Sigmund J. Osty visual materials

Collection Summary

Black-and-white photographic prints depicting the built environment, predominantly in Chicago, but also Evanston, Skokie, and Galena, Illinois. All the images depict exterior views, the majority of which are street intersections, though the collection also documents streetscapes, residences, and individual businesses, particularly churches, department stores, and burlesque and pornographic film establishments. Osty most frequently documented the River North, Near North Side, Cabrini-Green, Gold Coast, and Old Town areas (bounded by Menomonee (1800 North) to the Chicago River (300 North), Lake Michigan to Halsted St. (800 West)); the collection also includes many images (approximately 300) of the Downtown Chicago area (bounded by the Chicago River (300 North) to Harrison St. (600 South), Michigan Avenue (100 East) to I-90/94 Expressway (700 West)). Other areas documented include the Lakefront and Museum Campus, South Loop and Chinatown, South Commons, Bronzeville, Hyde Park, Englewood, Bridgeport and New City, Homan Square, the West Loop and Near West Side, Garfield Park, University Village/Maxwell Street, Little Italy, Illinois Medical District, Pilsen, River West, Goose Island, Nobel Square, West Town, Ukrainian Village, Wicker Park, Bucktown, Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Jefferson Park, Portage Park, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, West Lakeview, North Center and Lincoln Square, Uptown, Edgewater, Rodgers Park and Andersonville. The collection includes images of the Maxwell Street markets, the original Hull House and its relocation, and a number of images taken from the observation deck in the John Hancock Center. Some of the images were taken for camera club presentations or competitions, and nearly all images have been labeled by Osty with either an address or cross-streets and the month/year.

The images have been arranged by geographic areas, roughly corresponding to Chicago neighborhood areas. To find a specific location, consult the street boundaries listed for each series and box as the categories may not conform precisely to official Chicago neighborhood area designations.