• IdentificationPUBLIC "-//The Art Institute of Chicago::Ryerson and Burnham Art and Architecture Archives//TEXT(US::ICA::1991.3::LONDON GUARANTEE AND ACCIDENT BUILDING COLLECTION, 1921-1990//EN)" "ica199103.xml"
  • TitleLondon Guarantee and Accident Building Collection, 1921-1990
  • PublisherArt Institute of Chicago Archives, Research Center, The Art Institute of Chicago,
  • Language
    • English.
    • English
  • Date1921-1990
  • Physical Description
    • 0.25 linear feet (1 box)
    • Printed papers, black and white photographs and photocopies.
  • RepositoryRyerson and Burnham Art and Architecture Archives, The Art Institute of Chicago 111 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60603-6110 archives@artic.edu https://www.artic.edu/archival-collections
  • AbstractPapers relating to the design and operations of the London Guarantee and Accident Company building in Chicago designed by Alfred S. Alschuler.
  • OriginationLondon Guarantee and Accident Company.
  • LocationThe collection is housed in the Art Institute of Chicago Archives’ on-site stacks.

Begun in January 1922 and completed in 1923, the London Guarantee and Accident Company Building was constructed in Chicago at a cost of five million dollars. It stands at 360 N. Michigan Avenue, the original site of the frontier outpost of Fort Dearborn, now marking the southwest corner of the Michigan Avenue bridge over the Chicago River. The design of this twenty-one story skyscraper was significantly influenced by Greco-Roman motifs, and incorporated statues of Neptune and Ceres, Greek meander patterns, and Corinthian columns.

Alfred S. Alschuler (1876-1940), the building's architect, was a student at both the Armour Institute of Technology in Chicago and The School of the Art Institute and designed a wide range of building types throughout his career, including public buildings, automobile showrooms, synagogues, theaters, and apartment buildings.

This collection includes four printed booklets containing copies of the building's original lease and a report on the state of the new building, providing valuable information on one of Chicago's 20th century architectural monuments. The collection also contains general information on both the building and its architect, Alfred S. Alschuler; a building brochure and several photographs.

Materials are arranged in chronological order, with undated items at the end of the inventory.

  • Subject
    • London Guarantee and Accident Building (Chicago, Ill.)
    • London Guarantee and Accident Building (Chicago, Ill.)--Pictorial works.
    • London Guarantee and Accident--Buildings.
    • London Guarantee and Accident--Archives.
    • Skyscrapers--Illinois--Chicago--History--Sources.
    • Architecture--Illinois--Chicago--20th century--Sources.
  • NamesAlschuler, Alfred S. (Alfred Samuel), 1876-1940.

Architectural records for buildings by Alfred S. Alschuler, Inc. and related firms, 1905-1947 (Chicago History Museum).

Architectural records for buildings by Alfred S. Alschuler, Inc. and related firms, 1905-1947 (Chicago History Museum).

This collection may be accessed by users in the Reading Room of the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries at The Art Institute of Chicago. Collections maintained on-site are available for patron use without prior arrangement or appointment. Collections maintained in off-site storage will be retrieved with advance notification; please consult the Archivist for the current retrieval schedule. For further information, consult https://www.artic.edu/archival-collections/contact-usage-and-faq.

The Art Institute of Chicago is providing access to the materials in the Archives’ collections solely for noncommercial educational and research purposes. The unauthorized use, including, but not limited to, publication of the materials without the prior written permission of the Art Institute is strictly prohibited. All inquiries regarding permission to publish should be submitted in writing to the Director, Art Institute of Chicago Archives. In addition to permission from the Art Institute, permission of the copyright owner (if not the Art Institute) and/or any holder of other rights (such as publicity and/or privacy rights) may also be required for reproduction, publication, distribution, and other uses. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of any item and securing any necessary permissions rests with the persons desiring to publish the item. The Art Institute makes no warranties as to the accuracy of the materials or their fitness for a particular purpose.

London Guarantee and Accident Building collection, Ryerson and Burnham Art and Architecture Archives, The Art Institute of Chicago.

The majority of the London Guarantee and Accident Building collection was donated to the Ryerson and Burnham Archives in 1991 by Sun Alliance Management Services. Additional materials were donated by Judith P. McBrien in September 2013.

The collection was processed by staff of the Ryerson and Burnham Archives in 2000. This finding aid was revised and expanded by Annemarie van Roessel in 2003 and Rene Leyva in 2014.