Jeff Nichols
@backwardsriver.bsky.social
Chicago blueystorian, UIC ABD
jeffnicholshistory.com
jeffnicholshistory.com
Pinned
I queue up Chicago images and footage on days when I am multitasking or just burned out. If Trump has ordered tanks to roll over peaceful demonstrators in Los Angeles or anywhere else, my Chicago posts aren't some kind of passive aggressive message.
Reposted by Jeff Nichols
Thinking about that time I got quoted in the National Review about Bari Weiss
October 10, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Thinking about that time I got quoted in the National Review about Bari Weiss
Reposted by Jeff Nichols
271,000 people have lost their jobs and federal spending has ctually increased. So people get less services, while we added debt paying for private jets for Kristi Noem, bulletproof cars for Kash Patel. This is what the rust belt voters demanded.
December 26, 2025 at 1:00 PM
271,000 people have lost their jobs and federal spending has ctually increased. So people get less services, while we added debt paying for private jets for Kristi Noem, bulletproof cars for Kash Patel. This is what the rust belt voters demanded.
Reposted by Jeff Nichols
joining the "cybertruck owners only" group on fb is one of the best decisions i've ever made. every so often when i'm scrolling through fb getting pissed off, i get to see a little treat like this
December 26, 2025 at 4:11 PM
joining the "cybertruck owners only" group on fb is one of the best decisions i've ever made. every so often when i'm scrolling through fb getting pissed off, i get to see a little treat like this
Reposted by Jeff Nichols
When you cut the salaried experts and then have to firefight constant emergencies with freelancers who rightfully charge a premium for their expertise and bill by the hour-
Musk cut USAID and got thousands killed, all for this pathetic result.
This is his legacy
This is his legacy
December 26, 2025 at 7:43 AM
When you cut the salaried experts and then have to firefight constant emergencies with freelancers who rightfully charge a premium for their expertise and bill by the hour-
Reposted by Jeff Nichols
Everyone looking for some Chicago Christmas history, from heart-warming to heartbreaking, check @backwardsriver.bsky.social tonight.
Christmas hopes by cartoonist John T. McCutcheon, 1912.
December 26, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Everyone looking for some Chicago Christmas history, from heart-warming to heartbreaking, check @backwardsriver.bsky.social tonight.
A message from Santa Claus (and the Chicago Telephone Company), 1914
December 25, 2025 at 10:28 PM
A message from Santa Claus (and the Chicago Telephone Company), 1914
Santa Claus is arriving by auto to Wieboldt’s, 1914
December 25, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Santa Claus is arriving by auto to Wieboldt’s, 1914
Santa Claus safety warning, Chicago 1926
December 25, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Santa Claus safety warning, Chicago 1926
Another letter to St. Nick, care of a Chicago newspaper, which I found researching my story into children’s letters to Santa a century ago. Unfortunately, the brothers were not making up a story.
December 25, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Another letter to St. Nick, care of a Chicago newspaper, which I found researching my story into children’s letters to Santa a century ago. Unfortunately, the brothers were not making up a story.
A letter to Santa Claus from Werna B. of Chicago, 1915
December 25, 2025 at 10:26 PM
A letter to Santa Claus from Werna B. of Chicago, 1915
Letter to Santa from Chicago, 1913
December 25, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Letter to Santa from Chicago, 1913
One of the 2700 letters sent to Santa from Chicago in 1915
December 25, 2025 at 10:25 PM
One of the 2700 letters sent to Santa from Chicago in 1915
Letter to Santa from Chicago in 1912 requesting a glass eye.
December 25, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Letter to Santa from Chicago in 1912 requesting a glass eye.
Santa burglar ComEd ad, 1908
December 25, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Santa burglar ComEd ad, 1908
Letter to Santa from Chicago, 1912
December 25, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Letter to Santa from Chicago, 1912
Letter to Santa from “first floor, back of a big yellow house” in Chicago, 1912.
December 25, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Letter to Santa from “first floor, back of a big yellow house” in Chicago, 1912.
“The Workers’ Santa Claus.” Cover of the Young Worker’s League magazine, Chicago 1922
December 25, 2025 at 10:23 PM
“The Workers’ Santa Claus.” Cover of the Young Worker’s League magazine, Chicago 1922
Santa ad, 1922
December 25, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Santa ad, 1922
Santa Claus Headquarters, Chicago 1883
December 25, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Santa Claus Headquarters, Chicago 1883
Letter to Santa from Chicago, 1916
December 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Letter to Santa from Chicago, 1916
Unemployed man tells a bellringing Santa, "Give me a job, not this." Polish-language newspaper, Chicago 1921
December 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Unemployed man tells a bellringing Santa, "Give me a job, not this." Polish-language newspaper, Chicago 1921
In 1907, the assistant postmaster of Chicago was tasked with reading all of the mail addressed to Santa, then matching children in need with charitable organizations. Here’s my story on the grim requests Santa received from Chicago.
chicagoreader.com/arts-culture...
chicagoreader.com/arts-culture...
December 25, 2025 at 10:21 PM
In 1907, the assistant postmaster of Chicago was tasked with reading all of the mail addressed to Santa, then matching children in need with charitable organizations. Here’s my story on the grim requests Santa received from Chicago.
chicagoreader.com/arts-culture...
chicagoreader.com/arts-culture...
Santa makes a guest star appearance on Elmer the Elephant, 1955.
December 25, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Santa makes a guest star appearance on Elmer the Elephant, 1955.
Hard luck letter to Santa, Chicago 1891
December 25, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Hard luck letter to Santa, Chicago 1891
Ad with Santa and his reindeer, Chicago 1886
December 25, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Ad with Santa and his reindeer, Chicago 1886