When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
These women were coworkers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago on LaSalle Street significantly elevates this item. It transforms it from a generic souvenir into a documented piece of Chicago banking history and mid-century workplace culture.
Full Description
Historical Significance: This souvenir photo folder captures a group of female coworkers from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (District 7) during a social outing in the late 1940s or early 1950s.
At this time, the Fed’s LaSalle Street headquarters was undergoing massive expansion to handle the \"world\'s largest check-clearing installation,\" a department largely staffed by women.
The Venue: The group is pictured at the College Inn within the Hotel Sherman, just a few blocks north of the Federal Reserve. The Inn was the epicenter of Chicago’s jazz and big band scene, famously hosting the \"Porterhouse\" and \"Well of the Sea\" rooms.
Visuals:
Cover: Features the iconic purple \"Steer Horns\" logo of the Porterhouse.
Interior: A high-contrast black-and-white candid photograph of the \"Fed\" coworkers in formal attire, reflecting the professional dress standards of the era.
Back: Original studio stamp from Rialto Photographers (127 N. Dearborn St.), a famous Chicago Loop photography firm.
Photo Folder measures 11.25\" x 9\"
Condition: Excellent vintage condition; the folder remains crisp and the photograph has not faded, preserving the details of the era\'s fashion and the venue\'s ambiance.
Please review the attached pictures for additional details. Shipping will be combined for multiple items purchased and shipped in the same package.
