Neil Gale, Ph.D., is a historian, satirist, expert researcher, and digital preservationist whose knowledge of Illinois, Chicago, and Abraham Lincoln rivals that of seasoned scholars and museum curators—except Neil tells history like it’s got a pulse, a punchline, and something urgent to say.
At the age of eight, I was bitten by the history bug when I began collecting antique and vintage Chicago postcards. By the time I was in High School, I developed a liking for American history, but found that the teaching methods were still mostly memorization. I learned on my own how to research historical events, places, and people. I spent most Saturdays at the Chicago Historical Society (now the Chicago History Museum), researching the 1893 Chicago World's Columbian Exposition, the 1933/34 Chicago Century of Progress World's Fair, and other Chicago stories and events. The head librarian came to the table where I was seated and said, "Please, Neil, come with me for a minute. There is someone I want you to meet." As the door swung open, the entire conference table was full. Meet the Board of Directors, Gentlemen. Meet Neil Gale, The High School student who has been coming to our library every Saturday for five months now.
"After your Name came up in a couple of board meetings, it was voted that you shall receive a one-year complementary Membership to the Chicago Historical Society, which includes library privileges." Neil, you sure impressed Mrs. Wilson, young man. She thanks you for the donuts you bring for her and her staff. The library card read:
Neil Gale,
Mather High School
CHICAGO
In my senior year of high school, I was in the first year of the Chicago Metro History Fair, which included schools from across Chicagoland, both public and private. My project analyzed why the 1933-34 Century of Progress World's Fair was extended for a second year. I included many of my postcards and a research report of the financial profitability of the World's Fair at the end of the Great Depression and Prohibition, and the benefits to the City of Chicago and Illinois. I won the regional first and second rounds, receiving a Certificate for 'Outstanding Historical Project' with an Honorable Mention. In the History Fair's finals, held at the old Chicago Cultural Center (renamed from the Chicago Main Public Library in 1977), I received this 'Outstanding Achievement Award.'
As my Chicago postcard collection grew to over 5,000 cards, I wanted to share some of the special ones. I opened the Chicago Postcard Museum on November 1, 2007. The virtual Museum is constructed with lobbies, galleries, rooms, and exhibit halls, just as if you were walking into a brick-and-mortar Museum. You will see special presentations featuring extremely rare Chicago postcards from antique, vintage, contemporary, and novelty cards.
The Illinois history resources I've created help 6th-12th-grade students with research and preparation for the Chicago Metro History Fair and the Illinois Regional History Fairs, all leading up to the Illinois State final competition on Illinois History Day held in Springfield, Illinois, each May.
All my history projects are presented and explained at DrGale.com
