Foundations of the Chicago Bears

Join us as author Christopher Serb recounts a fascinating chapter of military and sports history. The Chicago Bears have been part of the fabric of the city since they moved here in 1921 and adopted their current name in 1922, but their story and their founding is dependent on three distinct but interrelated precursor teams. Author Chris Serb has studied and written about all three, and at the Elmhurst History Museum he will explore each of them: The Great Lake Naval Training Station Bluejackets of 1918, the Hammond (Ind.) All-Stars of 1919, and the Decatur Staleys of 1919-1920. "Papa Bear" George Halas played for all three teams, one of eight Hall of Fame players on these teams who would help shape the character of the early NFL.