With this exhibition, the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries at the Art Institute of Chicago celebrate the Caxton Club's recent publication, Chicago by the Book: 101 Publications That Shaped the City and Its Image, which profiles 101 landmark publications about Chicago that have helped define the city and its image. While these books mainly document the history of the city, several also served as agents of change.

Many of the works featured in Chicago by the Book are held in the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries' extensive 130-year-old collection. The selections from the library and archival collections on display in this exhibition highlight defining moments in the city's growth and illustrate how the Art Institute of Chicago is deeply entwined in Chicago's past.