Throughout Women’s History Month, we’re reflecting on women’s valuable contributions to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition.

Reprinted here is Part 3 of “Woman’s Part at the World’s Fair” from the May 1893 issue of The Review of Reviews. “The Children’s Building” was contributed by Clara Doty Bates, who served as the librarian for the building. Earlier this month we posted Part 1 and Part 2. Additional images have been added to the original article.

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WOMAN’S PART AT THE·WORLD’S FAIR.

III. THE CHILDREN’S BUILDING

By Clara Doty Bates

No building in the entire Columbian Exposition city has more of the fabulous, in the way it sprang up, than the Children’s Building. It was later in its inception than any other, had less material to work with–since it had no aid from the exposition authorities proper–and the whole plan had to be wrought out within the briefest possible time and in the face of almost entire apathy upon the part of the outside public.

Indeed, it was looked upon in many quarters as chimerical and with no adequate reason for being. But a few wise and earnest women held to the scheme. They knew what far-reaching influences would go out from their idea if it could be materialized, and they persevered with a result astonishing even to themselves.

In the first place, the board of lady managers assumed the responsibility of raising the money for such a building. The various States pledged themselves to their proportion of the cost. A desirable location was secured adjoining the Woman’s Building.[1]

But contributions came in slowly. The Friday Club, of Chicago, a social and literary association made up mostly of young women, became interested in the success of the enterprise. They arranged a Bazaar, which was held in the house of Mrs. Potter Palmer, President of the Board of Lady Managers, and realized there from $35,000.[2] Children from all over the land assisted in raising money by means of bazaars, musicales, dramatic entertainments and by subscriptions, in some cases as high as $1.

The building itself is 150 x 90 feet.[3] It is built of staff and is decorated in colors, light blue predominating. Amongst other decorations are sixteen medallions of the children of other nations in their national costumes–Indians, Japanese, Dutch, French, Spanish, etc.

The inspiring spirit of it all is Mrs. George L. Dunlap. It is her energy and enthusiasm that have brought it to its present completion. Her idea from the beginning was an educational one. The Children’s Building was not to be merely a halting place for tired mothers, nor only a nursery where children could be cared for while mothers made the sightseeing round.

That feature of public comfort–although amply provided for–was to be but an incident in the plan, not the vital and essential purpose. With a place for the shelter, comfort and care of the little ones, was to be combined illustrative departments upon all subjects of importance to both the moral and physical well-being of childhood. Every phase of the rearing and education of children, according to the newest enlightenment of the end of the century, was to be set forth in such palpable and practical fashion that no mother could enter the doors without being stimulated and inspired in her happy vocation.

Hence not a detail which could be of educational value has been omitted.

To begin with, a large, light airy room is devoted to the crèche. About one hundred children can be cared for here at a time. Here are applied the most rational and healthful systems of dress, food and attendance upon infants, and short lectures are to be given at intervals upon these subjects. This room is upon the ground floor, where are also an assembly hall and a general reception room. The assembly room contains rows of little chairs and a platform, from which stereopticon lectures will be given to the older boys and girls about foreign countries.

These will be given by experienced kindergartners, who will then take the groups of children to see the exhibition from the countries about which they have just heard. This audience room will also be available for musical, dramatic and literary entertainments, which will be carefully planned to suit the intelligence of children of varying ages. Distinguished people who are in the city in attendance upon the various Congresses will be secured for brief talks along their special lines of work. In this way the youth of the country will be brought into direct contact with the men and women who have accomplished notable things in the world of thought.

Upon the second floor of the building will be the Kindergarten, under the management of the International Kindergarten Association; the Kitchen Garden, in the care of Miss Emily Huntington, of New York, the inventor. of the system; the Cooking School from the Drexel Institute in Philadelphia, the best of its kind in the country; the Romona Indian School, consisting of thirty Indian children, which the Secretary of the Interior has given permission to have transported from Sante Fe, N. M.; a Slojd, supported by Mrs. Quincy Shaw, of Boston; a library, fitted up with books, pictures and periodicals;[4] a department where daily demonstrations will be made of the methods of teaching deaf mutes to speak, and a room devoted to physical culture, where some wonderful exhibitions of physical training are arranged for. All these departments will be in full operation throughout the Exposition.

To crown the whole is a beautiful playground upon the roof. This is inclosed with a strong wire netting to insure safety. The playground is something in the nature of a garden, with vines and flowers, and with birds flying about in perfect freedom.

Here, under coyer, will be exhibited the toys of all nations, from the rude playthings of the Esquimaux children to the almost sentient ones of France. These toys are not only to be looked at, but will be used to entertain the children. The attendants provided throughout the building will be willing, efficient and constant.

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NOTES

[1] The Children’s Building was nestled between the Woman’s Building (to the north) and the Horticultural Building (to the south).

[2] Mrs. Palmer hosted “The Columbian Bazaar” in her palatial home on Lake Shore Drive on December 7-9, 1892. Sponsored by the Friday Club at her invitation, the bazaar raised more than enough money to fund completion of the Children’s Building.

[3] The architect of the Children’s Building was Alexander Sandier of Paris. He designed several other buildings on the fairgrounds, including the Leather and Shoe Trades Building, Algerian and Tunisian Village on the Midway, the Clambake building, and the Clock Tower in the center of the Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building.

[4] The author humbly omits her own name as the organizer and hostess of this remarkable library.