About Us


The Swedenborg Library in Chicago, Illinois is dedicated to practical spirituality. The Library's collection includes the work of 18C Swedish scientist and theologian Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) among its spiritual-topic books. The Library sponsors educational programs and workshops for the public. 



The Swedenborg Library is open most Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 pm to 5 pm, (except during August) and prior to scheduled programs or by appointment. Contact us at info@SwedLib.org.
Getting to the Library: 

The Swedenborg Library is located on the 17th floor of 77 W. Washington St., on the southeast corner of Clark St. & Washington St. in Chicago's Loop, directly opposite Daley Plaza (The BMO Harris Bank is the landmark you will notice at street level.) We are 1 block from the Washington stops of the Red and Blue Lines, and 2 blocks from the Clark/Lake stop of the Green, Brown (Washington-Wells or Clark/Lake stop), and Orange Lines. The #22 bus stop at Randolph/Washington is 1/2 block from us. 

 

PARKING NEAR THE SWEDENBORG LIBRARY:

There is road work being done on Clark St. south of our location, so on-street parking is a little more difficult to find. 

 

Best bet for parking in Chicago's Loop area: check ParkWhiz.com or SpotHero.com for rates at Chicago Loop-area lots for the date/time you plan to visit. Most lots have lower rates for after 5 pm entry, weekends, and before midnight exit. 


If driving, we use the Washington-Madison-Wells Self-Park lot nearby, at 172 W. Madison (between LaSalle & Wells, on the righthand side). When you exit this lot, turn left and walk 1 and 1/2 blocks east to Clark Street, then turn left again, and walk 1 block north to Washington St. We are in the building with the BMO Harris Bank on the corner.

 

Enter the building from the Washington St. doors where the doorperson station is located. 
In Chicago, members of the Swedenborg Library included architect and city planner Daniel H. Burnham, initiator of the first Parliament of World's Religions Charles Bonney, lyricist George F. Root, and Chicago History Museum founding board member Jonathan Scammon whose son Jonathan founded a law firm with Robert Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's son. 

To view Dr. Kristen Schafffer's lecture, The Plan of Chicago as a Map of Heaven: Daniel Burnham’s Swedenborgianism which she delivered at the ACS 5 Symposium: Urbanism, Spirituality and Well-Being – Exploring the Past and Present / Envisioning the Future in June 2013, click on this link to Youtube where it is found: The Plan of Chicago As a Map of Heaven . Or, if you're using an Apple device, and Safari won't open the link on Youtube, go to Youtube.com directly, and search for "The Plan of Chicago As a Map of Heaven" by Schaffer. 
Dr. Schaffer is Associate Professor of Architecture at North Carolina State University. 

Other notable Americans who read and wrote about Swedenborg include Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry James Sr. and his sons William and Henry, John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed), Helen Keller, and artist George Innes.
Ralph Waldo Emerson included a chapter on Swedenborg in his book "Representative Men." 

Helen Keller, deaf, mute and blind from the age of two was comforted by Swedenborg's statement that disabilities do not continue into the next life; she wrote about her faith in "My Religion."

Author Henry James and father of Pragmatism William James were raised on Swedenborg theology by their father Henry Sr.; artist George Innes was inspired by Swedenborg; in England, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and William Blake are among those work shows some familiarity with Swedenborgian concepts. 
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