Day of Service at Pullman State Historic Site
Saturday, May 20, 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Volunteer your professional skills or learn new ones as we give some much needed archival attention to materials with local and national historical significance.

CAA and Friends of the Pullman State Historic Site are partnering to address a time-sensitive need to inventory the Tenneco Company Collection. The Tenneco Company acquired the Pullman Company and its records in 1996. The materials that comprise the Tenneco Company Collection were transferred to Pullman State Historic Site (PSHS) about 4 years ago. Approximately 150 boxes need to be inventoried before they are moved from their current storage location to accommodate construction related to the Pullman National Monument, part of the National Park Service.

We will create a container-level inventory and condition report for the Tenneco Collection, with an emphasis on materials up to 1897. We’ll provide worksheets, description guidelines, and basic training. If you haven’t done this type of work before, we can pair you with a more experienced volunteer.

The day of service at Pullman has space for 25 participants and advance registration is required. Please plan to attend for the entire day.

Register between April 5 - May 5.

Learn more about the Pullman Company and neighborhood in the Encyclopedia of Chicago History.

Tour the Pullman Factory Complex

Friends of the Pullman Sate Historic Site are offering an optional 45-minute tour of the factory site for Day of Service participants (no guests please). The tour starts and ends at our work site, and concludes at 5:30. Please help us plan by indicating your interest in the tour when you register for the day of service.

Work Site

Our work site will be in the Pullman Factory Complex, 610 E. 111th Street, Chicago, IL 60628.

Please be aware that this is a non-traditional work environment:

• There is no indoor plumbing. Portapotties and outdoor hand-washing stations are available.
• The work space is unheated and may still be cool at this time of year. Please dress in layers and wear shoes appropriate for an industrial site.
• You need to be able to walk on a gravel driveway and climb a full flight of stairs unassisted to participate in this event. Light lifting and bending may be needed. Heavy lifting is not required.
• Please bring a brown bag lunch; there are no vending machines or microwaves. Bottled water, coffee, juice, and pastries will be provided in the morning.
• Participants must be at least 18 years old and need to sign a PSHS volunteer release form upon arrival.
• Photography of materials in the Tenneco Collection is not permitted. Otherwise, the CAA photo policy is in effect for this event.

Getting There

Participants are responsible for their own transportation.

• Onsite parking will be available for participants. There will be signs and event coordinators to guide you when you arrive at 610 E. 111th Street.
• CAA will distribute a list of participants who are willing to offer rides but is not responsible for arranging carpools.
• Our work site is within walking distance from the Metra Electric 111th Street stop. To get to our site from Metra: exit the stairs on east, cross Cottage Grove Ave., and walk east to the main gate on 111th Street (look for signs at the gate).
• The #215 Metra Electric train departs Millennium Station at 9:15 AM and arrives at 111th Street at 9:46. At the end of the day, trains depart 111th Street at 4:43 and 5:53. Note: 111th Street is a flagstop station and trains do not stop unless signaled a few minutes in advance of the scheduled time.