AHPCS 2004 Annual Meeting

American Historical
Print Collectors Society

2004 ANNUAL MEETING
Thursday, April 22 through Saturday, April 24

CHICAGO, AS IT WAS
Courtesy of Gregg Walla

Chicago, the city of “big shoulders,” welcomes our group to its 29^th Annual Meeting! During the time when many historical prints were being published, Chicago was perhaps the most vibrant, dynamic, and lawless city in the country. Chicago history is rich with drama, from the Great Fire of 1871 to the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893. Beyond the prints and lectures, there is a great deal of fascinating history for us to explore during our meeting.

Our host hotel, the Allerton Crown Plaza, is located in a premier location on North Michigan Avenue, right in the heart of the shopping district. This stately old hotel first opened in 1924 and once contained the famous “Tip-Top-Tap” where early radio broadcasts extended Chicago’s grip across the country. After a complete renovation in 1999, it remains not only full of history, but also of comfort.

Our meeting will begin Thursday afternoon at the Newberry Library, a wonderful old building that dates from 1893. The program includes a lecture on 19^th century railroad maps and promotional prints, followed by a presentation of prints, drawings and photographs related to the Columbian Exposition. After the lectures we will break into groups to visit exhibitions, the conservation lab, and view some of the great prints in the Newberry’s collection. Back at the hotel, we will have a reception, dinner, and the “Show, Tell, and Sell” event. Please make sure to reserve a table and bring something to share with the group.

THE BURNING OF CHICAGO
Courtesy of Gregg Walla

On Friday morning we depart for another great Chicago institution, The Field Museum. Founded in 1893 during the Columbian Exposition, the Museum moved to its current grand building in 1921. During our stay we will hear a talk regarding the unique Audubon prints in the Museum’s Library, and a discussion on recognizing printmaking techniques. Ending the morning will be a return engagement of the “Collector’s Roundtable.” After box lunches, we will all have a chance to visit the Field Museum Library and get a behind the scenes look at many of their treasures. Later in the afternoon, you have a choice or remaining at the Field Museum, or moving on to the Art Institute. For those staying at the Field Museum, there will be an incredible special exhibition entitled “Splendors of China’s Forbidden City: The Glorious Reign of Emperor Qianlong.” For those going to the Art Institute, there will be a special reception for our group in their new Print Room and a selection of prints from their collection to view. Advance tickets are required for both the Art Institute and the China exhibition. If you have any energy left, dinner will be on your own in downtown Chicago, where there are at least 300 fine restaurants to pick from.

Saturday brings us to the Chicago Historical Society. We will start with our annual business meeting, followed by lectures on images of Abraham Lincoln and images of Chicago. A buffet lunch will be served, after which we are free to visit the exhibitions at the Society. Many of these exhibitions make ample use of historical prints to illustrate their subjects. Later in the day we will be welcomed at the Oppenheimer Gallery for a reception and chance to look at their extensive collection of Audubon, natural history, and botanical prints. As time permits, we will also have a chance to see the Oppenheimer restoration facility. Once again we will head back to the hotel for a reception, dinner, and top it off with our annual benefit auction.

The benefit auction is an important fundraiser for our Society, so please remember to bring a nice print or reference book with you. If you can not attend the meeting, please send a contribution to Gregg Walla, c/o CompX, 915 Sherwood Drive, Lake Bluff, IL 60044.

A registration form, along with a tentative agenda, was mailed out with the Winter newsletter, and are now available online. Click to pop up the registration form or agenda in separate windows for easy printing. If you have any questions, please e-mail . See you in Chicago!

American Historical Print Collectors Society
P.O. Box 201
Fairfield, CT 06824
Contact AHPCS