Delta-Phi-Delta National Convention By the Blue Waters of Lake Michigan

A scarce street plan of Chicago issued to an audience of artists.

This striking Art Deco map of Chicago centers on the area surrounding the St. Clair Hotel, whose imposing structure dominates the composition. The hotel served as headquarters for the national convention of Delta Phi Delta, a collegiate art honor society that began as the Palette Club at the University of Kansas in 1909 and adopted its Greek-letter name in 1912.

The map includes only a handful of other illustrated landmarks, among them Grant Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Goodman Theatre. The prominently labeled Latin Quarter adds an intriguing note of urban nightlife to an otherwise restrained view of the city. Although Lake Michigan is referenced in the title as blue, its waters are rendered in inky black, creating a dramatic contrast with the surrounding streets and buildings.

Drawn by Gilbert Foote, the map was likely produced in connection with Delta Phi Delta’s 1933 national convention in Chicago. Its ragged left edge suggests that it was originally bound into a booklet or another printed publication, rather than issued as a standalone map.