On April 26, 2015 the Windy City Historians began with a small group of Chicago authors and historians met at Chief O’Neil’s Restaurant on Chicago’s north side. Initiated by co-founders Christopher Lynch and Patrick McBriarty it was also attended by Greg Brozo, John Corey, Don Glasell, Joe Gustaitis, Jacob Kaplan, Dick Lanyon, Tom Lutz, Colleen McElroy, Mimi Rosenbush, and Patrick Steffes.
Within a couple meetings held on a quarterly basis this group and others contributors settled on the name Windy City Historians and the mission — to provide an open and friendly environment that encourages the sharing of resources, and knowledge among historians, researchers, communications professionals, educators, and artists to aid in the development of works related to Chicago history; including improved access to primary source materials, institutions, and archives; as well as supporting promotion, publishing, broadcast and publicity objectives connected with the dissemination of related topics and completed projects.
A Facebook group of the same name was soon created on February 6, 2016 as a forum for Chicago historians to send queries, share research and resources which quickly evolved into sharing of historic images and more. As the popularity of historic images took on a life of its own this drove the Facebook group to more than 10K a members by early 2020.
In May of 2018, Christopher Lynch and Patrick McBriarty conducted their first interview of what would be come the Windy City Historians Podcast. An idea that was posed by friend, artist, and designer Jill Haagenson to Patrick challenging him on and off for over a year that it would be a good way to raise his brand as an author and historian. Finally relenting Patrick sketched out a two-page outline of an ambitious chronological overview of Chicago history. Needing a name and already having worked with Chris the two co-hosts embarked upon what Chris entitled “Laying the Foundation.” This became their first podcast series beginning with the early history of French exploration of Chicago up into the 1930s.
The very first episode was released on March 29, 2019, which interviewed retired attorney and historian John Swenson in the first of a three episode discussion of the Chicago portage, French explorers, and an ancient Indian mound. What more will come of this group and the podcast remains to be seen as “Laying the Foundation” continues having now completed over a dozen monthly episodes.
A core group of Chicago authors, historians, and interested parties still occasionally meets to discuss and share history the podcast continues and our Facebook group is active forum for sharing some Great Chicago history!
I feel excited tobe a part of this group. Please keep me posted. (Kamlesh Mohan,Panjab University, Chandigarh, INdia.
I just stumbled across this group…after first stumbling across Noach Hoffman on Facebook and then, the Windy City Historians Facebook page. I’ve posted stuff there for a few weeks now, usually about African Americans in Chicago – which is the name of my pictorial history book that I did in Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series. I’m learning a lot here. Keep it up.
Lowell — thanks so much for checking out our Facebook page and diving in posting Chicago history and hopefully listening to the podcast as well. So appreciate the feedback and positive vibes.
Patrick & Chris
Hello, Windy City Historians! I have discovered your podcast and website from researching the history and advancement of Chicago as part of my AP US History research project. I am contacting you to inquire about you being part of an interview for my project. We will talk about the industrial advancements of Chicago as a city, from a trading post established by Point DuSable to a railway hub that connects other cities of the US. Important events such as the Pullman and Haymarket Square Riots will also be subjects of discussion. It won’t be long, up to an hour, maybe even less.
If you are interested in this interview, give me an email or a text. I do not pick up phone calls unless I know the person, so reaching me by phone is not the best way to contact me. It can be either Patrick or Christopher that I can interview, or maybe even the both of you guys. My deadline for this interview is around January 8. If, by the time you have read this email this date has passed, then you could ignore this message as I would have already found another individual to interview.
Hopefully you read this and you are not busy. Because it’s my Winter Break and I can be flexible during this time, I will let you choose any day and any hour to do this interview, as long as it’s a realistic time. We will talk more about setting up a meeting once you’ve responded.
Thank you for your time.
Neo Balogo