Tribute to “Mayor of Maxwell Street” Charlie Joe Henderson

Charlie Joe Henderson, Blues Entrepreneur and Maxwell St. Legend Dies by Steve Balkin, Professor Emeritus at Roosevelt University, February 1, 2022 Charlie Joe Henderson, known as the Mayor of Maxwell Street, died on January 23. He was 82. Along with a partner, Earnest Jackson, they were the main people who rented tables to vendors in … Read More

Maxwell Street posters by John H. Sibley

John Sibley’s Maxwell Street posters are now for sale. https://docsib.wixsite.com/maxwellstreet The creation of these seven posters are inspired by John’s visits to Old Maxwell Street as a youth, taken there by his Uncle Miles. John took all the excitement of Maxwell Street into his being: Bluesmen, singing divas, a saxophonist, Gypsy fantasies, Chicken Man, the food, and of … Read More

Maxwell Street Foundation at the Maxwell Street Market

Fall Exposure:  The Maxwell Street Foundation will be at the New Maxwell Street Market in Chicago to sell a variety of Maxwell Street-themed items ranging from books to posters and T-shirts, and for good conversation about Maxwell Street and the Market.  You can also shop for selected items on our website at maxwellstreetfoundation.org/support-us, and tell us … Read More

The “Vienna Beef” Sign – plea for support!

The Maxwell Street Foundation (MSF) hosted a webinar on Zoom led by The Conservation Center on 10/19/2020, where the Center’s conservators virtually walked us through their conservation process recently completed for the “Vienna Beef” sign from the MSF’s collection of Maxwell Street artifacts. Maria Ochalek, the Director of Client Services at the Center, welcomed the … Read More

Maxwell Street Foundation at the Maxwell Street Market

Sunday, September 15, 2019 — The Maxwell Street Foundation will be at the New Maxwell Street Market in Chicago to sell a variety of Maxwell Street-themed items ranging from books to posters and T-shirts, and to converse about Maxwell Street and the Market. It’s also Family Day September 15, featuring live family portraits by William Estrada … Read More

The Big Deal

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is pleased to announce that shopping and street fair will go up a notch at “The Big Deal” on Sunday, August 4, at the historic Maxwell Street market presented by Humana (800 S. Desplaines St.). From 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. the free festivities include the … Read More

Maxwell Street Foundation at the Maxwell Street Market

Sunday, June 30, 2019 — The Maxwell Street Foundation will be at the New Maxwell Street Market in Chicago to sell a variety of Maxwell Street-themed items ranging from books to posters and T-shirts, and for good conversation about Maxwell Street and the Market.  You can also shop for selected items on our website at maxwellstreetfoundation.org/support-us, … Read More

Maxwell Street: Capturing the Essence of a Remembered/Forgotten Place

Book discussion by author Tim Cresswell, moderated by Daniel Black For decades, people from across the city flocked to Maxwell Street to buy and sell goods, play and listen to blues, and encounter new foods and cultures. Yet, remnants of what some had described as “the Ellis Island of the Midwest” have long been lost … Read More

Maxwell Street Foundation at the New Market

Sunday, May 19, 2019 — The Maxwell Street Foundation will be at the New Maxwell Street Market in Chicago to sell a variety of Maxwell Street-themed items ranging from books to posters and T-shirts, and for good conversation about Maxwell Street and the Market.  You can also shop for selected items on our website at maxwellstreetfoundation.org/support-us, … Read More

Donation of Artifact

At our April meeting, board member Peter Pero donated this pressboard sign from one of the hot dog stands formerly near Maxwell and Halsted Streets to our collection of historic artifacts and papers. Thanks Peter!