When Illinois was still a part of the American frontier, the Chicago Historical Society began collecting and preserving manuscripts and museum pieces important in the development of the great Northwest. It was in 1856 that a group of Chicago's foremost citizens, led by Dr. William Barry, founded the Society. A year later the organization was incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois. According to the articles of incorporation, the purpose of the Society is “to institute and encourage historical inquiry and to collect and preserve the materials of history especially concerning the states carved from the Old Northwest Territory.” In this broad field, the activities of the institution have been chiefly of two sorts, the assembly of manuscripts and other material for its Library and the collection of historical pieces for its Museum.

For several years the Society has been active in securing action photographs of industrial processes for deposit in the Baker Library, and during the past year the organization has carried on an intense campaign to enlarge this collection. Because of these efforts, the number of pictures has been increased to a point where there are now over two thousand items.

That the Boston collector of custom in the year 1843 was a proverbial “Jack of all trades” is revealed in a letter-book of the Boston Custom-House in the files of the Baker Library. Detector of criminals and smugglers, benefactor of sailors in distress, counsel for importing merchants, and adviser for foreign consuls — these were all tasks within the range of duties of this custom-house.

In the development of our modern industrial society, the form of marketing institutions have constantly been in flux. New types of distribution have been brought forth to meet changing conditions only to become obsolete as a result of further change. An institution that became influential after the War of 1812, reached its heyday by 1825, and then declined into relative unimportance by 1840 was the wholesale auction system. In the Society's possession are the records of Jacob Peabody and Company, a Boston auction and commission house that operated in this era of the auctioneer. Study of the papers of this collection not only gives considerable detail on methods of conducting an auction business, but also discloses much on the historical development of the auction system in this period.

As a result of an invitation from the Pan American Union of Washington, D. C., to participate in the commemoration of Pan American Day on April 14, the Baker Library has installed a special exhibit of materials on the industry and commerce of all Central and South American countries.

In the history of America, war has proved a powerful stimulus to industry. Naturally, hostilities will bring forth increased activity in most branches of trade, which enhancement of activity lasts only during the persistence of the war stimulus. However, there have been a few industries in each major war that have been permanently advanced. A survey of the diversified collections in the Society's possession calls to mind certain industries that normal development would have caused to bloom at a much later date and others that might never have been developed had it not been for the exciting influence of war.