The Field Museum Library Digital Collections: The World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, and the Founding and Early History of The Field Museum As the planned outcome of Chicago’s 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, The Field Museum may well be called “the Fair that never ended.” In its special collections the Library holds important original materials from the Exposition and a wealth of material relating to the founding and early history of The Field Museum. Our digital presentation of these collections allows you to browse or search among these holdings and view images at high resolution using Luna Imaging Inc.’s Insight Browser software. Our collections include official records, objects and photographs, as well as personal memorabilia from the Fair, such as the Robbins Family Scrapbook containing hundreds of fascinating items collected during the family’s seven visits to the Exposition. Official records from the Fair include the immense handwritten financial ledger – six feet across when opened – recording the operating costs of the Fair, and records of the posts assigned to members of the Columbian Guard, the police force of the Exposition. The founding and organization of the Museum are represented by such items as the manuscript minutes of the meeting held in August 1893 to establish the Museum, the Museum’s original charter, and documents recording the transfer of collections from Exposition departments to the new institution. A collection of 350 photographs records the construction of the Museum’s present building at 12th Street, at the foot of Grant Park. This digital collection was created through a grant received from the Library Services and Technology Act Program administered by the Illinois State Library for the Office of the Secretary of State of Illinois. We wish to thank our partner in the creation of this site, the Library of the University of Illinois, Chicago, for hosting our digital collections. Search the collections>>