Blog

By Ellen Shubart, Class of 2006

In this anniversary year, let’s look back to the 1970s, when it all started. Importantly, the docent body graduated its first class in June of 1971. But that was just the beginning.

The Chicago School of Architecture Foundation was  founded in 1966 and and by 1970 had 100 members. After graduating its first class of docents, the CSAF offered two tours: Glessner House and Chicago Loop, which started on the steps of the Chicago Public Library. The tours were scheduled four times a week and the cost was $1 per person. By the end of 1971, 3,000 tour takers had enjoyed their excursions with the initial 33 docents.

In 1972, another tour was added: Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park. In 1973, CSAF offered its first educational tour, Put Your Arms Around a Building. Thus began the tradition of adding – and not until much later, subtracting – tours from the schedule.

In that same decade, Americans were waiting in agonizingly long lines at gas stations due to fuel shortages, were held spellbound in front of TVs for the Watergate hearings, and were introduced to Sesame Street, Remember the clothing of the 197os? Women wore granny dresses, shirtdresses, bell bottom pants and jeans, wide-leg palazzo pants – and denim everything: pants, dresses, skirts, jackets. Male tourists, whether local or from afar, boasted short shorts and tube socks in the summertime.

In Seeing the City: Celebrating 50 Years of the Chicago Architecture Foundation, 1966-2016, author Jay Pridmore notes, “The volunteer idea at Glessner House was a necessity, of course, as there was no money to organize tours on any other basis. But the docents’ enthusiasm and ultimately their independence took on a life of its own, and these qualities quickly became the organizations great strength.”

The first docent class, seven weeks of two-hour Saturday morning sessions,  was taught by Carl Condit and Paul Sprague. Walking and bus tours supplemented classroom work; homework and exams were added. This was the inception of CAC’s unique model of peer-to-peer training, what Pridmore calls a “permanent hallmark of docent education at CAF.”

Tours developed by docents in the early years included Oak Park, with an emphasis on Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes, North Michigan Avenue, and Hyde Park.

By 1974, CSAF had more than 1,500 members, a staff of four and had trained more than 200 docents. The name Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) became official in 1977, when the board dropped “School” from its initial name.

Highlights by Bus, still a stalwart tour, was added in 1976, written by docent Bill Hinchcliff (Class of 1976) and staff member Vicki Matranga. That same year, CAF moved to the ArchiCenter on the second floor of the now-demolished Amalgamated Bank Building in the Loop. The move downtown was the first effort to centralize a location for tours and exhibitions.

As the decade closed in 1979, the first L tour was introduced, using chartered CTA trains for a – get this – five hour run along the rails!

The 1980s will bring even more interesting developments – stay tuned!

Our homes in the ’70s

Top left: Glessner House, 1966 to 1976; top right: shop and tour center in the Rookery lobby for a short time, 1971
Bottom left: ArchiCenter, 111 S. Dearborn, 1976 – 1978; bottom right: Strauss Building, 1978-81

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