Approximately 15 linear feet of material consisting of files of Chicago Historical Society's curatorial Decorative and Industrial Arts Department (c. 1979–1997) as well as materials relating to management of the artifacts in earlier time periods. The collection forms part of Chicago Historical Society archives. Written permission of the president of Chicago History Museum is required in order to consult restricted sections of the archives. The bulk of the collection consists of research files compiled by curator Sharon Darling in preparation for exhibitions and accompanying catalogues on the subjects of Chicago metalsmiths, ceramics, art pottery, and glass (including stained glass and painted china), Chicago furniture, and Teco pottery. Items include notes, worksheets, photographs of objects, clippings and articles, correspondence, printed ephemera, and a research notebook. Files cover individual topics including stained glass studios such as Willets Studio (Philadelphia); Illinois potteries; ceramic artists such as Ruth Duckworth, Eugene Deutsch, Anna Halasi, Nick Prokos, and Rita Sargen; metalsmiths such as the Kalo Shop, Robert Jarvie, Madeleine Yale Wynne; and furniture makers such as Tonk Manufacturing Company.