Current Project

Maritime Missions in Chicago

With the opening of the Eric Canal, The American Seamen's Friend Society extended its reach to Cleveland and then the rest of the Great Lakes under the auspices of the Western Seamen’s Friend Society. As Chicago changed from a Potawatomi exchange to an industrial entrepot; so much of its story seemed to center around the ministry of one family and one vessel, Glad Tidings. My current research looks to expand our understanding of Protestant work in nineteenth century Chicago.



image from National Museum of the Great Lakes