Athenaeum Building

Athenaeum Building
Life Span: 1886-1929
Location: 59 E. Van Buren
18-26 VanBuren (old)
Architect: TBD

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1880

Athenaeum Bldg.

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1884
Athenaeum Bldg.—48 to 54 Dearborn

Lakeside Business Directory of the City of Chicago, 1899
Athenaeum Bldg.—18-26 Vanburen
Athenaeum Bldg.—52 Dearborn
Palette and Chisel Club, 738, 26 Van Buren

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1904
Athenaeum (The) Charles R Barrett supt 18 to 26 Vanburen
Athenaeum Building—18 to 26 Vanburen
Athenaeum Building 52 Dearborn

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1911
Athenaeum Bldg.—162 N Dearborn

The Standard Guide to Chicago, For the Year 1892

Chicago Athenaeum.—In the sumer of 1890 this honored institution, which has been justly called “The People’s College,” entered upon the most promising period of its history, at the opening of its Twentieth year. At that time the Board of Directors, composed of some of the best known and most influential citizens, with Ferd. W. Peck, Esq., as president, secured a valuable property 91×97 feet at 18 to 26 Van Buren St., one of the choicest locations in the city, which has been enlarged to a seven-story building and fitted up in the most attractive style, with all desirable conveniences. The property was purchased for $200,000, besides which $90,000 have been expended in the improvements. Situated in the very heart of the city, close to the Art Iustituie, and in the same grand square on which the Auditorium stands, it is destined to become a recognized educational center, and one , of Chicago’s most beneficent Institutions. The Athenaeum entered its new home in March, 1891. From the date of its organization in October, 1871, its animating spirit has been philanthropic. Though a private corporation, it has always maintained the Athenaeum solely for the public good, having been chartered as an institution not for pecuniary profit. The benefits that it has bestowed upon this city can not be overestimated. Open daily throughout the year, and five evenings a week for nine months of the year, with an able corps of twenty-nine teachers and a large list of studies—all elective— young men and women may enter at any time, without examination, and receive the desired instruction at moderate cost- Here everything is done by the superintendent and teachers, not enly to aid the pupils in the special branches that they have chosen but to stimulate a love for learning. To this end a well-chosen circulating library of good English literamie is maintained, containing books of reference in the arts and sciences, and an open reading-room with the daily and weekly papers, magazines and reviews.

During the fall and winter lectures on popular science, literatuie and applied art are given. In the same building an assembly hall has been provided, which will give far better facilities for such instructive lectures.

A room has been specially prepared to receive apparatus and chemicals for the illustration of lectures on natural philosophy and chemistry.

For the past fifteen yearsthe Athenaeum has been closely allied with the Chicago Mechanics’ Institute, organized in 1843, of which Geo. C. Prussina;, Esq., is president, and has done all its educational v\oik. The liberal advantages of the Institute are extended to indigent mechanics or their children, on written application, duly vouched for. Many a worthy young mechanic or citizen has thus secured, through the Athenaeum evening classes, such thorough instruction in mathematics and drawing as to gain for him promotion in his trade, as an intelligent and practical foreman or a masterbuilder.

While the greater importance in this ‘ People’s College” is attached to the fundamental branches whose utility is everywhere acknowledged, valuable service is also rendered to young women who desire to quality themselves for teachers in the public schools, or to pass the examination 1oi still higher grades, by giving them able instruction in advanced mathematics, physics and the natural science. Here also young men may receive special instructions in science, the classics and French, German or Spanish, to enable them to enter any college in the land. The new “Atheraeurn Building” is a substantial and commanding edifice constructed of pressed brick and stone. It is 91×97 feet and seven stories high. Special attention here is given to securing abundant light and good ventilation not only by means of numerous broad windows, those in front beingplate glass, but through two large light-wells down through the entire building. A broad entrance and hall with handsome marble pavement and side walls leads to two large electric elevators, the first of this kind introduced into Chicago, by W. E. Hale & Co., and to a broad iron and marble stairway leading to the seventh story.

The upper story has been elaborately fitted up with sixteen or eighteen studios for the special accommodation of artists. The fifth and sixth floors are devoted to spacious and beautiful class-rooms, an assembly hall, library and reading room, the business office and superintendent’s private office. Other rooms below are occupied by literary, philanthropic and educational associations.

A larger and finer “Athenaeum Hall,” with a seating capacity of 400, has been opened on the second floor, and is often used for concerts and lectures. With the exception of the broad entrance hall leading to the elevators, the entire first story and basement have been made into the most spacious and fairly-appointed Gymnasium in this city, with a height of 26 feet. The east half is devoted to the gymnasium proper, handsomely frescoed and furnished with the best apparatus that can be obtained. Thirteen feet above the floor is a suspended and well supported running track, 5 feet wide. The ceiling is finished in heavy hard wood panels, and admirably adapted for suspended rings, ladders, climbing ropes, etc. The west half is occupied by a splendid racket alley (or hand ball court), 65×23 feet, with cement walls; a plunge bath lined with English porcelain, 18×28 feet and 7 feet deep; fifteen shower baths and four porcelain tub bath rooms. Along the entire front runs one of the best standard bowling alleys, being partly under the sidewalk and well lighted. Thus generously equipped with apparatus, and with spacious and handsome educational departments, the Chicago Athenaeum is destined to become one of the most attractive institutions for mental and physical culture of any city in the land. The names of the officers and directors of the Chicago Athenaeum are a sufficient guarantee of its high standard and useful aims. Ferd. W. Peck, president; Wm. R. Page, first vice-president; Harry G. Selfridge, second vice-president; John Wilkinson, secretary and treasurer; Edward I. Galvin, superintendent in charge. Directors: Henry Booth,\ Franklin H. Head, Lyman J. Gage, Wm. J. Chalmers, Husrh A. White, Joseph Sears, Ferd. W. Peck, Chas. J. Singer, Wm. R. Page, A. C. Bartlett, J. J. P. Odell, Alex. H. Revell, John Wilkinson, Harry G. Selfridge, H. H. Kohlsaat, Gilbert B Shaw. Under the guidance and government of these publics pirited citizens, this time-honored institution will ever keep in the line of progress, in promoting the interests of practical education.

Rand, McNally & Co.’s Bird’s-Eye Views of Chicago

⑪ The Athenaeum Building.
At 18-26 Van Buren Street, is the home of one of the noblest of Chicago’s semi-public institutions. Here classes in almost all schools of knowledge are maintained, where the adult student may repair the neglect of earlier years. Nor are athletic exercises despised. The Athenaeum had its quarters in 1874 where the Peacock Cafe now is, on Madison Street near Clark, and for many years later was on Dearborn Street near Randolph. Its main apostle was O. C. Gibbs, and Ferdinand W. Peck has been one of its steadfast friends. Here a young man or woman may study foreign languages, elocution, history, or science. He may in some sense enter good society, and here he will form life-long acquaintances. The building is 125 feet wide, 120 feet deep, and 70 feet high, with 7 stories and basement. There are 2 passenger elevators. The walls are of brick and cut-stone. Erected in 1886, at a cost of $107,000; remodeled in 1891, at a cost of $200,000.

Inland Printer, June, 1896

The Palette and Chisel Club.
An association of artists and craftsmen for the purpose of work and study—such is the Palette and Chisel Club of Chicago, some of the members of which appear in the half-tone upon the opposite page, engraved from a photograph by Carl Mauch. The organization is unique in that its members are all wage-workers and busy during the week with pencil, brush or chisel, doing work to please other people. But on Sunday mornings, at 9 o’clock, they assemble in the studio of Lorado Taft, in the Athenaeum Building, and for five hours each amuses himself by working in his chosen medium, to suit himself.

Sunday morning means a good deal to one who has worked all week, and the thought of these young men placing their easels and arranging their palettes at an hour when the rest of the city is in bed or on bicycles, is sufficient proof of their earnestness. A peep into the studio would show the men at work using all kinds of mediums, oil and water color, wash, pen and ink, charcoal, clay and modeling wax, and each as busy as a boy with a jackknife. And the conversation while the model rests deals not so much with “impressionism” and “realism,” or the tendency and mode of artistic revelation as with the best methods of drawing for reproduction or the discussion of technicalities in the sculptor’s or decorator’s arts.

The work of the club has so far been more for study than exhibition, but there can be no doubt that such a movement among men actually engaged in illustration and decoration and kindred arts appealing directly to the people must result in improving the standard of their work. The impression that a “real artist” is incapable of doing work “for the trade” is less erroneous than the idea that an atist earning his living by practical application of his talents may not be an artist worthy of the name. The painter may lack the technical training necessary to the successful illustrator, but an experience in designing or illustration often develops qualities in a man who is prevented from attempting the higher branches of art by lack of time or opportunity, which when his chance comes, gives him an advantage over the mere painter.

Two-thirds of the members are students in the “life class” at the Art Institute night school, and a desire for opportunity to study from the model in daylight, so that color might be used, led to the organization of the club. The time at their disposal is too short to spend in bothering with officers or by-laws, so the only formality is the payment of the monthly dues to the treasurer, Curtis Gandy, who settles the rent and pays the models.

The following is a list of the club’s membership: Charles J. Mulligan, David Hunter and W. J. Hutchinson, sculptors; Ray Brown, chief of the Times-Herald art department, and F. Holme, of the Evening-Post; Henry Hutt, illustrator and designer for J. Manz & Co.; Carl Mauch, of the Werner Company’s art staff; Will Carqueville, poster designer and lithographer; Curtis Gandy, Capel Rowley, Richard Boehm, Edward Loewenheim and C.C. Senf, designers and illustrators; L. Pearson, F.J. Thwing and H.L. Bredtschneider, fresco painters and decorators; Fred Mulhaupt, display advertiser; Ancel Cook, scenic artist; A. Sterba and W.H. Irvine, portrait artists; Arthur Carr, H. Wagner, L.M. Coakley and J.S. Shippen, art students. Fred Larson is a “proofer,” and the printer’s trade is represented by W.A. Randall.

The treasurer’s report shows a comfortable balance of cash in hand, and, while on Sunday meetings will soon be temporarily discontinued on account of the hot weather, the dues will run on just the same, so that when the club assembles in the fall it will be with every promise of a good and successful career.

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