The History of the Department Store

Nowadays, a department store may just be a place to shop. But as they developed, the history of these “palaces of abundance” became entwined with issues besides shopping: women’s social freedom, the suffrage movement, civil rights, radio history, holiday memories and much more. As the grand department stores of the past start to fade away, this program will examine the history of these stores in Chicago and elsewhere. This program will be posted on the library's YouTube channel.