The formal atria of the Chicago Historical Society are normally filled with elaborate corporate galas and posh fundraising events. On the night of Friday, Oct. 18, a sea of bright blue, red and pink hairstyles and the sounds of street-wise hip hop filled the halls of CHS as nearly 400 teens from across Chicago attended Teen Chicago Rocks the House. The free event, open to Chicago-area high school teenagers, featured performances by local teen musicians, poets and dancers, as well as an appearance by an award-winning storyteller. The event marked the official kickoff for a dynamic new three-year CHS initiative, Teen Chicago, that includes oral history research, a Web site, events, outreach programs for and with teenagers, and a major exhibition at CHS that will open Spring 2004.
“Seeing young people from all across the city come together is very exciting,” said CHS president Lonnie Bunch. “Oral history is the cornerstone of the Teen Chicago initiative. History is being made today so gathering and telling the story of Chicago through the lens of today’s teenagers, from varied social and ethnic backgrounds, continues the tradition of passing on information and transmitting cultural values, beliefs and customs. By examining stories from many cultures and communities, we come to see the commonality of experience.”
Teen Chicago creates a dynamic new model of museum learning. Guiding its development is a council of 15 teenagers from diverse Chicago schools and backgrounds. The Teen Council members, selected from hundreds of applicants, began meeting last summer when they participated in a seven-week training program in which they learned about collecting oral histories and Chicago history. Legendary author and oral historian Studs Terkel, CHS’ Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence, was a featured presenter.
Terkel spoke with the teens about his background in law and as an actor, activist, radio host, storyteller and author; or as he likes to say, “What it means to be a human being on this planet.”
Before their meeting with Terkel, most of the 15 high school freshman and sophomores only knew that he was “some famous guy.” By the end of their session one student wrote in her journal, “What a day! I talked with a famous historian. It was so moving to see a man who has left such a lasting impact on not just Chicago, but America. I hope I make a huge impact on the world like Studs did. I hope I live to see a century. It would be interesting to see what the world looks like in 70 years. It would be even more interesting to know that I was one of the people to cause it to change.”
Other training activities included behind-the-scenes tours by museum staff; walking tours of Chicago neighborhoods; visits to the Field Museum, Chicago Cultural Center, American Indian Center and the Mexican Fine Arts Center; and presentations by historians, filmmakers, artists, storytellers, photographers and teachers.
In addition to working with CHS staff, scholars and historians, the Teen Council will benefit from working with various partner organizations, such as the Chicago Humanities Festival, Albany Park Theater Project, Guild Complex, Native American Center, Old Town School of Folk Music and Words 37, along with Chicago schools and libraries. The Teen Council will create extended oral histories of their lives and those of their peers, families, teachers, community members and other prominent people. The stories they collect using audio, video and written documents will determine the themes to be used in creating exhibitions and programming expressly for Chicago’s teenagers.
“Teenagers play a significant role in shaping society,” said CHS Public Historian and Teen Chicago project manager Marie Haugh. “We’re looking to cut across the issues of race, gender, class and ethnicity to look closely at the experience of growing up in Chicago. The members of the Teen Council reflect that. They come from all areas of the city and are excited about this chance to make history today.”
The project also contains an innovative interactive component that will be launched this year. “Exhibitions of the 21st century need an interactive component,” said Haugh. “Teen Chicago will use the Web in at least two distinct ways: as a staging ground that allows Teen Council members to share ideas-in-progress, works-in-progress, or anything they feel could use feedback from their peers; and we will also create a teen-only cyber community.”
A major goal of Teen Chicago is to share the museum with adolescents and speak to their issues and concerns. CHS will be a place where teens can identify and express themselves and learn from one another. By demonstrating the relevance of history and culture to their own lives, the project will foster an interest in and appreciation for museums among Chicago’s teenagers.
During the upcoming months the Teen Council will focus on collecting oral histories—from interviewing a 91-year-old lifetime Chicagoan to interviewing their friends during the holidays. In addition to their oral history work, the Teen Council participates in a number of activities.
Upcoming programs and events for teenagers at CHS include “Teen Chicago Acts Up” (March 2003) and “Teen Chicago Steps Out” (summer 2003). Each program is free and will feature teenage performers, artists, and musicians that are making their contributions to Chicago culture and history.
For more information about the Teen Project, call CHS at (312) 642-4600.
The CHS is located on Clark Street at North Avenue, and is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Suggested admission is $5 for adults; $3 for seniors and students (ages 13-22) with valid school IDs; $1 for children (ages 6-12); free for members and children under 6. Admission is free on Mondays. |
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