Books & Manuscripts, including Americana

Charles Henry Wacker was a Chicago businessman and philanthropist. As chairman of the Chicago Plan Commission, he was a vocal supporter of the Burnham Plan for the improvement and beautification of Chicago, which included widening city streets, adding new parks, and creating new, grandiose civic buildings. He became president of Wacker and Birk Brewing and Malting Company upon his father's death in 1884 and later served as president of the McAvoy Brewing Company, director of the Chicago Heights Land Association, Corn Exchange National Bank, Chicago Title and Trust Company, and South Elevator Company, and was director of the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

In recognition of the indelible mark his efforts for the improvement of Chicago left upon the city, and in particular for his work on a plan to create a multi-level street through the heart of downtown Chicago to improve traffic flow, this street was named Wacker Drive in his honor.

This archive includes:

1) ROOSEVELT, Theodore (1858-1919). Engraved letter signed ("Theodore Roosevelt"), Washington, 12 May 1905. 1p., 8vo (216 x 171 mm) on White House stationery; with original envelope. Roosevelt thanks Wacker for an introductory speech he gave at the Merchants Club of Chicago in Roosevelt's honor on 10 May 1905.

2) A group of 10 letters from various Chicago civic leaders, including Dr. W.T. Belfield, James Eckels, Charles Hulburd, Alexander McCormick, George B. Swift, Arthur L. Wheeler, and others, congratulating Wacker on the introductory speech given in Roosevelt's honor on 10 May 1905.

3) Wood and brass inkwell with fountain pen, both owned and used by Charles Wacker.

4) Honorary gavel with accompanying presentation letter and ribbon to Charles Wacker in honor of the dedication of Wacker Drive on 20 October 1926. Letter reads, "This gavel is presented to Mr. Charles H. Wacker, Chairman of the Chicago Plan Commission by the City Engineers who designed and built Wacker Drive, and is a portion of a walnut log which was found twenty feet below the Surface of old South Water Street just east of Clark Str."

5) Honorary gavel presented to Charles Wacker by the American Club in 1872 with accompanying note which reads, "Gavel presented to Charles H. Wacker in 1872 by the Americus Club."

6) MOODY, Walter D. What of the City? Chicago: A.C. McClurg & Co., 1919. 8vo. Contemporary half purple morocco; slipcase. PRESENTATION COPY, WITH A LENGTHY INSCRIPTION FROM MOODY TO CHARLES WALKER.

7) Ten Years Works of the Chicago Plan Commission, 1909-1919: A Resume of the Work of the Plan of Chicago. [Chicago: N.p.], 1920. 4to. Contemporary morocco gilt, upper cover gilt-stamped with Wacker's name. CHARLES WACKER'S COPY, SIGNED BY NUMEROUS MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, INCLUDING ROBERT J. FISHER, WALTER MOODY, JULIUS ROSENWALD, HARRY A. WHEELER, and others.

8) A pair of hand-illuminated titles on vellum related to Charles Wacker, comprising an in-memoriam book issued upon his death in 1929 and executed by the Harris Studio of Chicago and signed by Chicago mayor William Hale ("Big Bill") Thompson and city clerk Patrick Sheridan Smith, and an award issued to Wacker by the Chicago Singverein in 1925 and signed by William Boeppler, Albert Fuchs, Adele O. Schink, Richard Wasserman, and others.

9) American Red Cross silver merit medal manufactured by the Bailey, Banks & Biddle Company of Philadelphia, awarded for service and engraved on obverse, "Charles H. Wacker / 1916." Accompanied by original case.

10) A large archive of letters of congratulations from prominent Chicagoans to Charles Wacker on the occasion of his being awarded an L.L.D. from the University of Chicago, spring 1925, including: Robert Todd Lincoln, J. Ogden Armour, Joseph H. Cudahy, John V. Farwell, Cyrus McCormack, Julius Rosenwald, Charles Schweppe, and others, with typed copies of Wacker's responses to each.

11) A significant archive of personal photographs of Charles H. Wacker and family, many signed by Wacker and various family members, as well as views of Wacker's home and associates.

12) The Chicago Association of Commerce. [Chicago: N.p.]: 1912. Charles Wacker's personal copy with name in gilt on front cover.

13) Chicago's Greatest Issue: An Official Plan. Chicago: The City Plan Commission, May 1911. Charles Wacker's personal copy with name in gilt on inner front board. INSCRIBED BY WALTER MOODY TO WACKER.

14) LEWIS, Lloyd and Henry Justin SMITH. Chicago: The History of Its Reputation. New York: Harcourt, Brace, & Company, 1929. INSCRIBED BY LEWIS AND SMITH TO WACKER, "With greetings."

And many other Chicago planning books, personal effects, and ephemera related to and owned by Wacker.