The James S. Parker Collection consists of approximately 50,000 8" x 10" black and white negatives and 850,000 35mm negatives images of Chicago from the early twentieth into the beginning of the 21st centuries. The strength of the collection is in documenting Chicago from the 1930s through the 1970s, including a wide range of photographs of parks, bridges, intersections, private houses and public buildings. Neighborhoods are documented over time, showing the effects of local economies and urban policy. The collection is particularly strong in images of Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood with photographs of sites slated for demolition in the 1950s and 1960s and 2002 photos of the construction or vacant lots that succeeded them.
To find out more and to use the collection in person, please consult the James Parker collection finding aid.
Over 25,000 images have been digitized from the following sections of the James Parker collection:
James S. Parker owned the firm Copelin Commercial Photographs that operated continuously in Chicago beginning in 1856. Mr. Parker's association with the firm began in the 1960s, first as a partner, then as sole owner. Mr. Parker was responsible for managing the legal photography for the city; whenever there was an incident or accident involving City property, Mr. Parker's team was there to document it. Mr. Parker was also the official photographer for Mayor Richard J. Daley, and the collection has a strong representation of public events. dedications, parades, memorials, and other ceremonies attended by the Mayor.
James S. Parker's varied work career included time in the city clerk's office, Bureau of Electricity, and as Community Relations Representative for Congressman Frank Annuzio. Parker's connections in these three positions as well as his own candidacy for alderman and congressman resulted in many of the photos of famous Chicagoans and visitors to Chicago.
Many images in this collection portray Chicago neighborhoods in ways that represent a specific point of view; many of the photographs were commissioned by the City of Chicago to document areas slated for demolition. This context may influence how communities are portrayed.
The digitization of this collection was generously funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Administration, a part of the National Archive.