Lithograph of the main building of the Great North Western Sanitary Fair
Great North Western Sanitary Fair main building, 1865. Chicago History Museum, Chicago History Museum, Gift of Geo. H. Laflin, Esq, ICHi-63123.
Burden’s Booth
Burden’s Booth, second Northwestern Sanitary Fair, undated. Chicago History Museum, ICHi-15123.
Diorama from the Northwest Sanitary Fair
Diorama from the Northwest Sanitary Fair, 1863 or 1864. Chicago History Museum, Gift of Marie S. Gale, given in memory of Daniel Warren Gale, II,1953.358.
“Any holder but a Slaveholder,” potholder
“Any holder but a Slaveholder,” potholder, undated. Chicago History Museum, Gift of Mrs. Hugh C. Crowgy and Mrs. W.A. O’Bannon, Jr., 1969.1737.
Background
The first Sanitary Fair was held in Chicago, Illinois, in 1863. Called the Northwestern Soldier’s Fair, this two-week event raised about $80,000 to benefit the U.S. Sanitary Commission. The fair was organized by women. The crafts, food, and entertainment for sale at the fair were mostly created and provided by women. All the money earned was used to support the care of wounded and sick soldiers.
However, the U.S. Sanitary Commission was led by men, many of whom did not like the autonomy shown by the women organizing the Chicago fair. But lead organizers Mary Livermore and Jane Hodge believed that it was important to empower women so they could help their communities. Th