South Shore Historical Society records, 1907-1985, bulk 1978-1982

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 descendents, as stipulated by United States copyright law, unless otherwise noted.

Materials were a gift of Thomas A. Neumann (accession # 1996.0071).

South Shore Historical Society records (Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description, date, and box/folder number of a specific item.

Membership materials, correspondence, research files, meeting minutes and agendas, reports, legal documents, publications, newsletters, newspaper clippings, by-laws, and other records of the South Shore Historical Society, an organization based in the South Shore community area on the far southeast side of Chicago (Ill.). Also included are photographic material and an inventory of neighborhood buildings and other structures. Topics include the history and historic preservation of local buildings; efforts by SSHS to restore the Field-Pullman-Heyworth House at 7651 South Shore Drive for use as a museum; research on the South Shore Co-operative Apartments at 7321 South Shore Drive; and discussion of creation of the South Shore Cultural Center. Also present are some political campaign materials and neighborhood organizations' publications. Also includes some material from the earlier South Shore Historical Society, an organization founded in 1935 for people who had been residents of South Shore for twenty-five years or more.

The South Shore Historical Society (SSHS) was founded in 1978 by residents of the South Shore community area of Chicago interested in history and historic preservation. The South Shore community area is located nine miles southeast of downtown Chicago and borders Lake Michigan. SSHS was a membership organization. Its members and officers gave walking and bus tours of the area, contacted current and former South Shore residents about the area's history, and conducted historical research about the area in local repositories. SSHS also was involved in efforts to document and preserve historic buildings in the neighborhood, including the Field-Pullman-Heyworth House (7651 South Shore Drive) and the South Shore Co-operative Apartments (7321 South Shore Drive). SSHS went out of existence in 1982. It was a separate organization from the South Shore Historical Society that existed ca. 1935-1960.

Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Tom Neumann collection of visual material (accession # 1996.0071).

• Subject
  • Community development, Urban--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
  • Community life--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
  • Historic buildings--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
  • Historic sites--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
  • History--Illinois--Chicago--Societies, etc.--20th century
• Names
  • Heyworth, Lawrence J., 1921-2003
  • Neumann, Thomas A., 1933-1995
  • South Shore Historical Society (Chicago, Ill. : 1978-1982)-Archives
  • South Shore Cultural Center (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Field-Pullman-Heyworth House (Chicago, Ill.)
  • South Shore Co-operative Apartments (Chicago, Ill.)
• Geographic Coverage
  • 7651 South South Shore Drive (Chicago, Ill.)
  • 7321 South South Shore Drive (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Chicago (Ill.)--Social conditions--20th century
  • South Shore (Chicago, Ill.)--Buildings, structures, etc.
  • South Shore (Chicago, Ill.)--History

The collection is arranged in four series.

Series 1. Administrative files, 1978-1982 (box 1-3)

Series 1 consists of membership materials, correspondence, publications, meeting minutes and agendas, newsletters, newspaper clippings, and by-laws. Also includes materials for bus and walking tours and lectures.

Series 2. Research files, 1907-1982 (box 3-7)

Series 2 contains the research files of the South Shore Historical Society. Present are original and photocopied primary and secondary source material, including memorial cards, letters, programs, guide books, reminiscences, written histories, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Also includes some material from the earlier South Shore Historical Society, an organization founded in 1935 for people who had been residents of South Shore for twenty-five years or more.

Series 3. Field-Pullman-Heyworth House files, 1920-1982 (box 6)

Series 3 consists of research files related to the Field-Pullman-Heyworth House located at 7651 South Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois. The house was originally at 5336 Hyde Park Boulevard and was moved in 1912 by barge to 7716 Lake Avenue. In 1917, the land under it became part of a city park, and the house was moved to its long-time address at 7651 South Shore Drive. This series includes notes and reports related to the house and SSHS's plans to use the building as a museum. Also includes material related to past residents of the house and the sale of the house to SSHS.

Series 4. South Shore Co-operative Apartments files, 1978-1985 (box 6)

Series 4 contains promotional and residents' material related to the South Shore Co-operative Apartments at 7321 South Shore Drive. One-time SSHS president Thomas A. Neumann was a resident of the building.