• Identification00143882
  • TitleDescriptive inventory for the Jack Star papers, 1968-1994
  • PublisherChicago Historical Society
  • Language
    • English.
    • English
  • RepositoryChicago History Museum Research Center 1601 North Clark Street Chicago, IL 60614-6038
  • OriginationJack Star John A McDermott
  • Date1968-1994
  • Physical Description5.5 linear feet (37 boxes)
  • LocationMSS Lot S

Processed with funding provided by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

This collection is open for research use.

All rights owned by the donor, including copyright, were deeded to Chicago Historical Society. Copyright may be retained by the creators of items, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law, unless otherwise noted.

Gift of Jack Star (accession #: 1997.0102).

Jack Star papers(Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description, date, and box/folder number of a specific item.

Research material, clippings, publications, correspondence, article drafts, photographs, audio cassette tapes, and other papers of Jack Star, a Chicago magazine journalist for several publishers, including the Chicago Tribune Magazine, Chicago (magazine) and Look Magazine. A majority of the collection consists of Star's research files, which include interview notes, general notes, photographs, correspondence, clippings, LexisNexis articles, and pamphlets. Topics include health care; crime, courts, and law enforcement; occupations of Chicagoans, such as doctors, lawyers; Forest Park (Ill); travel; and changing technology. Also present are materials regarding Star's article assignments, including his proposed topics. Also included are papers of John A. McDermott, Chicago editor and civil rights activist.

Jack Star, a Chicago magazine journalist, worked for several Chicago publications including the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune Magazine, and Chicago. Star was also the Midwest bureau chief for the New York Herald Tribune (1950-1951) and bureau chief of LOOK magazine (ca. 1950-1971). Star's articles covered a variety of topics including healthcare, crime, courts of law, technology, and travel. Star also wrote on subjects related to the Chicago area, such as individuals and their occupations. Star died in Chicago in 2009.

  • Names
    • Star, Jack--Archives
    • McDermott, John A.--Archives
  • Subject
    • Chicago
    • Chicago Tribune
    • Look
    • Authors, American--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
    • Catholics--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
    • Journalism--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
    • Journalists--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
    • Law enforcement--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
    • Medical care--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
    • Social history--Illinois--Chicago
    • Travel--20th century
  • Geographic Coverage
    • Chicago (Ill.)--Social conditions--20th century
    • Forest Park (Ill.)--History

The collection is arranged in eight series.

Series 1. Court and legal article research files, 1972-1984 (box 1-4)

Consists of notes, clippings, article drafts, interviews, publications, correspondence, audio cassette tapes, and other research files regarding courts, laws, and other legal matters. Topics include traffic courts, juvenile courts, malpractice, drunk driving, divorce, gun control, and abortion.

Series 2. General materials, 1969-1990 (box 4-13)

Consists of Star's notes, clippings, article drafts, interviews, publications, correspondence, photographs, and other general files. Topics include education, history, finances, Chicago, animals, Forest Park, and business. Also in the collection is a small series of articles Star wrote in 1975 predicting what garbage and sewage, law and order, and corruption would be like in 2001. Also present are note cards with article titles and descriptions, information relating to Star's LexisNexis account, materials relating to LOOK, and photocopies of his published articles.

Series 3. Law enforcement/crime article resesrch files, 1972-1987 (box 13-15)

Contains notes, clippings, article drafts, interviews, publications, correspondence, and other research files for Star's articles on law enforcement and crime. Topics include car theft, CTA crime, burglary, shoplifting, O'Hare police, hotel security, 9-1-1, and convict rehabilitation.

Series 4. Healthcare article research files, 1971-1984 (box 15-22

Contains notes, clippings, article drafts, interviews, publications, correspondence, photographs, and other research files for Star's articles related to healthcare and medicine. Topics include cancer, food, weight lose, smoking, clinics, medical costs, insurance, HMOs, assisted living, and drug research.

Series 5. Individuals/occupations article research files, 1969-1993 (box 22-32)

Contains notes, clippings, article drafts, interviews, publications, correspondence, photographs, and other research files Star collected for his articles on individuals and occupations. Topics include lawyers, police officers, doctors, religious leaders, business men and women, entrepreneurs, and many others.

Series 6. Technology article research files, 1968-1990 (box 32-33)

Consists of Star's notes, clippings, article drafts, interviews, publications, correspondence, photographs, audio cassette tapes, and other research files for articles relating to new technologies and their uses. Topics include lie detectors, computers, cable television, long distance telephone, ATMs, and space telescopes.

Series 7. Travel article research files, 1975-1987 (box 34-35)

Contains notes, clippings, article drafts, interviews, publications, correspondence, photographs, and other research files for Star's travel articles. Topics include train, car, airplane, and cruise ship travel as well as particular destinations in the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean.

Series 8. John A. McDermott papers, 1969-1993 (box 36-37)

Comprised of the papers of John A. McDermott, a Chicago editor and civil rights activists. The majority of the collection is clippings of articles about religion, race, education, and sexuality. Also in the collection are copies of McDermott's speeches, info relating to his resignation from the Chicago Reporter, several versions of his resume, and other papers.