Abramson, Doris E. Negro Playwrights in the American Theatre, 1925–1959. New York: Columbia University Press, 1969.
An, Jee Hyun. “Chicago Renaissance.” In The Greenwood Encyclopedia of African American Literature. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2005: 262–65.
Baldwin, Davarian. Chicago’s New Negroes: Modernity, the Great Migration, and Black Urban Life. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2007.
Bolden, Barbara Jean. Urban Rage in Bronzeville: Social Commentary in the Poetry of Gwendolyn Brooks, 1945–1960. Chicago: Third World Press, 1999.
Bone, Robert. “Richard Wright and the Chicago Renaissance.” Callaloo 28 (Summer 1968): 446–68.
Brooks, Gwendolyn. Report from Part One. Detroit: Broadside Press, 1972.
Butler, Robert J., ed. The Critical Response to Richard Wright. Westport, Conn.: Green-wood Press, 1995.
Cappetti, Carla. “Sociology of an Existence: Richard Wright and the Chicago School.” MELUS (Summer 1985): 25–43.
———. Writing Chicago: Modernism, Ethnography, and the Novel. New York: Columbia University Press, 1993.
Cheney, Anne. Lorraine Hansberry. Boston: Twayne, 1984.
Craig, E. Quita. Black Drama of the Federal Theatre Era: Beyond the Formal Horizons. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 1980.
Davis, Frank Marshall. Livin’ the Blues: Memoirs of a Black Journalist and Poet, edited by John Edgar Tidwell. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1992.
Demlinger, Sandor and John Steiner. Destination Chicago Jazz. Chicago: Arcadia, 2003.
Denning, Michael. The Cultural Front: The Laboring of American Culture in the Twentieth Century. London: Verso, 1998.
Fabre, Michel. The Unfinished Quest of Richard Wright. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1993.
Fleming, Robert E. Willard Motley. Boston: Twayne, 1978.
Fraden, Rena. Blueprints for a Black Federal Theatre 1935–1939. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1994.
Graham, Maryemma. “Bearing Witness in Black Chicago: A View of Selected Fiction by Richard Wright, Frank London Brown, and Ronald Fair.” CLA Journal 33 (March 1990): 280–97.
———, ed. Fields Watered with Blood: Critical Essays on Margaret Walker. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2001.
Grossman, James. Land of Hope: Chicago, Black Southerners, and the Great Migration. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1989.
Grossman, James R., Ann Durking Keating, and Janice L. Reiff, eds. The Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2004.
Guzman, Richard R. Black Writing from Chicago: In the World, Not of It? Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 2006.
Harris, Michael W. The Rise of Gospel Blues: The Music of Thomas Andrew Dorsey in the Urban Church. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992.
Hricko, Mary. The Genesis of the Chicago Renaissance. New York: Routledge, 2009.
Hughes, Langston. Langston Hughes and the Chicago Defender. Ed. Christopher De Santis. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1995.
Jones, Kirkland C. Renaissance Man from Louisiana: A Biography of Arna Wendell Bontemps. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1992.
Kenney, William Howland. Chicago Jazz: A Cultural History, 1904–1930. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994.
Kent, George E. A Life of Gwendolyn Brooks. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1990.
Klinkowitz, Jerome, ed. The Diaries of Willard Motley. Ames: Iowa State University Press, 1979.
Knupfler, Anne Meis. The Chicago Black Renaissance and Women’s Activism. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2006.
Kramer, Dale. Chicago Renaissance: The Literary Life in the Midwest, 1900–1930. New York: Appleton-Century, 1966.
Langston Hughes Review 14 (Spring–Fall 1996). Special Issue on Frank Marshall Davis.
Mayer, Harold M. and Richard C. Wade. Chicago: Growth of a Metropolis. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1973.
Miller, Wayne F. Chicago’s South Side, 1946–1948. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2000.
Mootry, Maria K. and Gary Smith. A Life Distilled: Gwendolyn Brooks, Her Poetry and Fiction. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1989.
Morgan, Stacy I. Rethinking Social Realism: African American Art and Literature, 1930–1953. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2004.
Mullen, Bill V. Popular Fronts: Chicago and African-American Cultural Politics, 1935–1946. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1999.
Pinkerton, Jan, and Randolph K. Hudson. Encyclopedia of the Chicago Literary Renaissance. New York: Facts on File, 2004.
Rowe, Mike. Chicago Blues: The City and the Music. New York: Da Capo, 1981.
Rowley, Hazel. Richard Wright: The Life and Times. New York: Henry Holt, 2001.
Semmes, Clovis E. The Regal Theater and Black Culture. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006.
Sengstock, Jr., Charles A. Jazz Music in Chicago’s Early South-Side Theaters. Northbrook, Ill.: Canterbury Press, 2000.
Smith, Carl S. Chicago and the American Literary Imagination, 1880–1920. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1984.
Smethurst, James. The Black Arts Movement: Literary Nationalism in the 1960s and 1970s. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2005.
———. The New Red Negro. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
Spear, Allan H. The Making of a Negro Ghetto, 1890–1920. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1969.
Storch, Randi. Red Chicago: American Communism at its Grassroots, 1928–1935. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2007.
Tidwell, John Edgar, ed. Writings of Frank Marshall Davis: A Voice of the Black Press. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2007.
Travis, Dempsey J. An Autobiography of Black Chicago. Chicago: Urban Research Institute, 1981.
Vaillant, Derek. Sounds of Reform: Progressivism and Music in Chicago, 1873–1935. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2003.
Vogel, Todd. “Introduction.” The Black Press: New Literary and Historical Essays. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2001.
Walker, Margaret. Richard Wright, Daemonic Genius: A Portrait of the Man and a Critical Look at His Work. New York: Warner, 1988.
Webb, Constance. Richard Wright: A Biography. New York: Putnam’s, 1968.
Wooley, Lisa. American Voices of the Chicago Renaissance. DeKalb: Northern Illinois University Press, 2000.
Wright, Richard. 12 Million Black Voices: A Folk History of the Negro in the U.S. New York: Viking, 1941.
Wright, Stephen Caldwell, ed. On Gwendolyn Brooks: Reliant Contemplation. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1996.
Brooks, Gwendolyn. Essential Brooks. Caedmon VACD 1244 (1).
Various. Black Diamonds. Cambria CD 1097 (includes compositions by Margaret Burroughs and others).
———. Dreamer: A Portrait of Langston Hughes. Naxos 05537 (two settings by Margaret Burroughs).
Walker, Margaret. Margaret Walker Alexander Reads Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar, James Weldon Johnson, and Langston Hughes. Folkways 9796.
———. Margaret Walker Reads Margaret Walker and Langston Hughes. Folkways 9797.
———. The Poetry of Margaret Walker. Folkways 9795.
Dunham, Katherine. Best Dancers of All Time in Movies: Mambo DVD. Quality Information Publishers.
Parks, Gordon. Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks. HBO Home Video.
Wright, Richard. Great Books: Native Son. Cronkite Ward, 1996 (Discovery Channel documentary).
———. Native Son. Xenon (VHS).
———. Richard Wright: Writing Is His Weapon. History on Video EDU 2000.
———. Richard Wright’s Almos’ a Man. Monterey Video.
There are many CDs devoted to Chicago musicians from 1904–59. The anthologies listed below offer a broad sampling of that music. Following each genre listing of anthologies is a brief selection of recommended CD recordings by major figures in each genre.
Vee Jay: Celebrating 40 Years of Classic Hits, 1953–1993. Vee-Jay NVS2-3-400.
Blues Is Killing Me. Paula PCD 19.
The Blues World of Little Walter. Delmark 648.
Chess Blues. MCA Chess 9340 (4 CDs).
Chess Blues Classics, 1947–1956. MCA Chess 9369.
Chess Blues Classics, 1957–1967. MCA Chess 9368.
Chess Blues Guitar: Two Decades of Killer Fretwork. MCA Chess CHD2-9393 (2 CDs).
Chess Blues Piano Greats. MCA Chess CHD2-4385 (2 CDs).
Chicago Blues Vol. 1 (1939–1951). Document 5270.
Chicago Blues Vol. 2 (1941–1944). Document 5444.
Chicago Blues Masters Vol. 3. Capitol CDP7243 8 36288 (2 CDs).
Chicago Blues of the 1950s. Paula PCD 22.
Chicago Blues: The Chance Era. Charly 146 (2 CDs).
Chicago Blues: The Vee-Jay Era. Charly 145 (2 CDs).
Chicago Boogie. P-Vine PCD 1888.
Chicago Is Just That Way. JSP 7744 (4 CDs).
The Cobra Records Story. Capricorn 42012 (2 CDs).
Drop Down Mama. MCA Chess 93002.
Broonzy, Big Bill. Volume 2, 1937–1940. JSP 7750.
———. The War and Post-War Years, 1940–1951. JSP 7767.
Memphis Minnie. Queen of the Delta Blues Vol. 2. JSP 7741.7741.
Meriweather, Big Maceo. The King of Chicago Blues Piano. Arhoolie 7009.
Tampa Red. The Bluebird Recordings, 1934–1936. RCA 07863 66721-2.
Weldon, Casey Bill. Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order Vol. 3. Document 5219.
Williamson, Sonny Boy. Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order Vol. 5. Document 5059.
Black Chicago Big Bands. Frog DGF 28.
Chicago 1929–1930: That’s My Stuff. Frog DGF 7.
Chicago 1928–1930: Get Easy Blues. Frog DGF 9.
Chicago Black Small Bands. Acrobat 186.
Jazz Classics in Digital Stereo: Chicago. BBC CD 589.
Jazz from the Windy City. Timeless CBC 1021.
Juke Box Jazz from the Southside of Chicago. Empire Musicwerks 545 450 696-2.
Ammons, Albert. Boogie Woogie Man. ASV 5305.
Ammons, Gene. Greatest Hits: The Fifties. OJC 6013.
———, and Sonny Stitt. All Star Sessions. OJC 014.
Armstrong, Louis. The Hot Fives and Sevens. JSP 100 (4 CDs).
———. New Orleans in Chicago. Zoom (6 CDs).
Beiderbecke, Bix. Bix and Tram. JSP 913 (4 CDs).
Hines, Earl. Piano Man! ASV 5131.
Morton, Jelly Roll. Volume 2: The Red Hot Peppers (Chicago). Smithsonian RD 044.
Nicholas, Albert and Art Hodes Quartet. The New Orleans–Chicago Connection. Delmark 207.
Oliver, King. Off the Record: The Complete 1923 Jazz Band Recordings. Off the Record OTR-MM6-C2 (2 CDs).
South, Eddie. Black Gypsy, 1927–1934. Frog DGF 36.
Sun Ra. The Singles. Evidence 22164-2.
All God’s Sons and Daughters: Chicago Gospel Legends. Shanachie 2306.
Working the Road: The Golden Age of Chicago Gospel. Delmark DE 702.
Dorsey, Thomas A. Georgia Tom: Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order Vol. 2. Document 6022 (late blues and early gospel).
———. Precious Lord: The Great Gospel Songs of Thomas A. Dorsey. Sony 32151.
Jackson, Mahalia. The Apollo Sessions. Pair PCD-2-1332.
The Sallie Martin Singers. Precious Lord. Vee-Jay 5021.
The Soul Stirrers. The Last Mile of the Way. Specialty SPCD 7052.
The Staple Singers. The Best of the Vee-Jay Years. Shout Factory 310641.
Dawson, William Levi. The Spirituals of William L. Dawson. St. Olaf Records 2159.
Dawson, William Levi, and Johannes Brahms. MCAD 2/9862A.
Price, Florence B. Florence Price. Koch CD 3-7518-2-111.
Various. Black Diamonds. Cambria CD 1097.
———. Kaleidoscope: Music by African-American Women. Leonardo LE 339.
———. Soulscapes: Music by African American Women. Albany: TROY 857.
———. You Can Tell the World: Songs by African American Women Composers. Senrab 2000.
American Experience—Chicago: City of the Century. PBS Paramount AMER 6505.
American Folk Blues Festival Vol. 2. Hip-O B0000751-09.
American Folk Blues Festival: The British Tours. Hip-O B0008353-09.
Ammons, Albert et al. Boogie Woogie. Storyville 16013.
Armstrong, Louis. Masters of American Music: Satchmo—Louis Armstrong. Columbia Music Video Legacy CVD 49024.
Beiderbecke, Bix. Bix: Ain’t None of Them Played Like Him Yet. Playboy Jazz PBV9043.
Gillespie, Dizzy. Jivin’ in Be-Bop. Idem DVD 1018 (with Dan Burley).
Hines, Earl, et al. 20th Century Jazz Masters. Idem DVD 1049.
Howlin’ Wolf. The Howlin’ Wolf Story. Bluebird DVD 9.
Jackson, Mahalia. Give God the Glory. Kultur D1499.
———. The Power and the Glory. Xenon XE XX 3026DVD.
Muddy Waters. Classic Concerts. Hip-O B0005842-09.
Roosevelt Sykes and Big Bill Broonzy. Yazoo DVD 518.
Sun Ra. The Cry of Jazz. Atavistic MVD DJ 865.
Adams, Robert Henry. African American Art in Chicago, 1900–1950. Chicago: Robert Henry Adams Fine Art, 1999.
African Americans in Art: Selections from the Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago: Art Institute of Chicago, 1991.
Bearden, Romare, and Harry Henderson. A History of African American Artists: From 1792 to the Present. New York: Pantheon, 1993.
Lewis, Samella. African American Art and Artists. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2003.
Patton, Sharon. African American Art. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Powell, Richard J. Black Art: A Cultural History. London: Thames and Hudson, 2002.