ISBA Lawyer Delights in Sharing Chicago’s Rich History

Tweet

Most lawyers love history, but one ISBA lawyer took his love of Chicago lore to the next level: he stepped back from a successful law practice to become head of the Chicago History Museum.

Gary T. Johnson was named the eighth president of the museum in August 2005. A lifelong Chicagoan, his passion for Chicago history is evident through his leadership at the museum where he focuses on exhibitions, programming, community outreach and strengthening the institution’s financial capacity.

In addition to welcoming visitors from around the world, the museum places a special emphasis on sharing its collection with Chicagoans.  Johnson developed and personally leads a student enrichment program where he shares some of the museum’s personal artifacts with Chicago grade school students. So far, he has visited almost 300 classrooms in neighborhoods throughout the city. That number grows by the week.

“My desire for Chicagoans is to not only have access to our collections and programs but also to experience their own Chicago story,” he states.

Johnson, a Harvard graduate, came to the museum after 28 years as a lawyer and partner in the Chicago offices of two global law firms.  In addition to his post at the History Museum, he is president of Museums in the Park, an association of ten of Chicago’s major museums, where he leads their “Museum’s Work for Chicago” campaign comprising fourteen area cultural institutions. A board member of After School Matters, he has a record of leadership in the civic arena, particularly in civil rights and legal services to the poor.

Johnson talked about Chicago history when he spoke at a January 28, 2009 City Club of Chicago meeting. His remarks were recorded by and aired on Chicago Access Network TV.