The end of Summer means back to school, cooler weather, and of course, Chicago Bears football! Whether you follow the team or not, there’s no escaping the intensity of devoted Chicago Bears’ fans. The Bears inspire strong emotions in their fans, and rivals, which is why the Aurora Public Library District (APLD) is offering a program that will appeal to Bears’ fans and anyone who is interested in the history of Chicago or the National Football League (NFL).
‘The Forgotten History of the Chicago Bears’ will be presented at the Eola Road Branch at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7 by author and historian Joe Ziemba, a life-long resident of the South Side of Chicago. He will take us on a tour through the history of the Chicago Bears, especially their little-known early days. Ziemba has written multiple books on football history and contributed to a variety of articles, podcasts, and events, with such organizations as The Chicago Tribune and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. APLD librarian Megan Cavitt is excited to offer this program for fans. “I really enjoy putting together local history programs on topics that people generally don’t associate with history class, like sports. Ziemba was recommended by other libraries….My hope is that it makes history more fun and accessible.”
Those attending can expect plenty of fun facts and trivia at Wednesday’s program. For example, did you know that the Bears are one of only two remaining teams from the National Football League’s first season? That was more than 100 years ago! The other original team still playing got its start in Chicago, but you’ll have to attend the program to find out its name. We hope customers leave with a new understanding of the team they love, and possibly some new connections with other fans. Because even when the stakes are down and frustrations are high, fans continue to share Da Bears with their children and community.
With this program, we hope to draw a new audience to the Library. We’ve got plenty of resources for those interested in more information on the Chicago Bears, or football in general. Some of Cavitt’s favorites include “Bears by the Numbers” by Lew Freedman, a comparison of Bears players throughout history based on which uniform number they wore, and a children’s recipe book entitled “A Football Cookbook” by Sarah L. Schuette. Your Library card gives you access to the online archives of The Chicago Tribune dating back to 1849, so you can read all the historical Bears reports that’s fit to print!
If you cannot attend ‘The Forgotten History of the Chicago Bears’’ in-person at Eola Road Branch, you can watch from home on Zoom or Facebook Live. For more details, and to register, please visit www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/events, or, contact the Library at 630-264-4117.
Most importantly, Bear Down!
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.