2. What is
Explore
Chicago
Collections?
Free, open-access website containing historical images and
archival collections on Chicago history
Updated with new collections and images as content is digitized
Collaboration between the ChicagoCollections Consortium and its
participating member institutions such as the Newberry Library,
Chicago History Museum, andArt Institute of Chicago
4. WhyUse
Explore
Chicago
Collections?
Explore ChicagoCollections is an excellent resource for anyone
conducting research on Chicago history.
The website includes digital images and links to archival
collections relevant to many common research topics such as
neighborhoods, transportation, and events.
Explore ChicagoCollections is easy to browse, so you can consult
the site while you are still finalizing a topic!
Ultimately, Explore ChicagoCollections works for two types of
research: finding immediate sources, or finding collections at an
institution you plan to visit in the future.
5. Sample
Research
Questions
Here are some sample research questions that best fit Explore
ChicagoCollections’ usage:
Where can I find records on Potter Palmer?
What did transportation in early Chicago look like?
We will keep these questions in mind moving forward as we
explore the functionality of the website.
6. Photographs:
What Did
Transportation
in Early
Chicago Look
Like?
We can navigate ExploreChicagoCollections in two major ways:
searching and browsing.
To search for Chicago transportation photographs, use the search
bar on the home page, and a result list like the one below will
appear.
7. Photographs:
What Did
Transportation
in Early
Chicago Look
Like?
• The immediate result list will show both digital image and archival
collection returns.We will focus on digital images for now.
• To narrow down our search to show only digital images, I’ve selected
the “Digital Images” filter from the sidebar. Further down the page, I
have also selected the “Chicago” filter to show only images from
Chicago.
9. Photographs:
What Did
Transportation
in Early
Chicago Look
Like?
Click on any image to find information such as the institution an
image comes from, dimensions, dates, reference sources, and
similar subject tags.
10. Photographs:
What Did
Transportation
in Early
Chicago Look
Like?
To utilize the browsing function of ExploreChicagoCollections,
lets return to the homepage and find the “Browse” tab.
For our transportation question, let’s select “Topics.”
11. Photographs:
What Did
Transportation
in Early
Chicago Look
Like?
The “Topics” section lists broad topics agreed upon by the
project’s contributing institutions. Since we would like to explore
early Chicago, let’s select “EarlyChicago (1837-1871).”
12. Photographs:
What Did
Transportation
in Early
Chicago Look
Like?
The result list follows the same format as our previous search, just
with images and collections filed under the early Chicago topic.
Results from the browse function are likely to be less detailed than
a keyword search, so be prepared for a broad result list that may
not be entirely relevant to your topic.
13. Collections:
WhereCan I
Find Records
on Potter
Palmer?
To take advantage of the archival collection information made
available through Explore ChicagoCollections, let’s search the site
for collections on Potter Palmer.
“Potter Palmer” has been run through the search engine and the
results are below:
14. Collections:
WhereCan I
Find Records
on Potter
Palmer?
To narrow the search results, let’s use the filter options to only
show archival collections about Chicago located at the Chicago
History Museum.
Next, let’s look at an individual collection: Potter Palmer and
Palmer estate papers, 1849-1920.
15. Collections:
WhereCan I
Find Records
on Potter
Palmer?
By clicking on “Potter Palmer and Palmer estate papers, 1849-
1920,” we see detailed information about the archival collection
including a summary, physical description, and subjects.
16. New to
Archival
Research?
Explore ChicagoCollections recognizes the difficulty in starting
archival research.Through the “Help Guide,” located at
http://guides.chicagocollections.org/help-guide, you can receive
helpful information for a first time visit to a research center.
The Help Guide includes instructions and tips on topics such as
research concepts, planning a research center visit, citing sources,
and copyright protection.
17. Summary
Explore ChicagoCollections can be used to both search and
browse for specific topics, places, events, and people in Chicago or
Midwest history.
The site returns digital images and archival collections relevant to
your search.
Individual items or records provide detailed information about the
item, as well as the contributing institution’s name.
Advice on archival research is provided through a comprehensive
Help Guide located within the website.
18. Questions? For further information on how to use Explore Chicago Collections,
Chicago history resources, or conduct research, please contact me
via email at bbarcenas@my.dom.edu. Happy researching!
