Details

ARC-0920

collection

Chicago Collection

1967-2015, undated

11.46 (Linear feet)

Considered by many critics to be one of the most successful rock bands of all time, Chicago originally formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois as The Big Thing, changed their name to Chicago Transit Authority, and finally settled on Chicago, to avoid a lawsuit with the real Chicago Transit Authority. Their goal was to create a rock and roll band featuring a brass section. They have released 24 studio albums and six live albums, and having sold more than 100 million records to date, they have been awarded 23 gold, 18 platinum, and 8 multi-platinum albums. Over the course of their career, they have boasted no less than five number-one ranked albums, accompanied by over 20 top-ten singles. Chicago was inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame on April 8, 2016 at the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, New York. In addition, Chicago members Peter Cetera, James Pankow, and Robert Lamm were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame for their work with the band.

The Chicago Collection contains items from the period of the band's history, dating from 1967 to 2015. Most of the photographic imagery, in a variety of formats, is from 1968-1977; however, some of the images are undated and taken from numerous national and international performances. Posters, made up of both tour and promotional items, are primarily from this period, but there are a few from the 1980s-2000s. Tour itineraries are also found in the collection, with the earliest dating from 1977, and rounded out with a 2015 series of live performances from the U.S. to Australia and Asia. Small series of original lyrical compositions, as well as promotional publications and programs, spanning 1968-1970, complete the collection.

: Processed by Mark Offtermatt, Intern. Completed July 7, 2017. Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS and local processing manual.

: Collection is primarily in English; materials in Danish, Dutch, Italian, Japanese, Swedish, and Taiwanese are indicated at the file or item level.

: The Chicago Collection was received by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc., as a gift from Robert Lamm on March 14, 2016.

: [Identification of Item], Chicago Collection, Library and Archives, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

: Books, sheet music, and CD's have been transferred to the library collection. Please search for the "Chicago Collection" in the library catalog for a list of donated titles. If you are unable to find what you are looking for, consult the Library and Archives staff to ensure these materials are available.

Collection is open for research. Patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights statement on the Researcher Registration form before using this collection. Consult the Library and Archives in advance of your visit to ensure access to these materials is available.

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. For more information, please consult the staff of the Library and Archives.