Jun 09, 1978
Swift House (Chicago Urban League Headquarters) - National Register of Historic Places
Statement of Significance: The Swift house was built in 1892. The interior plan provides a high degree of privacy for virtually every room with primary circulation both vertical and horizontal being provided at the north centra l portion of the house. Servants’ circulation was originally separate from family space and remains so today. The building is structurally sound. I t uses heavy masonry exterior walls, one major bearing wall on the interior with minor bearing walls throughout. Heavy timber floor framing is also used throughout. The house did have an early centra l heating system similar to that used by Richardson. The first owners were Mr. & Mrs. Edward Morris. Mrs. Morris was the daughter of the late Gustavus F. Swift, founder of Swift and Company. Mr. Morris was the president and treasurer of Morris and Company, one of the three leading meat packers in the world along with armor and Swift. Thus, this marriage resulted in two highly competitive families, and their respective firms, gaining an even tighter monopoly on an important segment of Chicago's economy. Mr. Morris apparently never participate d directly in the affair s of Swift and Company although he was extremely active in both the social and business world of Chicago. He died in 1913 and left an estate valued at $40,000,000. The Swift house is an excellent example of the kind of large Richardsonian residence which so admirably met the requirements of Chicago's very rich during the final decade of the 19th Century. The fact that it was the home of not one but two of the immediate family of Gustavus F. Swift plus one of his major competitors add to its historic interest. Today it remains for al l to see as it serves as the headquarters of a major institution, The Chicago Urban League. Photographer: Thomas Yanul
Swift House (Chicago Urban League Headquarters) - National Register of Historic Places
Statement of Significance: The Swift house was built in 1892. The interior plan provides a high degree of privacy for virtually every room with primary circulation both vertical and horizontal being provided at the north centra l portion of the house. Servants’ circulation was originally separate from family space and remains so today. The building is structurally sound. I t uses heavy masonry exterior walls, one major bearing wall on the interior with minor bearing walls throughout. Heavy timber floor framing is also used throughout. The house did have an early centra l heating system similar to that used by Richardson. The first owners were Mr. & Mrs. Edward Morris. Mrs. Morris was the daughter of the late Gustavus F. Swift, founder of Swift and Company. Mr. Morris was the president and treasurer of Morris and Company, one of the three leading meat packers in the world along with armor and Swift. Thus, this marriage resulted in two highly competitive families, and their respective firms, gaining an even tighter monopoly on an important segment of Chicago's economy. Mr. Morris apparently never participate d directly in the affair s of Swift and Company although he was extremely active in both the social and business world of Chicago. He died in 1913 and left an estate valued at $40,000,000. The Swift house is an excellent example of the kind of large Richardsonian residence which so admirably met the requirements of Chicago's very rich during the final decade of the 19th Century. The fact that it was the home of not one but two of the immediate family of Gustavus F. Swift plus one of his major competitors add to its historic interest. Today it remains for al l to see as it serves as the headquarters of a major institution, The Chicago Urban League. Photographer: Thomas Yanul
Jun 09, 1978
Posted Date
Apr 07, 2022
Historical Record Date
Jun 09, 1978
Source Name
United States Department of Interior - National Park Service
