Loading...
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.

SEARCH BY CATEGORY

Most recent stories

Mary Gwinn Bowe Materials

1970 The Families, by Mary Gwinn Bowe 1970 Mary Gwinn Bowe Before & After Chicago, from The Families 1960-09-16  Mary Bowe Hosts Kennedy Kin in 1960 Presidential Election (Chicago Triboune

William John Bowe, Sr. Materials

William John (Patrick) Bowe was born in Chicago at 1024 West Superior Street on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1893. He died December 30, 1965, at the age of seventy-two. I never heard him use or be called by his extra middle name Patrick. His mother was Ellen Frances Canavan. His father was John Joseph Bowe. He was a bright child, rather destructive, had all the infant diseases, loved animals and sports, and was well-liked and very sociable.

Augustine Joseph Bowe Materials

On February 11, 1961 in City Hall Augustine J. Bowe is congratulated by Mayor Richard J. Daley and Richard Nelson as he is inaugurated as Chief Justice of the Municipal Court        Sen Paul [...]

Julia Lecour Bowe Materials

2012-09-12 Transmittal of Julia and Gus to the Poetry Foundation (by William John Bowe, Jr.) 2011 Preface to Julia & Gus, by William John Bowe, Jr. 2011 Julia & Gus Acknowledgements, Charles Augustine Bowe 2011 Julia & [...]

1970 Mary Gwinn Bowe Recalls Her Life Before Chicago in The Families

In the "Before Chicago" part of her remembrances in The Families, Mary Gwinn Bowe recalls the period in her life before her marriage in 1928 to my father, William John Bowe, Sr. After her own mother Mary Agnes Roche died giving birth to her in 1901, she was brought up by her father's mother, Elizabeth Agnes Burns Gwinn. Mary always called her "Mama." Being a widowed by then with modest resources, she made ends meet by managing a rooming house on the Atlantic shore in Deal, New Jersey. Mary goes on to talk about her schooling, the excitement of being on the New Jersey State women's basketball championship team at Asbury Park High School and her fortuitous entrance at the 11th hour to Trinity College in Washington, D.C.

2021 Old Chicago

Editor's Note: Here is a collection of photos and postcards of a now lost Chicago shown at The Cliff Dwellers at a Canavan Family Reunion in 2021. The images date from 1867.  The slideshow is accompanied by music and [...]

1949 U.S. Tax Court Opinion

   ESTATE OF PARISH v. COMMISSIONERDocket No. 12295.8 T.C.M. 257 (1949)Estate of William W. Parish, Deceased, Varnum A. Parish, as Administrator de bonis non v. Commissioner.United States Tax Court.Entered March 15, 1949.Attorney(s) appearing for the CaseAllin H. Pierce, Esq., 135 So. [...]

Family Films

  • The fascinating life of Bill Bowe

    The Fascinating Life of Bill Bowe

    Shortly after the publication on Amazon of my memoir Riots & Rockets, the distinguished Chicago Tribune columnist Rick Kogan asked me to join him in talking about the book on his WGN-720 AM radio show.

  • 6/15/2024 Internet, The Cliff Dwellers, 200 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL Poster celebrating 100th Anniversary of James Joyce's Ulysses and Bloomsday, Chicago, IL 2024

    A Bloomsday Centennial At The Cliff Dwellers

    A Bloomsday Centennial At The Cliff Dwellers Editor's Note: The style breaking novel Ulysses by James Joyce was first published in 1922. The word “Bloomsday” first appeared one hundred years ago in 1924, in a letter written by Joyce. In later [...]

  • Les Pollock Book Cover

    Around the World with a City Planner – Leslie Pollock

    Around the World with a City Planner - Leslie Pollock Editor's Note: In May 2024, distinguished city planner Leslie Pollock (CD '91) spoke at The Cliff Dwellers about his recent world travels. His mission over the course of four months was to [...]

  • Kurtis Meyer on Hamlin Garland

    Kurtis Meyer on Hamlin Garland, Founder of The Cliff Dwellers

    Kurtis Meyer on Hamlin Garland, Founder of The Cliff Dwellers Editor’s Note: At The Cliff Dwellers on June 4, 2024, Kurtis Meyer, President of the Hamlin Garland Society presented “Hamlin Garland, Tending Trails," an overview of Garland’s diverse club-related activities. Garland, the [...]

  • Jaume Plensa Crown Fountain children playing in the water

    Hot Time, Summer in the City

    Hot Time, Summer in the City Editor's Note: In a solid June week of 90 degree temperatures, one sure way to cool off is to engage with Jaume Plensa's Crown Fountain in Millennium Park. While it looks like nothing but fun, perhaps [...]

  • Divided on D-Day

    Divided on D-Day – Edward E. Gordon

    Divided on D-Day - Edward E. Gordon Editor's Note: In launching the revised edition of his World War II book, Cliff Dweller Edward Gordon took the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the June 6, 1944 Allied Forces attack on the Nazi [...]

  • Mr. Kelly's David Marienthal and Rick Kogan

    “Live at Mr. Kelly’s” with David Marienthal & Alison Hinderliter

    "Live at Mr. Kelly's" with David Marienthal & Alison Hinderliter Editor’s Note: In March 2024, David Marienthal, son of London House and Mister Kelly’s co-owner, George Marienthal, joined Alison Hinderliter, a curator of the Newberry Library at The Cliff Dwellers. The subject [...]

  • Ghost Army Tank

    The Ghost Army of World War II

    The Ghost Army of World War II Editor's Note: In the summer of 1944, a hand-picked group of artists, architects and engineers landed in France to take part in a secret mission. Using stealth and deception, they worked to mislead enemy [...]

  • Laura-Washington-and-Gregory-Pratt

    Laura Washington Interviews Gregory Pratt on Lori Lightfoot’s Mayoralty

    Laura Washington Interviews Gregory Pratt on Lori Lightfoot's Mayoralty Editor's Note: On April 5, 2024, The Cliff Dwellers its latest presentation of "Journalism: Today's Story." In the event, Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune contributing columnist and political commentator for ABC-7 interviewed Chicago Tribune [...]

  • Laura Washington interviews Eileen O'Neill Burke

    Laura Washington Interviews Eileen O’Neill Burke, Cook County State’s Attorney

    Laura Washington Interviews Eileen O'Neill Burke Cook County State's Attorney Editor's Note: Laura Washington is a Chicago Tribune contributing columnist and political analyst for ABC 7-Chicago.  She brings more than two decades of experience as a multi-media journalist who covers local and national politics, [...]

  • Victor Perez Cliff Dwellers farewell

    Farewell Party for Chef Victor Perez

    Farewell Party for Chef Victor Perez Editor's Note: On April 26, 2024, a farewell party was held for Chef Victor Perez of The Cliff Dwellers. It celebrated his more than two decades of loyal and distinguished service. Joining him was his wife Kay Tatum [...]

  • Mr. Kelly's David Marienthal and Rick Kogan

    Live at Mr. Kelly’s Trailer

    Mr. Kelly's The iconic Mister Kelly’s, once called a “supernova in the local and national night life firmament,” illuminated legendary Chicago’s Rush Street, and the entire country, by launching talent like Barbra Streisand, Richard Pryor, Bob Newhart, Bette Midler and Steve Martin. Its visionary [...]

  • Aristotle, Mortimer Adler, Charles Van Doren & Bill Bowe on Happiness

    Aristotle, Mortimer Adler, Charles Van Doren, & Bill Bowe on Happiness Editor's Note: Recently at The Cliff Dwellers family, friends, and a number of Club members helped me celebrate the publication on Amazon of my memoir Riots & Rockets. The book looks [...]

  • Riots & Rockets cover

    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.

Go to Top