Newberry Library Chicago

Founded in 1887, the Newberry is one of Chicago’s most historic cultural institutions. Curious people from all over visit to research topics of interest, discover their family history, take classes, or learn something new and unexpected.

Our collections, programs, and exhibitions are a portal to more than six centuries of human history, from the 15th century to the present. The Newberry welcomes anyone who is eager to learn about who we are, where we came from, and where we are going. Our community of learning includes historians, genealogists, visual and performing artists, writers, graphic designers, teachers, students, and many, many others.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NEWBERRY

Walter L. Newberry, a businessman and civic leader in Chicago who died in 1868, left a provision in his will calling for the creation of a “free public library.” Newberry was light on details. He couldn’t predict how the library might best serve Chicago by the time it opened. As a result, Newberry staff shaped the institution around the needs of the city.

To complement the Chicago Public Library, which had been established in 1872, the trustees decided to found a non-circulating reference library that would be free and open to the public.

Before the Newberry opened in 1887, it had no collection to offer visitors. Walter Newberry’s own book collection, which might have served as a foundation for the library, had been destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. And so the Newberry’s first librarians grew the library’s collection from the ground up.

Today, the Newberry collection extends across 27.5 miles of shelving in the library stacks. And it's still growing. We acquire and preserve materials that represent a range of perspectives and experiences—including those that historically have been marginalized, misrepresented, or silenced.

Mission and Strategic Plan

The Newberry fosters a deeper understanding of our world by inspiring research and learning in the humanities and encouraging conversations about ideas that matter to diverse audiences. Our mission is rooted in a growing and accessible collection of rare and historical materials that spans more than six centuries of human experience.

The Newberry’s five-year strategic plan rests on four pillars:

• Advance and Disseminate Knowledge
• Build, Diversify, and Sustain Communities of Learning
• Grow, Preserve, and Increase Access to the Collection
• Strengthen Institutional Health