UIC Library Digital Collections (Beta)

About the Collection

The Chicago Aerial Photoraph Services (CAPS) collection documents the built environment in and around Chicago from the 1920s to the early 2000s. Most of these materials are very large photographic negatives that can't easily be viewed in person. A significant portion of this collection has been digitized.

There are two series within the CAPS collection:

Oblique Negatives
These images are not yet digitized, but the log books for the flights have been scanned and are searchable.

Aerial Reels
These have been digitized in their entirety, resulting in tens of thousands of large format aerial images. 

More About the CAPS Aerial Reels

This series includes the following surveys:

• 1931 Thorne Creek Forest Preserve Flight (31100)
• 1937-1938 Chicago Lakeshore Flight (37100)
• 1938 Chicago Lakeshore Flight (18269 & 18270)
• 1939 Cook and DuPage Counties Flight (39100)
• 1940 North Shore Flight (40100)
• 1949 Chicago Plan Commission Aerial Survey (49100)
• 1951 Northern Illinois Townships in DuPage and Will Counties Aerial Survey (31003)
• 1955 Cook County Aerial Survey (35060)
• 1956 DuPage County Aerial Survey (36056)
• 1958 Cook County Aerial Survey (38030)
• 1958 Lake County Aerial Survey (38358)
• 1959 Chicago Flight (39087)
• 1960 Northeastern Illinois Aerial Survey (60085)
• 1961 Chicagoland District Areas Aerial Survey (61200)
• 1963 Chicago Plan Commission Aerial Survey (43035)
• 1963-1964 Northeastern Illinois Aerial Survey (63400)
• 1970 Northeastern Illinois Aerial Survey (70100)
• 1970 Northwestern Indiana Aerial Survey (70101)
• 1975 Northeastern Illinois Aerial Survey (75100)
• 1981 Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission Aerial Survey (81200)
• 1985 Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission Aerial Survey (85100)
• 1988 Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission Aerial Survey (88100)
• 1990 Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission Aerial Survey (90100)
• 1992 Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission Aerial Survey (92100)
• 1995 Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission Aerial Survey (95100)
• 1998 Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission Aerial Survey (98100)
• 1999 Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission Aerial Survey (99100)
• 2001 Aerial Survey (01100)
• 2002 Aerial Survey (02100)
• 2003 Aerial Survey (03100)

Each survey can include anywhere from dozens of images to over 3000 images.

Ordering Reproductions

The Library holds large format master files for the images in the surveys above, so any of these aerial photos can be reproduced in high definition. You can use our Image & Media Reproduction Services page to find out more about reproduction costs and to access a form to order.