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Occasionally throughout 2021, The Bridge will print reminiscences from docents in their own words. These essays are taken from long-time docents and provided to the DAN 2021 committee. This memory is from Joan Stinton, Docent Class 1989.

 Becoming a docent for the Chicago Architecture Foundation enriched my life beyond measure.

In 1988, I was living in the suburbs and taking photography classes at the College of DuPage. I began taking trips into the city to find interesting ways to do my assignments. A friend gave me a brochure about the CAF boat tour;  on the back was an ad for the docent program.

I applied, thinking that if I learned about architecture, I would be a better photographer. I was right. Composition is the key. Line, shape, texture, light—the same for good architecture and a good photograph.

In my interview, I was asked about my favorite building. I said, John Hancock. It still overwhelms me. (There was a CAC lecture about it a year or two ago by the then brand-new SOM architects as they learned from Bruce Graham and Fazlur Kahn as they broke new ground, literally.)

Classes started in January, 1989, I think. I saw the Glessner House for the first time and grew to love it. Our classes were upstairs, in the Beidler Room. We were The Class of ’89. I had no idea what that meant.

Paul Glassner was our mentor. He taught us the ropes. He brought us teachers. He read our papers.

I owe a huge debt to many of my classmates. Kate Schantz organized social get-togethers that brought us together outside of class. There is a very special place in my heart for Margaret Together. Those who remained friends long after docent training were Tina Strauss, Debra Frels, Jane Villa, Joan Friedman, Joan Schetter, Peggy Lami, Marilyn Scott, and Alastir MacDonald, whose license plate was E I E I O.