But, at the age of seven, I began collecting antique and vintage Chicago postcards (Chicago proper - no suburbs). My mom and aunt would take me to many antique and collectible shows.
The first time I found an antique dealer's booth that had tables full of boxes filled with postcards from around the country and the world, I parked myself on one of his folding chairs in front of the many boxes marked "Chicago, Illinois." After about two hours, my mom returned to the dealer's booth to find me still looking through and reading the postcards.
Postcards were very reasonable back then, mostly 10¢ to 25¢ per postcard, so I could buy a few with my own money. I found it fascinating that I was looking at images that were 50 years old or older and that I knew the present locations and what they currently looked like. I now have approximately 5,000 Chicago-only, postcards.
By the time I was in High School, I had developed an interest in American History. Still, the teaching methods mainly were memorization. On my own, I learned how to research historical events, places, and people. I spent many Saturdays at the Chicago Historical Society, researching Chicago history and the 1893 Chicago World's Columbian Exposition. I frequented the library so often and put in many hours per visit that the library administrator gave me a library card at no charge since I wasn't a member of the CHS.
In my senior year in High School, it was the first year of the Chicago Metro History Fair, which included schools from the entire Chicagoland area. My project was an analysis of why the 1933 Century of Progress World's Fair opened for a second year. I included many of my postcards and a research report on the financial profitability of the World's Fair at the end of the Great Depression and Prohibition and highlighted the benefits to the City of Chicago and to the state of Illinois.
I won the regional first and second rounds, receiving a Certificate for 'Outstanding Historical Ability and Performance,"' with an Honorable Mention.
In the History Fair's finals, held at the old Chicago Cultural Center (renamed from Chicago Main Public Library in 1977), I received an 'Outstanding Achievement Award.'
The Chicago Metro History Fair's finals were held at the Chicago Cultural Center (renamed from Chicago Main Public Library in 1977). I received a "Certificate for Outstanding Achievement" Award.
The Chicago Metro History Fair's finals were held at the Chicago Cultural Center (renamed from Chicago Main Public Library in 1977). I received a "Certificate for Outstanding Achievement" Award.
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| Certificate of Outstanding Achievement Award - Finals The First Chicago Metro History Fair. |
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| Brass Plaque |
As my Chicago postcard collection continued to grow to over 5,000, I wanted to share some unique Chicago postcards from my collection. I opened the Chicago Postcard Museum on November 1, 2007. The virtual Museum is constructed with lobbies, galleries, rooms, and exhibit halls, just like walking into a brick-and-mortar Museum. You will see special presentations and collections of extremely rare, antique, and vintage postcards.
Listen to Dr. Gale's Interview on WBEZ 91.5 FM, Chicago Public Radio, Eight Forty-Eight Show presents: Passion for Postcards Goes Digital. Hosted by: Stephanie Lecci. February 26, 2008.
Below is an article from the Chicago Reader, "Show Us Your [______]." February 2, 2012
Listen to Dr. Gale's Interview on WBEZ 91.5 FM, Chicago Public Radio, Eight Forty-Eight Show presents: Passion for Postcards Goes Digital. Hosted by: Stephanie Lecci. February 26, 2008.
Below is an article from the Chicago Reader, "Show Us Your [______]." February 2, 2012
REJUVENATING ILLINOIS HISTORY
As a historian and author, I not only enjoy learning about Illinois history, but I also enjoy presenting the stories and photographs that make Illinois' history come alive. In my opinion, the next evolution of a modern-day historian is to interact with history by allowing others to add to the richness of the article presentations with additional facts, photographs, and personal and family experiences. This is where a Facebook group excels by allowing feedback, comments, videos, photographs, and images to be added to the presentations, enriching the experience of all readers.
The resources below help students research and prepare for the Chicago Metro History Fair, and the Illinois Regional History Fairs (aka History Day), all leading up to the state finals competition on Illinois History Day held in Springfield, Illinois each May.
In
October 2012, I started the Facebook group and named it Living History of Illinois and Chicago®. People worldwide and from all walks of life have joined to participate in this social history venue, forming one of the most interesting educational and entertaining groups on Facebook. The group hosts Junior and Senior High School (6th-12th grades) history and social studies classes with their educators, for lesson plans.
I've
recruited dozens of Illinois community, township, and county Historical
Societies, History Museum Directors, Museum Curators, and career Historians to
join the group. Many of the members are in public service, including Mayors and
former Mayors from towns and cities all over Illinois. In addition, the group is
loaded with local media broadcasters, including news anchors and researchers
from NBC, ABC, CBS, and other TV and cable networks, plus radio personalities from around
the state. The group boasts of having several professional photographers on board who share their own photographs.
In
2013, I started the Digital
Research Library of Illinois History®. The Library includes my personal research papers, including a series about 'Lost
Town of Illinois,' 'Chicago's Forgotten Neighborhoods,' and 'Defunct Amusement
Parks of Illinois.' The goal of the library was to be a prime Illinois history resource for students and educators.
Because
of Facebook's restrictions on each group's number of posted images stored (approx.
5,000 per group), the oldest ones are deleted when new ones are posted. I found it
necessary to create a way of "Saving
Illinois History, One Story at a Time," before the posts on Facebook are deleted. On November 6, 2016, I founded the Digital Research Library of Illinois History Journal™. The Journal presents Illinois history in a friendly format. Being membership-free, anybody online can
add their comments to the articles in the Journal.
On July 28, 2020, I was removed and blocked from an Abraham Lincoln Facebook group because I provided proof that the post a member made was not at all truthful. Little did I know the person was a group Administrator. After sleeping on the issue, I decided to start a new Facebook group the following day, "Abraham Lincoln Forum™."
On July 28, 2020, I was removed and blocked from an Abraham Lincoln Facebook group because I provided proof that the post a member made was not at all truthful. Little did I know the person was a group Administrator. After sleeping on the issue, I decided to start a new Facebook group the following day, "Abraham Lincoln Forum™."
I
offer our members and the general public a free Daily Illinois Newspaper. The Living History of Illinois Gazette™ has current news from all over Illinois.
To
offset the costs of hosting and management fees for the Digital Research
Library of Illinois History®, Digital Research Library of Illinois History
Journal™, and the Living History of Illinois Gazette™, I opened an online store
with unique Illinois and Chicago logoed items that I personally designed or
re-created. The Illinois History Store® profits fund these Illinois history projects.
