World War I has been called "the war that changed everything," and it had a profound effect on Chicago. Between 1913 and 1919, a period that has not been adequately documented in histories of the city, Chicago transitioned from a 19th-century city to the metropolis it is today. Chicago Transformed describes the changes brought by the Great War and shows how they endure in the cultural, ethnic, and political landscape of the Windy City. Russell P. Strange Memorial Book of the Year Award, Illinois State Historical Society.

The "White City" Columbian Exposition was the great event of the year in Chicago, but 1893 witnessed a surprising number of milestones in the city's history. The Field Museum, the Art Institute, and the Museum of Science and Industry all trace their origins to 1893; three Chicago authors practically invented urban literature; the Chicago hot dog was born. Sears, Roebuck was incorporated; William Wrigley invented Juicy Fruit gum; the Cubs opened a new ball park, and a new church was built for the first Black Roman Catholic priest in America. These stories, and more, are told in Chicago's Greatest Year, 1893. Superior Achievement Award, Illinois State Historical Society.