Encyclopedia of Chicago

book cover bearing the title The Encyclopedia of Chicago
Encyclopedia of Chicago (2004)
official website
AuthorJames R. Grossman, Ann Durkin Keating, and Janice L. Reiff (all editors)
LanguageEnglish
SubjectHistory of Chicago
GenreReference encyclopedia
PublisherUniversity of Chicago Press
Publication date
October 15, 2004 (print)
May 11, 2005 (online)
Publication placeUnited States
Media typehardbound/internet
Pages1117[1]
ISBN0-226-31015-9
OCLC54454572
977.3/11/003 22
LC ClassF548.3 .E53 2004
Websiteencyclopedia.chicagohistory.org

The Encyclopedia of Chicago is a historical reference work covering Chicago and the entire Chicago metropolitan area published by the University of Chicago Press. Released in October 2004, the work is the result of a ten-year collaboration between the Newberry Library and the Chicago Historical Society. It exists in both a hardcover print edition and an online format, known as the Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago.[2] The print edition is 1117 pages and includes 1400 entries, 2000 biographical sketches, 250 significant business enterprise descriptions, and hundreds of maps.[1][2][3] Initially, the internet edition included 1766 entries, 1000 more images and sources.[4]

The concept was fueled by other regional encyclopedias that had met with commercial success in 1980s and 1990s. Eventually, the vision to create the book found initial financing from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The book was well received and became a bestseller during the 2004 Christmas season following its October 2004 release. In May, 2005, the Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago was released. Northwestern University joined the Newberry Library/Chicago Historical Society collaboration to publish the internet edition. The internet edition was the second of its kind for a U.S. city.

  1. ^ a b "The encyclopedia of Chicago". WorldCat. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
  2. ^ a b "The Encyclopedia of Chicago". Newberry Library. Archived from the original on December 6, 2008. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference EOCUoCP was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cchetca was invoked but never defined (see the help page).