by Hank Morris James J. Egan (1839 or 1841-1914) was born in Cork, Ireland, Egan became one of Chicago’s leading architects in the years following the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. His best known building is the Hotel St. Benedict Flats at 40-52 East Chicago Avenue and Wabash, a Chicago landmark that has been described […]

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by Colleen Taylor Sen James Thomas Farrell (1904-1979) was considered by many as the greatest Irish American novelist, Farrell wrote more than 50 novels and short story collections. He grew up in a South Side Irish working class family and attended the University of Chicago for three years. His most famous work, the Studs Lonigan […]

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by Hank Morris Leonard John O’Connor (1912-1991) will be remembered by many Chicagoans for his biting commentaries on Channel 5’s 10 p.m. local newscasts during the ‘60s and early ‘70s. He was later selected as the first newsman to do the morning local news cut-ins to NBC’s Today show. He began his career as a […]

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by Hank Morris Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne (1853-1937) was the 38th Mayor of Chicago (Democrat) and 24th Governor of Illinois. Judge Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne was born in Watertown, Connecticut, son of an ardent Irish nationalist, and moved with his family to Peoria, IL as a child. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and Union College […]

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by Colleen Taylor Sen Edward Paul Brennan (1867-1942). One of the glories of Chicago is its logical and consistent street numbering system. This was largely due to the efforts of one man, City Building Superintendent Edward Paul Brennan, who was also a Rogers Parker. Chicago grew by annexation, and each new part had its own […]

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