Chicago Railroad Fair records, 1948-1952

Old Resource ID was ChicagoRRFair

The Chicago Railroad Fair was organized under the leadership of the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, and its president, Lenox Riley Lohr (1891-1968); and incorporated as a not for profit corporation in the State of Illinois on February 25, 1948. To finance the fair, leading U.S. railroad companies were invited by the Chicago Railroad Presidents' Conference to contribute organizational funds, thereby making them members of the corporate enterprise. The railroads were asked to contribute monies based on an apportionment of their 1947 gross revenues, and varying according to whether or not they directly served Chicago. The minimum amount requested from any railroad was $5,000 and the maximum was $75, 0000. Subscriptions were collected by the Chicago Railroad Presidents' Conference for the Railway Centennial Celebration in 1948, and then transferred to the Chicago Railroad Fair. The contributions from the thirty-nine railroad companies which jointly sponsored the Fair were in the form of loans - as indicated by the certificates of indebtedness which did not pay interest and were payable only to the extent that funds were available after the closing of the Fair. In 1950, after all expenses had been paid, $487, 998.92 was available for pro-rata distribution to the sponsoring railroads.

The goal of the Chicago Railroad Fair was to demonstrate to the public, the role which the railroads had played in developing this country. The Fair was organized "to celebrate the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Opening of the West in the United States, by holding an Exposition in Chicago, showing in Educational, Scientific and Graphic form the building and development of the Railroads of North America with a demonstration of their place and importance in the American Economy.

The Fair was held during the summers of 1948 and 1949 in the Burnham Park area of the Chicago Park District. Originally, the Fair was to have been in operation only for the summer of 1948. Public enthusiasm and interest, however, induced Fair officials and sponsors to plan for an expanded 1949 run. The contract with the Chicago Park District had given the Chicago Railroad Fair the option to operate for an extended period - not later than October 1, 1949 - and this option was exercised. Negotiations were made conducted between the Chicago Railroad Fair granted the use of the above premises to the Fair; provided for compensation to be paid to the Park District, based on a percentage of the Fair's revenues after taxes; outlined the additions and alterations the Fair might make the grounds; and set the guidelines for the concessionaires at the exposition. Railroad companies and other exhibitors were responsible only to the Chicago Railroad Fair and had no contractual agreements with the Chicago Park District.

The Chicago Railroad Fair was structurally organized into several administrative units: executive office, special events, exhibits, operations, pageant, publicity office, and the office of the treasurer. Lenox R. Lohr and his executive officer, Daniel MacMaster, were empowered to sign all contracts and supervise all aspects of the Fair.

The March, 1950, contract with the Chicago Park District released the Chicago Railroad Fair from all obligations and liabilities assumed under the basic contract of 1948. The Fair secured releases from all of the railroad companies and other exhibitors which had buildings on the grounds, thereby releasing them from their obligations to the Chicago Railroad Fair. All buildings and facilities were then turned over the Chicago Park District. On May 4, 1950, the members of the Chicago Railroad Fair, Inc. met and voted to dissolve the corporation. The articles of dissolution were executed and filed on June 13, 1950.

The collection consists of correspondence, by-laws, financial records, minutes, sheet music, contracts, blueprints, newspaper clippings, sketches and drawings, published materials, and photographs. The materials pertain to the administration and programs of the Chicago Railroad Fair.

Chicago Railroad Fair records, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Illinois at Chicago

• NamesChicago Railroad Fair (1948). -- Archives
• Subject
  • Chicago Political and Civic Life.
  • Exhibitions.
  • Railroads.
• Geographic CoverageIllinois--Chicago.