The Chicago Tribune was founded in Chicago in 1847 and went on to become of the leading newspapers locally and nationally. Though diminished in recent years from the contraction in the newspaper industry and multiple corporate owners, the Chicago Tribune remains an important Chicago institution.

A Designated Chicago Landmark, the Tribune Tower was sold and converted to residential in 2018. Preservation Chicago played an active role in protecting this iconic Chicago building through this transition.

The Chicago Tribune Publishing Center, also known as the Freedom Center, was built between 1990 and 1982 and, at approximately 700,000 square feet, was the largest newspaper printing facility in North America. In early 2024, decision was made to sell the property to Bally’s Casino and move newspaper operations the Schaumburg.

When it became clear that portions of the Chicago Tribune archive were at risk of being lost due to space limitations, Preservation Chicago stepped up to save these important items.

During June 2024, Preservation Chicago relocated to our offices the Paul Gapp Collection, the Chicago and Illinois reference collection, bound copies of the Chicago Tribune Arts, Magazines, and Book Sections dating back the 1940s, and bound volumes of Chicago Magazine dating back to 1971.

We also saved a variety of tangible items; including eight large paster castings of Chicago Tribune Tower ornament, a large plaster model of the Chicago Tribune Tower, a late 19th century hand-printing-press by Morgan and Wilcox, a 1940s era ticker tape machine, a collection of large format advertisements and artwork, and even Ann Landers grey-mohair velvet couch. The large plaster model is being restored and will be on display at the Chicago Architecture Center. The other items are in storage and we hope to find permanent homes for them where they will be displayed.

Additionally, in partnership with the McCormick Foundation and Cantigny, we were able to successfully remove the large Chicago Tribune Freedom Center Mural – “Distributing The Chicago Tribune Newspaper” by Mark McMahon. Commissioned in 1981 for the Freedom Center cafeteria, this 8.5′ by 40′ mural on tile was saved just days prior to demolition and is now in possession of the McCormick Foundation and Cantigny. We were also fortunate to be able to save the original silkscreens used to create the mural.

This effort was both highly important and very difficult. We wish to thank the staff at Preservation Chicago who went “above and beyond” to make it sure that everything went smoothly despite and limited timed and resources. We also wish to thank the leadership of the McCormick Foundation and Cantigny for their partnership. Additionally, we’d like to thank the representatives of the Chicago Tribune archive and the demolition contractor for working well with us given the difficulties around this effort.

Preservation Chicago’s Mary Ellen DiMatteo Chicago Architecture and History Library has been expanded to accommodate the Chicago Tribune Paul Gapp Architecture Collection, and the Chicago Tribune Bound Archive Collection. These libraries and collections are designed to promote and facilitate research regarding Chicago architecture, history and the built environment.

Intended as a useful resource for professional researchers, authors, historians, students, and enthusiasts who wish to research Chicago history, it also serves an essential resource for Preservation Chicago staff and research consultants to quickly and easily generate content rich research reports for urgently endangered buildings.

The Preservation Chicago’s Chicago Architecture Collection is open to the public by appointment and is located at Preservation Chicago’s offices at 205 W. Monroe Street, Suite 400, Chicago IL 60606 in the heart of Chicago’s Loop.