Introducing ‘Vintage Chicago’

Bringing @VintageTribune back to print

When we started the @VintageTribune Instagram account in 2014, we had no idea how big the response would be.

Robin Daughtridge, former associate managing editor for photography, and I often would share “found” photos while searching through the Tribune’s archives looking for historic images. These “one-offs” — feature photographs that were intriguing, shocking or just plain fun — became a bit of an obsession and the Instagram account was born as an outlet for us to share them with you.

Your response was overwhelming.

Since our first post July 1, 2014, we’ve shared more than 5,000 photos and grown to know many of you in our “insta” community — more than 83,000 fans. You’ve found grandparents, parents and even yourselves in our photos. Now we’re bringing these images back to print once again with a collection of 300 of our — and your — favorites.

This book is a portrait of a city and its people, told through the lenses of countless photographers from the city’s hometown paper. Each frame is a story, a journey back in time.

We hope you enjoy the trip as much as we have.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE Buckingham Fountain reopens for the season in 1953 with Jeanette Janvrin, 22, posing for a picture in Grant Park.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE Members of the “Floor Masters” do the head spins and pop-locks of break dancing in 1984.