Chicago voluntary association founded in 1874 of men and women interested in writing original essays on topics of their own choosing and in listening to other members present their essays. Prominent members include Lorado Taft, Edgar Lee Masters, Irving Kane Pond, William Rainey Harper, and Thomas Elliott Donnelly. Primarily weekly papers read by over 250 members, but also correspondence, minutes, a visitors' register, cashbook, and scrapbooks.

Also includes papers of the Chicago Literary Club for the seasons 2005-2006 through 2011-2012; papers published by the Club during the period 2005 through 2012; and Club yearbooks for each of the seasons 2001-2002 and 2003-2004 through 2011-2012.