Celebrate National Dog Day With the Chicago Public Library Archives

Toto, Dorothy and the Scarecrow from The Wonderful Wizard of OzSource: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, with pictures by W.W. Denslow, Geo. M. Hill Co., Chicago and New York, 1900

Dog show, Lincoln Park, 1940Source: Chicago Public Library, Chicago Park District Archives, photograph 054_020_002

Mrs. Sage and her dog, pre-1909Source: Chicago Public Library, Ravenswood-Lakeview Community Collection, photograph 1.711

Winter Fest, Lincoln Park, 1980Photographer: Arnold Zoot. Source: Chicago Public Library, City of Chicago Graphics and Reproduction Center Photographs, Box 24, 1980 February 10

Mayor Jane Byrne and her husband Jay McMullen, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, [1982]Source: Chicago Public Library, City of Chicago Graphics and Reproduction Center Photographs, Box 35, 1982 November 29

Tug-of-war at Wiggly Field Dog Park, 1999 SeptemberPhotographer: Mark Montgomery. Source: Chicago Public Library, City of Chicago Graphics and Reproduction Center Photographs, Box 177

Dog Show, Daley Plaza, 1978Photographer: Arnold Zoot. Source: Chicago Public Library, City of Chicago Graphics and Reproduction Center Photographs, Box 6, Folder 28

Chicago Park District dog show, circa 1950Source: Chicago Public Library, Chicago Park District Archives, photograph 117_026_003

A woman with her dog on Giddings Street near Western Avenue, 1917Source: Chicago Public Library, Ravenswood-Lakeview Community Collection, photograph 1.1068

Water break at Wiggly Field Dog Park, 1999 SeptemberPhotographer: Mark Montgomery. Source: Chicago Public Library, City of Chicago Graphics and Reproduction Center Photographs, Box 177

Dog Show, Daley Plaza, 1978Photographer: Arnold Zoot. Source: Chicago Public Library, City of Chicago Graphics and Reproduction Center Photographs, Box 6, Folder 28

Mayor Richard M. Daley and Executive Director of Animal Care and Control Peter Poholik announce a pet adoption event, 1999Source: Chicago Public Library, City of Chicago Graphics and Reproduction Center Photographs, Box 64, 1999 November 15

Wiggly Field Dog Park, 1999 SeptemberPhotographer: Mark Montgomery. Source: Chicago Public Library, City of Chicago Graphics and Reproduction Center Photographs, Box 177

Chicago Park District dog show, circa 1950Source: Chicago Public Library, Chicago Park District Archives, photograph 117_026_009

Mayor Eugene Sawyer visits Animal Care and Control, [1988]Photographer: James Peterson. Source: Chicago Public Library, City of Chicago Graphics and Reproduction Center Photographs, Box 167

Adopt-a-pet Event, Daley Plaza, 2003Photographer: Cathy Bazzoni. Source: Chicago Public Library, City of Chicago Graphics and Reproduction Center Photographs, Box 167, 2003 May 8

Author’s dog, Omar, 2023Source: Johanna Russ

August 26 is National Dog Day. It seems that every day is National Dog Day in my house—especially as we remember my dog, Omar. Omar turned 15 this month, and shortly after, we had to say goodbye to him. Omar was a Cairn Terrier, the same breed as Toto from The Wizard of Oz, the famous story written by L. Frank Baum right here in Chicago. Baum and my family are not the only Chicagoans to love a furry, four-legged friend, and records in the Archives and Special Collections Division show it.

The archive images above document average and famous Chicagoans posing with their pups, participating in Chicago Park District dog contests, taking their pooches to the dog park and looking to adopt a new pet. The records also show City officials providing animal welfare and earning doggy snuggles in return. Let’s celebrate National Dog Day by looking back at Chicago dogs throughout history and share your best dog story in the comments.