"Greek Fest_Lincoln Square," was photographed on June 7, 1981. At that time, Lincoln Square was a cross-section of Greeks and Germans as seen in the signage of the photos on the surrounding businesses. The Dank Haus was called the Links Hotel as evidenced in frame # 33. During the Greek Fest, traffic was closed on Lawrence Avenue, Western Avenue and Lincoln Avenue to accommodate the large crowds and entertainment. It is 40+ years ago that these photos were taken and with the modern technology of scanners I am able to bring the scanned film to light and to my website (see me in frame #30). Mayor Jane Bryne was instrumental in reviving neighborhood and ethnic festivals and I kept a list of the events to document in the summer of 1981. It is my goal to find out who is in these photos and to add context and historic information for future generations.
The National Hellenic Museum has featured many of these historic photos in an exhibit called, "GATHER TOGETHER: STREET PHOTOGRAPHY BY DIANE ALEXANDER WHITE", that opened in 2022 and is still going strong in 2025. The National Hellenic Museum has featured many of these historic photos in an exhibit called, "GATHER TOGETHER: STREET PHOTOGRAPHY BY DIANE ALEXANDER WHITE", that opened in 2022 and is still going strong in 2025. In addition to having photos on all three floors at the National Hellenic Museum, my photos of Greek life in Chicago and from my backpacking trip to Greece in 1977 can be seen at the Greek Consulate in Chicago. I am indebted to Emmanuel Koubarakis, the Consul General of Greece in Chicago, Georgia Tasiopoulou, the Consul of Greece in Chicago and the GREEK-AMERICAN RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION (GARC) for their generosity in funding the project. The past is present in these photos where the National Hellenic Museum visitors have been able to identify many of the people that they recognize in a notebook in the "Gather Together: Street Photography by Diane Alexander White."
As life-long Chicagoan of Greek descent the camera has given me a unique perspective behind the lens to capture what it means to identify with Hellenic culture and history. The past is present in these photos where National Hellenic Museum visitors have been able to identify many of the people that they recognize in a notebook in the "Gather Together: Street Photography by Diane Alexander White." Now that is history!
