Program

In honor of the 125th anniversary of the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, CAC docent Kathleen Carpenter will share the stories of several women who played significant roles in making the Fair a spectacularly grand affair.
Chicago's 1893 World's Fair was a showcase of art, architecture, ideas and inventions. It was also a showcase for women. One of the first female lawyers in the country, Phoebe Couzins, arrived at the Fair full of plans to discuss women’s rights, while educator Fannie Barrier Williams demanded more involvement for African-American women in the exhibits. Learn about these women and more, including female artists, sculptors and muralists whose work was so compelling we still discuss them 125 years after the Fair. Hear about the challenges faced by these women, as well as their accomplishments.
Kathleen Carpenter has been a docent since 2006, following a career in Chicago's nonprofit sector. She previously served as Director of Development at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and Vice President of the Museum of Science and Industry. Born in Chicago, she graduated from Northwestern University. As a docent, she conducts a variety of tours, but her favorite topic is the 1893 World’s Fair.