Column: A Chicago historian brings us more discoveries about Graceland Cemetery, tell me about this news in (https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/23/history-graceland-cemetery-book/)

This Chicago Tribune column by Rick Kogan features local Chicago author, historian, and tour guide Adam Selzer and the release of his follow-up book, “Graceland Cemetery Vol. 2: More Chicago Stories, Symbols, and Secrets.”

Key details from the story include:

• Expanding on Graceland’s Lore: Following up on his widely praised 2022 book about Graceland Cemetery, Selzer continues his deep dive into the historic North Side cemetery, where approximately 175,000 individuals are interred.

• Unearthing Hidden Histories: While Graceland is renowned as the resting place of Chicago giantssuch as Marshall Field, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Ernie BanksSelzer’s work emphasizes the lesser-known, forgotten, and eccentric figures whose life stories shaped Chicago’s broader cultural, social, and architectural fabric.

• Research and Tours: The column highlights Selzer’s tireless archival research and sleuthing, debunking local myths while recovering true historical anecdotes. In tandem with the book’s release, Selzer leads specialized walking tours exploring different sections and themes across the cemetery grounds.

• The Cemetery as Living History: Kogan underscores Selzer’s storytelling approach: viewing a cemetery not simply as a place of memorialization or business transactions, but as an open-air museum and vital lens through which to understand American and Chicago history.