DNAinfo Chicago: A video from the Moving Image Research Collections shows Chicago as it looked during a snowstorm in 1920.
1920 — the 20th year of the 20th century, and the 1st year of the 1920s decade.
February 14
The League of Women Voters is founded in Chicago.
March 28
The Palm Sunday tornado outbreak of 1920 was an outbreak of at least 37 tornadoes, 31 of which were significant, across the Midwest and Deep South states on March 28, 1920.
At 6:00 p.m. a Cortland to Sycamore tornado destroyed many silos and barns along its 12-mile path
At 6:05 p.m. a tornado killed eight people along its 20-mile path.
At 6:15 p.m. a tornado killed 20 people along its 53-mile path from Channahon to Wilmette.
At 7:10 p.m. a tornado on a 10-mile path struck from Bridgeview to WSW of the Chicago loop, between Cicero and Chicago Midway Airport, destroying eight buildings, including a school, and unroofed many others (Bridgeview to WSW of the Chicago Loop).
At 10:00 p.m. a tornado on a 20-mile path from Cornland to Lincoln passed through the Broadwell area, damaging farmhouse and buildins and causing significant damage to trees and power lines.
At an unknown time a tornado, part of the Elgin tornado family, destroyed two barns and killed 38 cattle.
At an unknown time a tornado west of Barrington, also part of the Elgin tornado family, substantially damaged farm buildings.
At an unknown time a funnel near Wauconda, also part of the Elgin tornado family, was observed with many cattle killed and buildings destroyed.
August 20
In 1920, the Chicago Cardinals football team became a charter member of the American Professional Football Association (later renamed the National Football League (NFL) in 1922), for a franchise fee of $100.
Of the 14 teams that played in the APFA/NFL’s inaugural season, the Chicago Cardinals, now named the Arizona Cardinals, and the Decatur Staleys, now named the Chicago Bears, are the only teams that remain in the the professional football league.
In 1920 the population of Chicago was 2,701,705 — increasing 23.6%.
In 1920 the population of Illinois was 6,485,280 — increasing 15.0%
See also …
PublicSafetyReporter.com Crime Photographers Had Greater Access to Crime Scenes in the 1920s (Viewer Discretion)