Neighborhood News: Union League Club of Chicago founded to support a more perfect union
As the election of 2024 fades into the history books, one Chicago club will be focusing on its implications for the future, as they have for 145 years.
Founded in 1879, the Union League Club of Chicago, (the Club), 65 W. Jackson Boulevard, according to its website, traces its roots to the earlier Union League of America. They were founded in 1862 in Pekin, Illinois ”to affirm the patriotic cause of the Union, support the policies of Illinoisan Abraham Lincoln and combat pro-slavery secret societies infiltrating Illinois and elsewhere. “
To this day, the Club has been a catalyst for action in nonpartisan political, economic and social arenas – focusing its leadership and resources on important social issues. They consider their building a “sanctuary that feels like a second home; one where fine art, dining, community connections, work, play and friendship all come together”
History of the Union League Club of Chicago
According to Wikipedia sources, Union Leagues were established to promote loyalty to the Union of the United States of America, to support the policies of newly elected 16th President Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865, served 1861–1865) and to assure his reelection in 1864, and to combat what they believed to be the treasonous words and actions of anti-war, anti-black “Copperhead” Democrats.
Although the ULA Illinois Chapter disbanded after the war, several former members assembled in Chicago to create a private city club based on upholding the sacred obligations of citizenship. Those tenants included honesty and efficiency in government; patronage of cultural institutions; and support for our nation’s military and their families.
As early as 1893, Chicago gained recognition as a world-class city when it hosted the World’s Columbian Exposition. Club members were instrumental in having Chicago named as the site of the exposition by the United States Congress, with Daniel Burnham, a member of the Club, leading the charge. Since that time, Club members have played a role in establishing many of the city’s cultural organizations, including Orchestra Hall and the Field Museum. In the 1990s, the Club celebrated its role in the opening of the Harold Washington Library Center and continues to do work in justice, education and government reform.
A “home away from home “
The current ’Clubhouse’ – actually a combination historic hotel and meeting/events facility–was designed by the architectural firm of Mundie & Jensen in 1926. William Bryce Mundie—who was a ULCC Club member—understood that ULCC members and guests wanted the Clubhouse to be a “home away from home” according to Historic Hotels of America, and modeled its Georgian Revival design on a nearby Astor Street residence. With its use of limestone on the ground floor—and then brick above—much about the exterior of the Union League Club resembled a quaint residence than a standard downtown building. Inside, the architectural firm richly appointed the layout with walnut woodworking and marble flooring.
While most neighboring skyscrapers had historically utilized the “Chicago window” or windows with upper and lower sashes, the Union League Club’s newer building displayed a combination of muntin—the white grids that people often find in residential architecture.
Throughout its history, the Union League Club of Chicago entertained a number of U.S. Presidents, including Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Herbert Hoover, and George H.W. Bush.
On a lighter note, film director P.J. Hogan shot portions of his romantic comedy, My Best Friend’s Wedding inside the Union League Club of Chicago. The large circular couch in front of the fireplace in Presidents Hall was purchased for the movie set and then given to the Club after filming was completed.
Today: A space to gather, a community of equals
Today, the Union League Club of Chicago continues to do work in justice, education, and government reform. As noted by Historic Hotels of America, its Jackson Boulevard location features the club’s museum-quality art collection and its George N. Leighton Library, which provides access to countless books, magazines, and manuscripts. The historic destination has been a member of Historic Hotels of America since 2021, and includes meeting spaces, health facilities, four restaurants, and 184 upscale accommodations. The clubhouse is truly “a home away from home.”
For information on membership, click here.
Event
A Post-Election Roundup: What Happens Next?
This Friday, November 8, Chicago journalism icons Mary Ann Ahern and Carol Marin will join the First Friday Club, hosted by the Union League Club, to look at what we know about the outcome of the November election, and what it means not only for Illinois, but for our country.
The pair have joined the First Friday Club in prior post-election roundups. Along with the Presidency, the House and Senate have been labeled as tossups, with big ramifications for both parties and for Americans. For more information, click here
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
