Calumet region industrial heritage "virtual museum" now available on-line

CHICAGO - An on-line "virtual museum" archive of the Calumet region's industrial heritage featuring thousands of images, historical records and drawings, many of which have never before been available to the public, is now available at www.idaillinois.org and beginning November 5 at www.pullman-museum.org following a year-long project through the Pullman State Historic Site to organize and digitize the material for public use.

"The steel, coke and transportation industries of this region were instrumental in the early development of American industry and its 20th-century growth," said Robert Coomer, director of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, which administers Pullman State Historic Site. "Although many of the original industrial structures are gone, this on-line archive means the public can still see and learn about the Calumet region's vital role in our nation's history."

The Industrial Heritage Archive of Chicago's Calumet Region is a joint project of the Pullman site and the Calumet Heritage Partnership, Southeast Chicago Historical Society, and several noted industrial historians. The digitization project began in November 2006, and more than 2,000 items were scanned for the archive. The "virtual museum" has links to the partnering organizations' websites, and was made possible by a $19,530 grant from Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White.

The Industrial Heritage Archive gives the public easy access to original historic resources. It allows students, researchers and organizations to gain better understanding and respect for the history of industrialization of the region and nation. It features historic images, maps and drawings of the Calumet region's factories, structures, equipment and workers, including such areas as South Chicago, South Deering, Riverdale, the East Side, Roseland, Pullman and Hegewisch.

The Pullman State Historic Site included historic photographs of the 1881 Pullman Palace Car Company and George Pullman's town of Pullman, as well as the town of Roseland, and various drawings, maps and other items in the on-line archive. Featured are images from well-known early Pullman photographers, including Henry R. Koopman, J.W. Taylor, Thomas S. Johnson, John P. Van Vorst and Melvin C. Horn. Many of these come from the site's 5,000-item Ludlam Special Collections Archive.

The Southeast Chicago Historical Society collection is particularly strong in materials related to the industrial and labor history of Chicago's Calumet Region, including Wisconsin Steel, United States Steel South Works, Republic Steel, Acme Coke/Interlake Steel, Valley Mould, and others. Materials from their collections included in the new electronic archive include selected photographs of workers, site plans, maps, and drawings of plant equipment and facilities.

Calumet Heritage Partnership is a group that serves the greater Calumet region's environmental, cultural and historical organizations, individuals, libraries, educational institutions, municipalities, and government agencies committed to celebrating, preserving and protecting the area's unique heritage. The group selected a large collection of drawings, photographs, and other materials rescued from the now defunct Acme Steel Company that may now be seen with the new "virtual museum."

In addition to the three participating organizations, the website effort included input from Pullman and Roseland historian Paul Petraitis, former employees of the Acme Steel Company, noted historians and authors Frank Beberdick and Rod Sellers, and Pullman State Historic Site Curator Linda Beierle Bullen.