Illinois Heritage

On the Cover: "Prairie coneflowers in bloom", taken behind the historical Strawbridge-Sherpherd House on the campus of the University of Illinois Springfield. The house, headquarters of the Illinois State Historical Society, was listen on the National Register of Historical Places in June. Photo by William Fury.

To our readers:

The summer of 2015 is almost history, and the corn crop that was six-feet high by the 4th of July is already thinking about winter markets in Asia. We at the ISHS are thinking about the future too, and we invite you to talk with us about our Third Century Fund, a special campaign to prepare the Society for the challenges of telling our state's history to future generations. To make a contribution to this fund, please call Tara Winter at 217-525-2781. Your support is crucial to the long-term success of the Society.

On the Cover: "The Chicago Bean," symbol of the city's growth, rebirth, and regeneration. Photo courtesy City of Chicago.

This issue of Illinois Heritage is chockablock with interesting snapshots of the "City of Neighborhoods," as Chicago is sometimes known. Sherry Williams offers and account of growing up African American in the Englewood neighborhood during the tumultuous Civil Rights era. Speaking of "two Chicagos, one black, and one white, separate and unequal," Christopher Ramsey details the ups and downs of the Chicago Lawn neighborhood, commonly known as Marquette Park. And Devin Hunter adapts his Laoyola University dissertation on Uptown to share with us what he's learned about on of Chicago's more intriguing neighborhoods. Just north of Uptown is Andersonville, an old Swedish neighborhood that today is home to one of the largest gay and lesbian communities in all the Midwest. Peter Ellertsen tells us about this neighborhood - then and now. Ray Hanania examines the history of Arabs - Christian and Muslim  - both in the city and suburbs. Last, William Fury takes the reader on a sensory-filled tour of Chinatown.

As always, happy reading... Bill Kemp (Guest Editor)