On the corners of Monroe St. and Michigan Ave. in Downtown Chicago is a skyscraper built in 1912 called the Monroe Building.  The second through fourth floors of this building house the Pritzker Military Museum and Library.  Founded in 2003, this non-profit research center began as the personal military collection of retired Lieutenant Colonel J. Pritzker, a philanthropist and cousin of the current Governor of Illinois, J. B. Pritzker.  Since then, the collection has grown, primarily through donations.

Because the Pritzker Military Museum & Library is located in Downtown Chicago, visitors must either park their cars at an expensive parking garage in the area or take public transportation to get there.  Once you enter the lobby of the Monroe Building, a receptionist will direct you on how to get into the Museum.  Currently, general admission is $10.

The Pritzker Military Library has approximately 65,000 books.  Although its strongest focus is United States military history, all aspects of military history are represented in its collection.  Anyone can visit the Library, but only members of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library can check out the collection’s books.  However, the Library does participate in an inter-library loan program with university libraries.  While most of the Library’s collection circulates (meaning that people can borrow the books), its collection of 3,000 rare books does not.

The museum section of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library has two museum exhibits.  The first is its permanent exhibit called “Medal of Honor,” which includes samples of Medals of Honor.  The second exhibit space showcases temporary exhibits.  During my visit to the Museum, the temporary exhibit was called “Faces of War,” and displayed photographs from the Vietnam War.

Although the Pritzker Military Museum & Library is located in downtown Chicago, its archives are primarily in a separate building in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago.  However, the Museum is currently working on moving its archives to a new facility in Kenosha, Wisconsin instead.  In addition to housing books and materials related to the military, the Pritzker Military Museum & Library also conducts an oral history project with anyone who has fought in the United States military and is willing to share his or her story.  It also hosts “Pritzker Military Presents,” which is a television program that discusses different military topics.

One final service that the Pritzker Military Museum & Library allegedly offers is genealogy research.  The Museum’s website provides a family group sheet that you can fill out and send to them, after which, they will send you military records that they may find about that person.  I tried filling out this form about two years ago, but never heard back from them.  I even tried following up with my request several times, but nobody ever responded to my emails.  Hopefully, this problem has changed since then.

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Sources and Further Reading

“Colonel (IL) Jennifer N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired), Found & Chair.” Pritzker Military Museum & Library. https://www.pritzkermilitary.org/about/mission-personnel/board-directors/colonel-jn-pritzker (accessed May 25, 2021).

“Faces of War.” Pritzker Military Museum & Library. https://www.pritzkermilitary.org/explore/museum/past-exhibits/faces-war-photography-front-lines-vietnam (accessed May 24, 2021).

“Genealogy Research.” Pritzker Military Museum & Library. https://www.pritzkermilitary.org/genealogy-research (accessed May 25, 2021).

“The Historic Monroe Building.” Pritzker Military Museum & Library. https://www.pritzkermilitary.org/visit/historic-monroe-building-104-s-michigan-avenue (accessed May 24, 2021).

“Holt Oral History Program.” Pritzker Military Museum & Library. https://www.pritzkermilitary.org/whats_on/holt-oral-history-program (accessed May 24, 2021).

“The Library.” Pritzker Military Museum & Library. https://www.pritzkermilitary.org/explore/library/overview (accessed May 24, 2021).

“Medal of Honor.” Pritzker Military Museum & Library. https://www.pritzkermilitary.org/explore/museum/permanent-current-upcoming-exhibits/medal-honor-teaser (accessed May 25, 2021).

“Pritzker Military Presents.” Pritzker Military Museum & Library. https://www.pritzkermilitary.org/whats_on/pritzker-military-presents (accessed May 24, 2021).

“Rare Book Room.” Pritzker Military Museum & Library. https://www.pritzkermilitary.org/explore/library/rare-military-book-room-military-academic-research-chicago#block-emailsignupmodal (accessed May 24, 2021).