of our board members.
In addition to onboarding our new board, we’ve been digging into our archive in collaboration with the Hyde Park Herald to present Sunday Night Read. If you haven’t yet, listen to Bruce Sagan’s oral history.
Finally, we are so excited to share with you a full slate of programs this spring and summer. These include a Community Show and Tell, an Ice Cream Social, and the first in a series of events to learn more about your home’s history. More details below.
Our programs, historic headquarters, and archives depend on financial support from our community. Please consider making a contribution to ensure we can continue this work.
We look forward to seeing you at an event soon.
Brigid Maniates
President
UPCOMING EVENTS
Community Show & Tell: Share Your Hyde Park History!
April 19: 2pm to 3pm
Location: Hyde Park Historical Society Headquarters
Do you have a piece of Hyde Park history—a photo, artifact, or story? Bring it to our Community Show & Tell and help bring neighborhood history to life.
What to Expect:
Informal, welcoming atmosphere
Optional 3–5 minute presentations
Connection with neighbors and local history enthusiasts
Save the Date: Ice Cream Social
May 16: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Location: Hyde Park Historical Society Headquarters, 5529 S Lake Park Ave, Chicago, IL
Description: Please join us for sweet treats and merriment as we celebrate our neighborhoods and get to know one another.
Here’s the scoop:
Ice cream! We will have a variety of ice cream flavors along with all the toppings (think sprinkles and whip cream!)
Family friendly event and opportunity to meet new friends
Casual relaxed setting at our headquarters
Save The Date: March in the 4th of July Parade with the Hyde Park Historical Society
Join the Historical Society to march in the Hyde Park 4th of July Parade. Look out for more details in June.
Save the Date: Home Histories–Using Census Records to Research Your Home
June 13 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
More details to come soon.
The South Side and Art: A Personal Reflection by Jessica Musselwhite
The South Side of Chicago has always been a place where art and history intertwine, where neighborhoods pulse with creative energy and stories waiting to be told. When I first came to Chicago from Kentucky, I was drawn in by the city’s legacy; its grand architecture, its vibrant communities, and the artistic innovation that continues to shape its identity.
The remnants of the 1893 World’s Fair in Hyde Park were some of my earliest discoveries after moving to Chicago. Wandering through what remains of the Columbian Exposition, I felt the echoes of a moment when Chicago announced itself as a center for creative expression. The beautiful old homes, the stunning University of Chicago campus, even the shops and restaurants all had a kind of gravitas, reflecting generations of artists and thinkers who found inspiration here. As the city changed over time—through migration, evolving neighborhoods, and shifting demographics—the South Side’s approach to art has grown more dynamic, blending traditions, challenging boundaries, and uplifting new voices.
The history of art on the South Side is deep and profound. The 57th Street Art Colony was one of the country’s earliest artist-run collectives, helping to foster avant-garde movements and collaborative spirit. Gertrude Abercrombie and her circle brought a bohemian ethos to Hyde Park, and the Hyde Park Art Center became a focal point for artists like the Hairy Who, whose bold, irreverent work helped define Chicago’s creative reputation. Artist and intellectual Margaret Burroughs founded the DuSable Museum of African American History in her own home, creating a vital space for celebrating Black history and culture before the museum moved to Washington Park in 1973. As the first institution of its kind, the DuSable Museum set a precedent for honoring the stories and creative contributions of Black Chicagoans and continues to be a cornerstone of the South Side’s cultural landscape. The collective AfriCOBRA revolutionized and defined the visual aesthetic of the Black Arts Movement.
Music is woven throughout this history—not just as a backdrop, but as a driving force. “Black and Tan” clubs including the Savoy Ballroom and the Regal Theatre helped propel jazz artists such as Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald into the limelight. Sun Ra moved into an apartment in Washington Park and launched his cosmic journey. The Warehouse gave birth to house music and became a sanctuary for creative expression. These spaces catalyzed new genres and brought Chicago’s sounds to global audiences.
The South Side has been home to remarkable artists whose work shaped literature, dance, music, theater, and the visual arts. Names like Gwendolyn Brooks, Saul Bellow, Katherine Dunham, Richard Hunt, Mike Nichols, Ruth Duckworth, Thornton Wilder, and so many others have contributed to its legacy. More recent luminaries include Ling Ma, Norman Teague, Dan Peterman, Cauleen Smith, Theaster Gates, and Pope.L. And there are legions of talented Black and brown artists, past and present, whose contributions deserve greater attention and celebration.
Today, artists on the South Side carry forward this rich legacy. Organizations like the Logan Center, the South Side Community Art Center, the Smart Museum, Hyde Park Art Center, Court Theatre, Arts + Public Life, and countless local artists, collectives, and organizations are building bridges, highlighting stories, and creating new opportunities for emerging artists. Street festivals, neighborhood collaborations, and oral history projects offer pathways for creative energy to thrive.
Understanding the history of this place is vital—for artists, neighbors, and anyone who wants to appreciate the South Side’s creative force and collective memory. As we explore galleries, museums, archives, and community gatherings, we learn what deserves more attention, more light. We find ways to honor what has come before while forging our own path forward.
This moment in history calls for its own arts movement…one that reflects the resilience and ingenuity of the South Side. One that highlights what makes this community so special. In future issues of this newsletter, I hope to share what I learn about our neighborhood and its history, and I look forward to learning together, remembering what came before and discovering what comes next.
Thanks to Elizabeth Blasius, Patricia Morse, Isis Ferguson, and many others whose commitment to preserving and highlighting the incredible history of the South Side has been invaluable. Your work is a constant source of inspiration to me.