Starting Points
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Explore Chicago CollectionsUse the Explore Chicago Collections database to locate archival and digital collections from Chicago libraries on the two Chicago World's Fairs.
Library Collections
Archives and Ephemera
The Special Collections Research Center in Regenstein houses archival collections relating to the Chicago World's Fairs.
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World’s Columbian Exposition, 1893. RecordsContains ephemera from the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, such as photographs, newspaper clippings, business documentation and visitor memorabilia.
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Guide to the Century of Progress International Exposition Publications 1933-1934Guide to the collection of materials held by the Special Collections Research Center on the Century of Progress Exposition.
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Special Collections Research CenterThe Special Collections Research Center website includes links to finding aids to collections relating to the Chicago World's Fairs.
Books and Periodicals
The Library Catalog includes records for books, periodicals, and other materials (videos, digital collections, etc.) relating to the World's Fairs in our collections. To identify materials, we recommend using the "subject" option in the Advanced Search of the Catalog, using the following Library of Congress headings:
- World's Columbian Exposition (1893 : Chicago, Ill.)
- Century of Progress International Exposition (1933-1934 : Chicago, Ill.)
- World's Fair (1992 : Chicago, Ill.)
- Chicago (Ill.) -- Exhibitions.
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WorldCat (OCLC) This link opens in a new windowYou can use WorldCat to search for World's Fair materials at other libraries.
Digital Collections
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Map of the World's Columbian ExpositionDigital map from the eCUIP digital program.
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University of Chicago Photographic Archive - World's Columbian ExpositionDigitized photographs of the World's Columbian Exposition from the Special Collections Research Center.
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A Century of Progress: The 1933-34 World's FairDatabase describing 1,000 printed brochures, pamphlets, and other materials issued for the 1993-34 Chicago world's fair, with 300 items presented as full digital facsimiles. Drawn from the John Crerar Library manuscript collection.
