Chicago Summer School
June 12 – 19, 2024
The 8th annual Chicago Summer School focuses on the American roots of Modernism. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, progressive architects and patrons moved the city to the forefront of technological and aesthetic experimentation. Through expert lectures and tours, course directors Tina Strauss and Diane Dillon lead a survey of 19th- and early 20th-century architecture, art, design, landscape and preservation.
Participants will visit several private homes and public buildings, parks and landscapes, with access to the era’s most significant spaces: the site of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, H. H. Richardson’s Glessner House, Adler & Sullivan’s Auditorium Theatre Building, Burnham & Root’s Rookery Building and Graceland Cemetery. In Oak Park students will see Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home and Studio, the newly restored Unity Temple and other seminal designs. New in 2024 will be a day exploring Mies van der Rohe and his significant work in and around Chicago. These iconic examples of Modernism include the campus of Illinois Institute of Technology and the Edith Farnsworth house. Local experts and Principal Guest Lecturer Richard Guy Wilson will accompany the class at many of the sites. Additional visits include Gilded Age mansions in the historic Gold Coast, such as the Samuel Nickerson mansion, as well as St. James Cathedral with its surprising St. Andrew’s Chapel by Bertram Goodhue. The class will have the opportunity to take unique tours of the collections at the Art Institute.
Course Director: Tina Strauss
Assistant Director: Diane Dillon
Principal Guest Lecturer: Richard Guy Wilson
Past Lecturers include Heidi Ruehle, Anne Sullivan, Gunny Harboe, Jennifer Carlquist, Sally Kalmbach, Tom Gleason, William Tyre, Tim Wittman, and John Waters
Tuition for the Chicago Summer School is $3,100* and includes expert instruction, lectures, course materials, tours, 7 nights’ shared hotel accommodation** in the downtown Loop, entrance fees, receptions, and some meals. Full and partial scholarships are available. The VSA will continue to require relevant proof of COVID vaccinations and boosters for all participants. Please email Anne Mallek, Summer Schools Administrator, at Admin@VSASummerSchools.org, with any additional questions.
*Chicago-area residents may request a reduced rate that does not include housing. Please contact the summer schools administrator for details.
** Single supplement available upon request.
“Participating in the Victorian Society’s Summer School in Chicago was a valuable opportunity to connect with others in our field and has become a treasured part of my professional development” – Leslie Klingner, former Curator of Interpretation, Biltmore Estate (Chicago 2017)
How to Apply
All applications require a $50 application fee. This non-refundable fee can be paid online or by mailing a check or money order to the address below. You will also need one letter of recommendation from an academic or professional contact. Letters should include your full name, qualifications, current work, and how you might benefit from the program. Letters should be e-mailed or mailed directly from the author on letterhead. Successful candidates, including scholarship recipients, must pay a tuition deposit of $400. Deposits are non-refundable and not covered by scholarships.
Scholarships
Thanks to generous support from the Victorian Society Summer Schools Alumni Association, The Victorian Society Scholarship Fund, VSA chapters, and other organizations and individuals, a limited number of scholarships are available to qualified applicants. Awards are based on merit and financial need. A second recommendation letter describing your financial need is also required. This letter should be written by a different author from your general application letter and must describe your specific financial circumstances. Letters should be e-mailed or mailed directly from the author on letterhead. We also ask for a copy of your 2023 Federal Tax Return. Scholarship applications for 2024 are now closed.