Ernest J. Stevens papers

  • Creator Names Stevens, Ernest James, 1884-1972.
  • Title Ernest J. Stevens papers [manuscript], 1872-1974, bulk 1900-1934.
  • Physical description
    • 45 linear ft. (76 boxes)
    • 1 oversize folder.
  • Collection summary Correspondence, legal papers, financial records, menus, newsclippings, and other papers, primarily of Stevens and of his father James W. Stevens, chiefly concerning business activities although some personal material is included as well as some correspondence and other papers of Stevens' wife Elizabeth. Included are records of many companies and properties in which several members of the Stevens family shared ownership, including the Illinois Life Insurance Company, the Monroe and Clark Building (Chicago, Ill.), the Hotel LaSalle (opened in 1909), and the Stevens Hotel (opened in 1927). Topics include family and business roots in Colchester (Ill.), ca. 1880s-1890s; real estate investments, primarily in Chicago; hotels that were built, owned, and/or managed by the Stevenses, primarily in Chicago but including management of the Highland Hotel (Delavan, Wis.) in 1937-1940; bankruptcy during the Great Depression and related legal actions; restaurants managed by Stevens, including one in the English Village at the Century of Progress International Exposition; family genealogy and homes in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago and in Lakeside, Michigan.
  • Location of Other Archival Materials Note Related materials from this accession at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Stevens family visual materials (1985.0424) containing ca. 150 photographs of the family, of the Hotel LaSalle under construction, and of the Stevens Hotel. The Architecture Collection holds architectural records and blueprints of the Stevens Hotel and the Hotel LaSalle from this accession.
  • Finding Aids Note Descriptive inventory available.
  • Acquisition information Gift of the Estate of Ernest and Elizabeth Stevens (M1980.0011, M1981.0291).
  • Names
    • Stevens, Ernest James, 1884-1972 Archives.
    • Stevens family.
    • Lowden, Frank O. (Frank Orren), 1861-1943.
    • Stevens, Elizabeth S., d. 1979. Especially boxes 21, 24-26, 45.
    • Stevens, James William, 1853-1936.
    • Arcade Building (Chicago, Ill.) Especially boxes 12, 42:12.
    • Bankers Building (Chicago, Ill.) Especially box 13.
    • Blackstone Hotel (Chicago, Ill.) Especially boxes 7, 27.
    • Chas. A. Stevens & Bros. Especially boxes 1-3, 60.
    • Congress Hotel (Chicago, Ill.) Especially box 7.
    • Chicago Auditorium Association. Especially box 13:2.
    • Chicago Daily News Building (Chicago, Ill.) Especially box 13.
    • Highland Hotel (Delavan, Wis.) Especially boxes 22, 60.
    • LaSalle Hotel (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Hotel Sherman (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Hyde Park (Hotel : Chicago, Ill.) Especially boxes 30, 69.
    • Illinois Life Insurance Company (Chicago, Ill.)
    • LaSalle Building (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Morrison Hotel (Chicago, Ill.) Especially box 9.
    • Sherry Hotel (Chicago, Ill.) Especially boxes 31, 69.
    • Stevens Hotel (Chicago, Ill.)
    • 720 South Michigan Avenue (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Century of Progress International Exposition (1933-1934 : Chicago, Ill.) Especially box 17:11-13, box 22:14.
    • Lowden, Frank O. (Frank Orren), 1861-1943.
    • Stevens, Elizabeth S., d. 1979. Especially boxes 21, 24-26, 45.
    • Stevens, James William, 1853-1936.
    • Arcade Building (Chicago, Ill.) Especially boxes 12, 42:12.
    • Bankers Building (Chicago, Ill.) Especially box 13.
    • Blackstone Hotel (Chicago, Ill.) Especially boxes 7, 27.
    • Central Republic Trust Company. Especially box 48.
    • Chas. A. Stevens & Bros. Especially boxes 1-3, 60.
    • Congress Hotel (Chicago, Ill.) Especially box 7.
    • Chicago Auditorium Association. Especially box 13:2.
    • Darlington and Stevens. Especially boxes 22, 60.
    • Highland Hotel (Delavan, Wis.) Especially boxes 22, 60.
    • LaSalle Hotel (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Hotel Sherman (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Hyde Park (Hotel : Chicago, Ill.) Especially boxes 30, 69.
    • Illinois Life Insurance Company (Chicago, Ill.)
    • LaSalle Building (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Lincoln Securities Company. Especially box 41.
    • Monroe and Clark Building (Chicago, Ill.) Especially boxes 13-14.
    • Morrison Hotel (Chicago, Ill.) Especially box 9.
    • Sherry Hotel (Chicago, Ill.) Especially boxes 31, 69.
    • Stevens Brothers (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Stevens Building Catering Company (Chicago, Ill.) Especially box 53, 69.
    • Stevens Hotel (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Straus Building (Chicago, Ill.) Especially box 45:1.
    • Union Trust Building. Especially box 15:5.
    • Walden W. Shaw Corporation. Especially box 16:10, 28:12-13.
  • Subjects
    • Actions and defenses Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Bankruptcy Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Buildings Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Families Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Hotelkeepers Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Hotels Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Insurance companies Illinois.
    • Real estate investment Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Restaurant management Illinois Chicago 20th century.
  • Geographic coverage
    • Chicago (Ill.) Commerce 19th century.
    • Chicago (Ill.) Commerce 20th century.
    • Colchester (Ill.) Commerce 19th century.
    • Lakeside (Mich.) Social conditions. Especially boxes 43-44.
    • Loop (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Hyde Park (Chicago, Ill.) Social conditions.
  • Genre
    • Account books. aat
    • Audits. aat
    • Clippings. aat
    • Contracts. aat
    • Correspondence. aat
    • Genealogies. aat
    • Legal documents. aat
    • Menus. aat 1930s especially.
    • Passports. aat 1932 box 42:5.
    • Scrapbooks. aat
    • Tax returns. aat
  • Uniform title Genealogy of the Stevens and Tripp and allied families from 1520 to 1906. Box 26:4.
  • Geographic name
    • United States Illinois Cook County Chicago.
    • United States Illinois McDonough County Colchester.
    • United States Michigan Lakeside.
    • United States Wisconsin Delavan.