The History and Hopes of Altgeld Gardens - Incite at Columbia University

Incubated Project

The History and Hopes of Altgeld Gardens

Exterior of Altgeld Gardens Housing Center and Commercial center (known as 'Up-Top') in 1945. Photo via Chicago History Museum
  • Funding Program Assembling Voices
  • Timeframe 2023–2024
  • Location Chicago, Illinois
  • Assembling Voices Fellow Nathan Miller

Originally constructed for African American veterans returning home from WWII, Chicago's Altgeld Gardens is geographically situated in what's known as the "toxic doughnut" with an expressway to its east, a water treatment facility to its north, a landfill to its south, and buildings of industry to its west.

Assembling Voices Fellow Nathan Miller's The Whole in Our Parts: The History and Hopes of Altgeld Gardens uses documentary interviews, aerial photography, and portraiture to document the community of Altgeld Gardens, a historically black neighborhood on the far south side of Chicago from both macro and micro perspectives.

Participating narrator describes life in Chicago's far south side.

About Nathan Miler

  • Nathan Miller

    Nathan Miller is an artist and educator working and living in Chicago. Nathan is a proud foodie, recently took up city inline skating (and quickly discovered that it's not for the faint of heart), loves trusting God, and spends his down time searching for new music on Spotify and spending time with his lady.

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