T. Arthur Evans Papers
Scope and Contents
The T. Arthur Evans Papers include a small selection of his professional documents including his resume, engineering licenses, correspondence, ephemera, news clippings and construction photographs, most of which are related to Chicago’s Wacker Drive project. The firm Kaufmann & Fabry took the bulk of the South Water Street improvement (Wacker Drive) photographs. The description of the construction photographs is drawn from the text that was incorporated into the images at the time of creation.
Dates
- 1902 - 2002
- Majority of material found within 1924 - 1926
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Please consult staff at Chicago Public Library Special Collections to determine ability to reuse materials from collection.
Biographical / Historical
T. (Thomas) Arthur Evans (1878-1945) was the Chief Engineer for the creation of Chicago’s double-level Wacker Drive that opened in 1926. Managed by the City’s Board of Local Improvements, the Wacker Drive project began in 1924 as the South Water Street Improvement Project. The bi-level thoroughfare that facilitated traffic and improved the appearance of the riverfront was first proposed in the 1909 Plan of Chicago written by Daniel H. Burnham and Edward H. Bennett. The multi-level drive was named for Chicago Plan Commission Chairman, Charles H. Wacker, who was instrumental in the project’s implementation. Mid-Continent Construction Company completed the work in two years.
Extent
.5 Linear Feet (in 2 boxes (43 photographs))
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
T. (Thomas) Arthur Evans (1878-1945) was the Chief Engineer for the creation of Chicago’s double-level Wacker Drive that opened in 1926. The collection includes a small selection of his professional documents such as his resume, engineering licenses, correspondence, ephemera, news clippings along with 43 photographs, most of which are related to the construction of Chicago’s Wacker Drive.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into two series: Series 1: Documents, 1902-2002 and Series 2: Photographs, circa 1924-1940, undated
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Barbara S. Turner (granddaughter of T. Arthur Evans) in 2002.
Separated Materials
Chicago (Ill.). Board of Local Improvements. Chicago Plan, [Chicago : Printed in the House of Severinghaus, 1922], F548.5.C5332 1922
- Chicago (Ill.). Board of Local Improvements
- City planning -- Illinois -- Chicago Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Public works -- Illinois -- Chicago Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Wacker, Charles H. (Charles Henry), 1856-1929
Source
- Turner, Barbara S. (Person)
Creator
- Evans, T. Arthur (Thomas Arthur), 1878-1945 (Person)
- Kaufmann & Fabry Co. (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the T. Arthur Evans Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Michelle McCoy
- Date
- 2021
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Unit at Harold Washington Library Center Repository
Harold Washington Library Center, 9th Floor
Chicago Public Library
400 S. State Street
Chicago IL 60605 United States
(312) 747-4875
specoll@chipublib.org