The city of Chicago is known for many things, but one thing that it is notorious for is the crime that plagued it in the past. From mafia, large crimes and even con men, the Windy City has a reputation that has gone down in history. We grew up hearing about the crime that happened in the city and that was part of the reason we loved it – and even love visiting some of the hidden crime locations that locals know about still.
There is so much material from these crimes, but a lot of images are in the hands of the Chicago Tribune and in their archives. They’ve opened the archives and put together a book with a collection of crime photos from some of the most notorious crimes from the 1900’s to the 1950’s – from the infamous crimes we heard about, and you can see the evidence with your own eyes.
If you’re a collector of history, are fascinated by the mobster era – this is a book you’re going to love. Learn more about the crimes you heard about and probably more than you’ve been taught in history. Chicago has a lot more history and hidden information for you to learn about.
About Gangsters & Grifters:
Created from the Chicago Tribune’s vast archives, Gangsters and Grifters is a collection of photographs featuring infamous criminals, small-time bandits, hoodlums, and more at shocking crime scenes. These vintage glass-plate and acetate negatives were taken from the early 1900s through the 1950s, and they have been largely unseen for generations. That is because most have never been published, only having been witnessed by the photographers and police in the moments after an arrest, crime, or even murder. Included are graphic crime scenes, raw evidence, and depictions of searing emotions, captured on film during a time when photographers were given unprecedented access alongside police. Some photographs resemble film noir movie stills. Some are cartoonish. All feature real people, real drama, and real crimes. Accompanying information about each is included wherever possible, often with archived news stories.
Gangsters and Grifters is a powerful, visually stunning look back into the dark story of Chicago’s nefarious crime underworld. These fascinating, surprising, and entrancing photos reveal still-unsolved murder mysteries and portraits of notorious gang overlords like John Dillinger and Al Capone. This is a must-have for photography buffs, history lovers, and anyone curious about the seedy underbelly of early 20th-century Chicago.
