Our digitally preserved collection of archival videotapes from Cabrini-Green includes 52 BetacamSP cassettes recorded by Ronit Bezalel for her “Voices of Cabrini” documentary (1995-1999). A handful of other tapes were created by other producers throughout the ’80s and ’90s, including Lilly Ollinger’s “Ambassadors of Cabrini” documentary (1981). VIEW ALL VIDEOS
Cabrini-Green was a public housing project in Chicago that covered 70 acres just east of Goose Island. It was built in three stages (1942,1958, and 1962) and included 23 high rise apartment complexes and 54 row houses. At its densest, approximately 15,000 people lived in 3,600 units. By the early 1990s “Cabrini-Green” had become synonymous with the failures of inner city public housing: institutionalized racial segregation,violent crime, and lifelong poverty. In 1997, two high rises had been demolished, 232 families had been relocated, and several dozen market-rate town homes had been constructed in the area. Evicted residents could not influence the redevelopment process and had to choose between other public housing options. The last Cabrini-Green high rise was torn down in 2011.
These videotapes offer an unprecedented glimpse into the lives and conditions of former Cabrini-Green residents. As primary historical material they are in a class of their own. We categorized and cataloged each tape, so that you can explore the content however you like. Most of the videotapes run one hour real time. Note that we are still organizing this content to best meet your needs. Please let us know how we can make browsing the collection easier.
GREEN HOMES (1962)
630 W. Evergreen
1340 N. Larrabee
1230 N. Larrabee
534 W. Division
624 W. Division
660 W. Division
714 W. Division
1230 N. Burling
CABRINI EXTENSION NORTH (1958)
1015-1017 N. Larrabee
1121 N. Larrabee
1159-1161 N. Larrabee
500-502 W. Oak
1117-1119 N. Cleveland
1157-1159 N. Cleveland
1158 N. Cleveland
1150-1160 N. Sedgwick
CABRINI EXTENSION SOUTH (1958)
364 W. Oak
365 W. Oak
929-939 N. Hudson
911 N. Hudson
911-923 N. Sedgwick
862 N. Sedgwick
412 W. Chicago Ave.
FRANCIS CABRINI HOMES (ROW HOUSES, 1942)
Between Oak Street and Chicago Avenue (North-South) and Larrabee Street and Hudson Avenue (West-East)