Thompson, 86–90; Franke, 106–109; Schechter, 58–63.
Silver Ash Institute: Chicago Tribune, July 27, 1895.
as many as seventy-five: Chicago Tribune, July 25, 1895.
Tobey Furniture Company: Chicago Tribune, July 27, 1895.
French, Potter Crockery Company: Ibid.
Merchant & Co.: Chicago Tribune, July 30, 1895.
At the nearby Normal School: Chicago Tribune, June 26, 1892.
“a baby face: Boswell and Thompson, 87.
Born in Mississippi: For various details about Minnie and Anna Williams’s backgrounds, I relied heavily on the Chicago Tribune of July 31, 1895.
Throughout 1889: Exactly how and when Holmes courted Minnie is unclear, but it’s certain he traveled to Boston to see her and that he did so often enough to have won her adoration. The Chicago Tribune of July 29, 1895, describes Minnie’s first meeting with Holmes. See the Tribune of July 20, for other details, such as the date Minnie went to Boston for her education in elocution and a sketch of her subsequent travels, including her loss of $15,000 in an ill-starred attempt to establish a theatrical group. See also Philadelphia Public Ledger, November 22, 1894, July 27, 29, 1895.
“a remarkable aptitude: Mudgett, 45.
Anna was skeptical: Schechter, 61.
“I received her wedding cards: Chicago Tribune, July 28, 1895.
She did so on: Chicago Tribune, July 27, 31, 1895.
He established’: Philadelphia Public Ledger, November 21, 23, 1894.
“He induced me: Philadelphia Public Ledger, July 25, 1895.
no record of their union: Philadelphia Public Ledger, November 26, 1894.
Dreadful Things Done by Girls
“money would be so plentiful: Kiler, 61.
“The crowds poured in: Bloom, 135.
Bloom thought a moment: Ibid., 135–36.
Bloom regretted: Ibid., 135.
“it is not quantity: Dedmon, 223–24.
“the mayor will not frappe: Ibid., 224.
“A Mouse Colored Ass: Ibid.
“Outside peoples already concede: Hines, 108.
“how to broil: Hollingsworth, 155.
“The breakfast table: Ibid., 12.
“If the article is black: Ibid., 581.
“Take one part muriatic acid: Ibid., 612.
“Don’t sit between: Ibid., 701.
“Injections of tobacco: Ibid., 749.
“interspersed,” as one visitor put it: Miller, 420.
Clarence Darrow regularly: Tierney, 140.
“You ought to begin: Lewis, 36.
“What dreadful things: Tierney, 84.
“His friends all noticed it: Miller, 440.
His quirks: Johnson, 81–88; Poole, 158, 160, 163, 169.
“the most remarkable man: Miller, 438.
“a most admirable pig: Abbot, 212.
“My Dear Mr. Trude: Prendergast to Trude, Daniel P. Trude Papers.
The Invitation
Holmes suggested: Schechter, 61.
Minnie planned to show: I’ve inserted here a few of the attractions that Gilded Age visitors to Chicago found especially compelling. That Minnie planned to take her sister on such a tour is likely but not certain, as unfortunately she left no journal detailing the minutiae of her days.
Final Preparations
“anxious effort: Wheeler, 832.
The menu: Program, “Banquet to Daniel Hudson Burnham,” Burnham Archives, Box 59.
“Each of you knows: Moore, Burnham, Architect, 74.
“The scale of the whole thing: Moore, McKim, 122.
“I fear nothing: Burnham to Margaret, April 6, 1893, Burnham Archives, Family Correspondence, Box 25.
“I am very happy: Burnham to Margaret, April 10, 1893, ibid.
“Why do you not write: Burnham to Margaret, April 13, 1893, ibid.
“The public will regard: Ibid.
Margaret sent him: Burnham to Margaret, April 18, 1893, ibid.
PILOT OF THE OCEAN:Carter, 368.
At the hotel’s front desk: Ibid., 374.
“You can imagine: Burnham to Margaret, April 10, 1893, Burnham Archives, Family Correspondence, Box 25.
“Every body here: Olmsted to John, April 13, 1893, Olmsted Papers, Reel 22.
“We shall have to bear: Olmsted to John, April 15, 1893, ibid.
“I am afraid: Ibid.
“Ulrich is unwittingly faithless: Olmsted to John, May 3, 1893, ibid.
“I suppose that our time is out: Ibid.
“frightful dust: Olmsted to John, April 13, 1893, Olmsted Papers, Reel 22.
“with sore throat: Olmsted to John, April 23, 1893, ibid.
“A larger force is employed: Ibid.
The odd thing was: Chicago Record, December 16, 1893, in McGoorty Papers.
“It rains: Burnham to Margaret, April 18, 1893, Burnham Archives, Family Correspondence, Box 25.
“Last night turned out: Burnham to Margaret, April 20, 1893, ibid.
“The weather is very bad: Ibid.
“I wrote you: Olmsted to unidentified recipient (stamped as received and read by his firm), April 27, 1893, Olmsted Papers, Reel 22.
“My ulcer has shrunk: Ibid.
“We are having bad luck: Olmsted to John, April 27, 1893, ibid.
“I don’t like it at all: Ibid.
“The diet of the provisional mess: Ibid.
“I took cold: Olmsted to unidentified recipient, April 28, 1893, ibid.
“It is queer: Ibid.
“It does not look ready: Ibid.
“I get wind: Ibid.
“gross incompleteness: Miller, 489.
the World’s Fair Hotel: Schechter, 56.
