Encyclopedia ofChicago
Interpretive Digital Essay : The Plan of Chicago
Aspirations, Not Traditions
Chicago in 1909
Planning Before the Plan
Antecedents and Inspirations
The City the Planners Saw
The Plan of Chicago
The Plan Comes Together
Creating the Plan
Reading the Plan
A Living Document
Promotion
Implementation
Heritage
Aspirations, Not Traditions
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In this response to an inquiry from future Plan Committee chair Charles Norton about the traditions of the Merchants Club, Alexander A. McCormick, who was president of the club for the year ending in 1903, states, "The Club has no traditions. It has aspirations." He explains that what he calls the "gospel of hope" animates these aspirations and then describes some recent civic causes the Merchants Club has pursued.

Creator: A. A. McCormick
Source: Art Institute of Chicago

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