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Family Stories2023-06-14T10:40:40+00:00

Featured family stories

The Riots & Rockets Book Launch At The Cliff Dwellers

On March 22, 2024, family and friends, and a host of Members of The Cliff Dwellers, gathered at the Club to celebrate the publication on Amazon of Riots & Rockets, William J. Bowe's memoir of his Army days during the riotous 1960s and '70s, Chicago politics in the 1970s, and his lawyering life dealing with collectors' plates and foundations, the newswire service United Press International, and Encyclopaedia Britannica in the Digital Age.

The Riboud Family during World War II

After the German Army entered Paris on June 21, 1940, the Riboud family fled occupied France for Baltimore, Maryland, Nancy Riboud's childhood home in the United States. Nancy first left for Portugal with her young daughters Chesley and Betsy, and her infant daughter Olivia. Nancy's husband Jacques soon followed, meeting them in Serta, Portugal before sailing on the SS Excalibur for New York.

1981 Julie Anne Bowe Thompson (1931-1981)

Julie Anne Bowe Thompson was the daughter of Augustine Joseph Bowe and Julia Leonie Lecour Bowe. She was born in 1931, three years after her only sibling John Edward Bowe was born. As a young child she often navigated her Chicago block with John in a stroller he had recently outgrown.

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Lester Munson, Jr.

Lester Munson, Jr. Editor's Note: I first met Lester Munson in fall 1964 as we entered the Class of 1967 at the University of Chicago Law School. Fast friends ever since, his vast knowledge and expertise as a sportswriter [...]

Rick Kogan – The Society of Midland Authors

Acclaimed Chicago Tribune columnist and After Hours WGN Radio host Rick Kogan chats with retired veteran NBC5 political reporter Peter Nolan, author of Campaign! The Election that Rocked Chicago. Peter covered Harold Washington extensively over the course of his long television journalism career. Campaign! transports you to that tumultuous, historic mayoral election. Join us as Rick and Peter trade memories and share their insights. This At The Cliff Dwellers event is presented by the Society of Midland Authors.

Governance & Leadership

Governance & Leadership Editor's Note: Giving short shrift to being remembered, John Ashcroft offers his view of what governance is all about, and the leadership qualities of Washington, Lincoln, King and other Americans who are remembered for calling fellow [...]

The Hospital Showdown

The Hospital Showdown Editor's Note: In March 2004, then U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft was rushed to a Washington, D.C. hospital for emergency gallbladder surgery. During his incapacitation, James Comey, then Deputy Attorney General, became Acting Attorney General. As [...]

Risky Business

David Minge, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota, asked his classmate about ending life as a fugitive.

Consequences

In answering a question about what influences brought about the trajectory of her life, Bernadine alludes to the consequences of her actions:

Blowback

One of the questions Bernadine Dohrn addressed was whether she thought the self-righteous way in which her goals were pursued produced a populist blowback that's tearing apart our country today.

Liberty & Tolerance

Liberty & Tolerance Editor's Note: The last question posed to John Ashcroft was put by his classmate David Goldberger. Serving for many years as Legal and Legislative Director of the American Civil Liberties Union Illinois Division, David finished [...]

Family Films

  • Charlie Hasbrouck

    The Cliff Dwellers 21st Century Fund Dinner – Supporting the Club

    The 21st Century Fund Dinner - Support for Renovations At a dinner for the Cliff Dwellers 21st Century Fund, the speakers explained that the club has a new lease, some tenant-improvement money, [...]

  • Northern Illinois University Jazz Orchestra wih Roosevelt Griffin III

    Northern Illinois University Jazz Orchestra at The Cliff Dwellers

    Northern Illinois University Jazz Orchestra at The Cliff Dwellers Editor's Note: On April 22, 2026, the Northern Illinois University Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Roosevelt Griffin III made a return visit to The Cliff Dwellers.  An enthusiastic Griffin, Director of Jazz [...]

  • Jeddah Tower, the World’s Tallest Building – Ben Johnson

    Jeddah Tower, World's Tallest Building Editor's Note: Former president of The Cliff Dwellers Ben Johnson is a project manager at Chicago's Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture. In this role, he has organized and led design and technical [...]

  • 2/6/2026 WJB WJB-TNB Zoom Interview, 2422 Colony Court, Northbrook, IL Bill Bowe, Northbrook, IL 2026

    1. Tony Bowe on His Parents, Grandparents, Orchard Street & Winnetka

    1. Tony Bowe on His Parents, Grandparents, Orchard Street & Winnetka Tony Bowe on His Parents, Grandparents, Orchard Street & Winnetka Interview of Anthony C. Bowe (TNB) by William J. Bowe (WJB) on February 6, 2026 Table of [...]

  • Tony Bowe 2

    2. Tony Bowe on His Father the Judge, Education & Early Career

    1. Tony Bowe on His Father the Judge, Education & Early Career Tony Bowe on His Father the Judge, Education & Early Career Transcript of Interview of Anthony C. Bowe (TNB) by William J. Bowe (WJB), February 6, [...]

  • Anthony Bowe

    3. Tony Bowe on Adlai Stevenson, Retirement, Wall Street, Consulting, Nancy, and the Kids

    3. Tony Bowe on Adlai Stevenson, Retirement, Wall Street, Consulting, Nancy, and the Kids Tony Bowe on Adlai Stevenson, Retirement, Wall Street, Consulting, Nancy, and the Kids Transcript of February 17, 2026 Interview of Anthony C. Bowe (TNB) by William [...]

  • 2/13/2026 SPDR JKAH DNDL Valentine's Day Dinner, The Cliff Dwellers, 200 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL Singer Spider Saloff with Jeremy Kahn on piano and Dan De Lorenzo on bass, Chicago, IL 2026

    Spider Saloff At The Cliff Dwellers

    Spider Saloff At The Cliff Dwellers Editor's Note: Having survived one of the coldest and snowiest Januarys in years, a sold out house At The Cliff Dwellers turned up to forget winter and celebrate Valentine's Day. Internationally known jazz singer Spider [...]

  • 12/9/2025 Talent Show, The Cliff Dwellers, 200 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL Martin Lopez and 4 Strings Attached, Chicago, IL 2025

    The Cliff Dwellers Talent Show with Michael Burke

    The Cliff Dwellers Talent Show with Michael Burke                        Michael Burke Editor's Note: On the evening of December 5, 2025, just ahead of a heavy snowfall, Cliff Dweller Michael Burke [...]

  • 10/20/2025 ANES 119th Annual Meeting, The Cliff Dwellers, 200 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL Anne Sullivan, Chicago, IL 2025

    119th Annual Members Meeting – The Cliff Dwellers

    Cliff Dwellers President Anne Sullivan Calls the Meeting to Order 119th Annual Members Meeting of The Cliff Dwellers On October 20, 2025, President Anne Sullivan called to order the 119th Annual Meeting of Members of The Cliff Dwellers and [...]

  • A Smile for Summer's End from The Cliff Dwellers

    A Smile for Summer’s End

    A Smile for Summer's End

  • Christine Holbo on Hamlin Garland's Chicago

    Hamlin Garland’s Chicago

    Hamlin Garland's Chicago                                          Hamlin Garland's Chicago About Christine Holbo: With a Ph.D. from Stanford University, Christine Holbo studies American literature from the [...]

  • Hamlin Garland, Founder of The Cliff Dwellers

    Hamlin Garland – Founder of The Cliff Dwellers

    Hamlin Garland (September 14, 1860 - March 4, 1940) Winner of the 1922 Pulitzer Prize for A Daughter of the Middle Border Hamlin Garland & The Cliff Dwellers Chicago in Hamlin Garland's Time Garland and [...]

  • Laura Ferri on Hamlin Garland, the Verist Writer of the Middle Border

    Hamlin Garland – The “Veritist” Writer of the Middle Border

    Hamlin Garland - "Veritist" Writer of the Middle Border and Its Main Travelled Roads by Laura Ferri About Laura Ferri: Laura Ferri has been involved in the promotion and study of Canadian culture and literature for several decades, formerly [...]

  • Jesse Raber-Hamlin Garland's Place in American Literature

    Hamlin Garland’s Place in American Literature

    Remarks of Jesse Raber on Hamlin Garland's Place in American Literature Although he isn't its best-known name today, I would argue that nobody was more important in theorizing and giving shape to the late 19th and early 20th century literary movement known [...]

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