A map of Chicago's gangland from authentic sources, designed to inculcate the most important principals of piety and virtue in young persons, and graphically portray the evils and sin of large cities

Yes, that really is the title of the 1931 map. Long winded. isn't it?

This humorous, VERY well annotated and quasi informative map designed in 1931 by Bruce Roberts is quite entertaining. Mr. Roberts took considerable liberties with the map from a cartographic point of view. It certainly would not relate well to a scale of miles. It denotes the territories of various gangs (Capone, etc) in the heyday of Chicago gangsters and many points of interest related to those folks. You know if you live in the Chicago area that you still can get a reaction from some people, particularly in more remote areas overseas, told of your home town, that is similar to, quote, "bang, bang" and making a "gun" with their hand. My goodness, it's been 80 years, show more Haven't we outlived that stuff yet? Apparently not totally.

One could spend considerable time going over Mr. Roberts' comments, drawings, humorous notes on the map. He obviously designed this map as a tongue-in-cheek product. I love it; I''ve framed it and put it on the wall in the den.

I'd like to say that I have an original, but I have a print from the Poster Sale Section of Newberry Library in Chicago for about $15, including shipping. Get one and smile.

If you wish to "play" with the map online, go to this University of Illinois web site. You can enlarge and look at close-ups or sections of the map.

Some may be offended by some of the ethnic or racial identity notes on the map. It's unfortunate, but consider the era from which it originated. show less