Hyde Park Historical Society, Summer 2023 Bulletin
Upcoming Events
Coming off of his highly acclaimed exhibit at Wrightwood 659, Patric McCoy’s photos are returning to their lifelong home, Chicago’s South Side. During the 1980s Patric McCoy traveled from his home on Chicago’s South Side to his job at the Loop on his bike, traveling through Olmsted designed Jackson Park, along Lake Michigan, through public housing, always with his camera. From the lakefront to the loop, McCoy found no shortage of Black men who wanted their picture taken. Over a ten-year period, he shot thousands of images at his subjects’ request.
Patric McCoy: Take My Picture, Exhibit is a selection of black and white and color photographs from McCoy’s documentation of Black gay Chicago in the 1980s. McCoy neither directed nor posed his subjects, so each had agency over how he is seen. The HIV/AIDS epidemic hit Black men especially hard. By the end of McCoy’s photography practice in 1990, many of McCoy’s subjects and friends would die.
“The Hyde Park Historic Society is proud to host a select number of photos from the exhibition, Patric McCoy: Take My Picture. The unique and powerful images captured by Patric McCoy throughout the 1980s reflect the many shared but oftentimes, marginalized histories that make Chicago. Hosting a select portion of the exhibition is very meaningful, the work is being presented in the community that helped define, nurture and challenge McCoy’s lifelong commitment to engage in the world intellectually and creatively.”
-Clinée Hedspeth
President of the Hyde Park Historical Society
Special Open House this October
Join the Hyde Park Historical Society in partnership with Open House Chicago for special Open Houses on Saturday, October 14, 2023 and Sunday, October 15, 2023. Be the First to check out new Self Guided Audio Tours of Oak Woods Cemetery that will be released at the open house.
-RECENT NEWS-
In Memory of Joseph (Joe) Marlin (1932-2023)
We are sad to share that Board Member, Joseph (Joe) Marlin passed away on July 7, 2023. Joe was an active board member of the Hyde Park Historical Society. Joe was an avid collector of vintage cameras and art deco items, and was a member of the Chicago Art Deco Society. While he was a Social Worker by trade, spurred by his love of history-he became an author in his 80s and toured the neighborhood (an beyond) giving talks on his book, Fading Ads of Chicago.
Joe proudly lived on South Greenwood Avenue and was the “unofficial block historian.” He was active in the advocating for the landmarking of the Greenwood Row House District, and even accepted an Award on behalf of the Greenwood Row House District in 2005 from the Hyde Park Historical Society. Joe also wrote articles for the Hyde Park Historical Society’s newsletter about the Greenwood Row Homes, check out our newsletters from Spring 2005 and Summer 2005 to read more about Joe’s beloved Greenwood Ave. Even in his 90s, Joe was eager to show off his block and had even volunteered to plan and led a walking tour for the historical society. Joe will be missed.
Coloring Pages of Hyde Park History
WHAT IS COLOR HYDE PARK?!?
Color Hyde Park is a fun way for both adults and kids to get involved in learning local history!
Each month, a new coloring page with a location in Hyde Park will be added. Each coloring page will have information about the history of each location. We encourage you to visit each location as well! Click here to download a coloring sheet today.
New Addition to the Timeline
Check out our new timeline providing a snapshot into some notable events that shaped the history of Hyde Park.
-A LOOK BACK AT THE SPRING-
Metro History Fair
The Hyde Park Historical Society Remains a long time Supporter of the Chicago Metro History Fair
It is a tradition of the Hyde Park Historical Society to support the Chicago Metro History Fair. This years theme was Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas
On both Saturdays, March 4th and March 11th, students from across Chicago gathered at UIC to present their projects to judges. Middle and High School Students were tasked with developing website, performance, documentary, research paper, or exhibit. Board member Mallory Price, had the opportunity to serve as a website judge and evaluated the projects of the emerging young historians.
Board Member, Kathy Huff and her husband Roger, donated once again to help fund an award for research on Hyde Park Township. Awards were given for two projects, including one exploring the celebration of race and justice through street art on the South Side of Chicago, and a paper analyzing Enrico Fermi and the Nuclear Age.
April Open House
We welcome a number of both old and new faces at our April 24th Open House!
The HPHS was honored to receive a donation from members of the University Service League as well, who brought by the Graham Taylor Award for our collection!
-NEW TO THE ARCHIVES-
Kenwood Commuters Association Items
Howard Zar (right) generously donated a binder documenting, “The Saga of the Kenwood Commuters Association.” Howard worked alongside John A. McDermott and others in the community for decades to ensure service was not eliminated from the station.
The binder contained a few letters written by the Hyde Park Historical Society in support of their efforts. One letter from the Hyde Park Historical Society was from 1986, and notified the Kenwood Commuters Association that HPHS had selected them to receive an annual award in recognition of their efforts to keep the 47th Street Illinois Central Station open.
Above- 1880s Photo of the Kenwood 47th Street Illinois Central Station
