Photos courtesy of chicagohistory.org
In April 1925, Chicago hosted an event that challenged long‑standing assumptions about women’s roles in American society. The Woman’s World Fair, held at the American Exposition Palace (within the American Furniture Mart building), was conceived as a weeklong showcase of women’s achievements in business, industry, science and the arts. It was groundbreaking not only because of what it displayed, but because it was created, organized and run entirely by women.
The idea came from Helen Bennett, manager of the Chicago Collegiate Bureau of Occupations, and Ruth Hanna McCormick, a prominent political figure and advocate for women’s advancement. Their goal was to demonstrate the breadth of women’s professional contributions at a time when many still believed a woman’s place was in the home.
The fair opened on April 18 with President Calvin Coolidge delivering remarks via radio, an innovative touch for the time. Over the next seven days, more than 160,000 visitors explored 280 booths representing around 100 occupations in which women were active.
Exhibits highlighted women’s achievements in fields ranging from the arts and literature to science and industry, with booths organized by manufacturers, banks, stores, hospitals and women professionals. Demonstrations ranged from new household technologies to industrial machinery, all presented by women who had carved out space in otherwise male‑dominated fields. The exhibits were also intended as a source for young women seeking information on careers.
The fair raised $50,000 (almost a million dollars in present-day value) and was so successful that it was held for three more years.