Pullman Town Construction Photographs, c.1880-1881

Recognized today as the first planned industrial town in the United States, the model community of Pullman, Illinois, was conceived by railroad car magnate George Pullman for his Chicago Palace Car Company's Chicago Works factory and its laborers, whose residence in the town was a condition of employment. Sited on four thousand acres between Lake Calumet and Lake Michigan, the town was designed by Chicago architect Solon Spencer Beman and landscaped by Nathan Bennett. Construction began in 1881 and included factory and administration buildings, as well as housing, stores, and public buildings for as many as 10,000 residents. Pullman was annexed to the City of Chicago in 1889.

The photographs were taken during the construction phase of Pullman, Illinois. Although the photographs are undated, they were likely taken during late 1880 (for the residential blocks) and early 1881 (the town's first permanent residents moved into their home at 11109 St. Lawrence on on January 1, 1881). The photographer is unknown.

• Subject
  • Pullman (Ill.)--Buildings, structures, etc.--History--Sources.
  • Pullman (Ill.)--History--Sources.
  • Architecture--Illinois--Chicago--19th century--Sources.
  • Architecture--Illinois--Chicago--20th century--Sources.
  • Architecture--Illinois--Chicago--Archives.
• NamesBeman, S. S. (Solon Spencer), 1853-1914--Archives.

c.-p. neg.

doc. neg.

n.d.

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Frank O. Lowden Papers, circa 1870-1943 (University of Chicago).

George M. Pullman papers (Chicago History Museum).

Historic Pullman Collection, 1882-2008 (Chicago Public Library).

Pullman Company Records, 1867-1981 (Newberry Library).

Pullman Employee Records (South Suburban Genealogical & Historical Society).

Pullman family photograph collection, [1867-1914, bulk 1880s] (Chicago History Museum).

Pullman-Miller family papers, ca. 1823-1988 (Chicago History Museum).

Various collections (Historic Pullman Foundation).

Various collections (Illinois Railway Museum).

Various collections (Illinois State Archives).

Frank O. Lowden Papers, circa 1870-1943 (University of Chicago).

George M. Pullman papers (Chicago History Museum).

Historic Pullman Collection, 1882-2008 (Chicago Public Library).

Pullman Company Records, 1867-1981 (Newberry Library).

Pullman Employee Records (South Suburban Genealogical & Historical Society).

Pullman family photograph collection, [1867-1914, bulk 1880s] (Chicago History Museum).

Pullman-Miller family papers, ca. 1823-1988 (Chicago History Museum).

Various collections (Historic Pullman Foundation).

Various collections (Illinois Railway Museum).

Various collections (Illinois State Archives).

Frank O. Lowden Papers, circa 1870-1943 (University of Chicago).

George M. Pullman papers (Chicago History Museum).

Historic Pullman Collection, 1882-2008 (Chicago Public Library).

Pullman Company Records, 1867-1981 (Newberry Library).

Pullman Employee Records (South Suburban Genealogical & Historical Society).

Pullman family photograph collection, [1867-1914, bulk 1880s] (Chicago History Museum).

Pullman-Miller family papers, ca. 1823-1988 (Chicago History Museum).

Various collections (Historic Pullman Foundation).

Various collections (Illinois Railway Museum).

Various collections (Illinois State Archives).

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Pullman Town Construction Photographs, Ryerson and Burnham Art and Architecture Archives, The Art Institute of Chicago.

The collection was purchased by the Ryerson and Burnham Archives from a private dealer in 1990. Contributions toward the purchase were received from: Frank and Ingrid Beberdick; Jeremy and Frances Beman; Andrew and Martha Brislen; the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; and Charles and Barbara Gregersen.

The collection was processed by the staff of the Ryerson and Burnham Archives in 1990. This finding aid was revised and expanded by Annemarie van Roessel in 2002.

Copy prints of all photographs may be ordered from copy negatives made by The Art Institute of Chicago. Both a documentary and cross-polarized copy negative are available for each original print. A photograph from a documentary negative will essentially replicate the image of the original photograph while a photograph from the cross-polarized negative will offer greater light/dark contrast and range and is more suitable for publication purposes.