About the Collection

A Century of Progress International Exposition was the world's fair held in Chicago during the summers of 1933 and 1934 to commemorate the incorporation of the city in 1833. Sponsors of the fair sought to broaden its appeal by adopting a theme of universal significance - the spectacular advances of science and technology during the period 1833-1933. Chicago, according to fair boosters, was "the only city of major importance whose entire life had been passed within this remarkable century, one in which the application of science to industry had brought profound changes in both the economic and cultural structure." The Exposition was to serve as the "dramatization of the progress of civilization during the hundred years of Chicago's existence."

UIC's Century of Progress records collection is extensive, and while a great deal of it has been digitized, not all of it has been. If you plan to use the collection in person, please consult the list of finding aids linked below.

Century of Progress records collection by series

Series 1: General Correspondence | finding aid
Series 2: Government Correspondence | finding aid
Series 3: Board of Trustees | finding aid | digital content
Series 4: Rufus C. Dawes | finding aid | digital content
Series 5: Committees | finding aid | digital content
Series 6: General Manager | finding aid
Series 7: Legal Department | finding aid | digital content
Series 8: Comptroller | finding aid
Series 9: Confidential Files | finding aid | digital content
Series 10: Secretary's Files | finding aid
Series 11: Exhibits Department | finding aid | digital content
Series 12: Concessions Department | finding aid | digital content
Series 13: Transportation Section | finding aid
Series 14: Promotion Department | finding aid | digital content
Series 15: Fair History | finding aid
Series 16: Publications | finding aid | digital content
Series 17: Iconographics | finding aid | digital content

Related Collections

The UIC Library has also digitized material from the Century of Progress Memorabilia Collection, which highlights keepsakes and objects from the fair.

Tourists posing in the car they drove from New Orleans to the Fair

Tourists posing in the car they drove from New Orleans to the Fair (COP_17_0003_00072_001)

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