1940 Nelson Pictorial Map of 'Old Chicago', Illinois

This is a rare 1940 Jean Sterling Nelson and John Winters pictorial map of historic Chicago, Illinois. Nelson and Winters focus on illustrating Chicago in the first half of the 19th century, when it was a fledgling city on the very edge of civilization. The city's historic center, from South Water Street to Madison Street and from the South Branch of the Chicago River to State Street and Fort Dearborn farther east, exhibits an emerging urban grid. Many of Chicago's 'firsts' are illustrated, including the first post office, the first Catholic church (St. Mary's), the first Presbyterian church, the first jail and courthouse, the first permanent theatre, and the first public school. Outside this area, Chicago's first synagogue (built in 1849) is also illustrated (this is now the federal building, per the map), along with the water tower, Mary Todd Lincoln's 1866 home, and Mrs. O'Leary's Cow (supposedly started the Great Chicago Fire). Explorers, ranchers, Native Americans, and frontiersmen populate the map. Portraits of notable early Chicagoans, including John B. Kinzie, General Dearborn, and William B. Ogden adorn the border, along with text that reads 'Its River and Trails, its Persons and Places, some Historical Sites, some Famous Old Faces.'

Publication History and Census

This map was drawn by John Winters and published by Jean Sterling Nelson in 1940. We note two examples cataloged in OCLC, located at the Newberry Library and the Wisconsin Historical Society. We note a third cataloged example at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.