Marshall Field's

Marshall Field & Company

Company type	Private (until incorporation in 1901), later corporation
Industry	Retail (department stores)
Founded	1852
Founder	Potter Palmer
Defunct	2006 (rebranded as Macy's)
Fate	Acquired by Macy's, Inc. in 2005; rebranded in 2006
Headquarters	Chicago , United States
Area served	United States
Key people	Potter Palmer (founder), Marshall Field, Levi Z. Leiter, John G. Shedd
Products	Department store goods
Number of employees	~12,000 (circa early 1900s)

Marshall Field & Company (commonly known as Marshall Field's) was a prominent American department store chain established in 1852 by Potter Palmer. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, this 19th-century enterprise expanded significantly before its acquisition by Macy's, Inc. in 2005.

The company's main location, the Marshall Field and Company Building situated on State Street within the Chicago Loop, holds designation as a National Landmark due to its influential role in retail history. In 2006, this iconic store was rebranded as Macy's on State Street, becoming one of Macy’s premier outlets.

Founding and Initial Growth

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The atrium of Marshall Field's State Street store, known as the "Great Hall", circa 1910

The origins of Marshall Field & Company can be traced back to P. Palmer & Company, a dry goods business launched at 137 Lake Street in 1852 by Potter Palmer. In 1856, a young Marshall Field, aged 21 and originally from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, relocated to Chicago on the southwest shore of Lake Michigan. He secured employment at Cooley, Wadsworth & Company, then recognized as the city’s largest dry goods establishment. By 1860, shortly before the onset of the American Civil War, Field and bookkeeper Levi Z. Leiter had become junior partners in what was then called Cooley, Farwell & Company. Four years later, under the leadership of senior partner John V. Farwell, Sr., the firm was renamed Farwell, Field & Company. However, Field and Leiter soon departed from this partnership when a new opportunity arose.

Due to health issues, Potter Palmer sought to sell his flourishing business; consequently, on January 4, 1865, Field and Leiter joined forces with Palmer and his brother Milton. The enterprise formerly known as P. Palmer & Company was rebranded as Field, Palmer, Leiter & Company, with Palmer providing much of the initial funding alongside his own investment. Following swift success that enabled Field and Leiter to repay Palmer promptly, he exited the partnership in 1867 to concentrate on his expanding real estate ventures along Chicago’s growing commercial corridor, State Street; Milton Palmer also withdrew at this juncture. The store then adopted the name Field, Leiter & Company, often referred to simply as "Field & Leiter".

Despite stepping back from ownership, Potter Palmer maintained ties with the company. In 1868, he persuaded Field and Leiter to lease a newly constructed six-story building located at the northeast corner of State and Washington Streets. This establishment quickly earned the nickname "Marble Palace" because of its lavish marble façade.

The Chicago Fire

When the Chicago Fire ignited on October 8, 1871, company leaders Henry Willing and Levi Leiter promptly instructed their teams to load as much valuable inventory as possible onto wagons and transport it to Leiter’s residence, safely removed from the fire’s trajectory. Drivers and horses were immediately dispatched from the barns. Horace B. Parker, a young salesman, acted swiftly by breaking apart boxes in the store’s basement to fuel the furnace boiler, enabling operation of the steam-powered elevators. Throughout the night, these employees labored intensely to secure important documents and precious stock.

During the chaos, an explosion of the gas tank extinguished all gaslights within the store. Despite this setback, workers continued their efforts by candlelight and the fiery glow encroaching from outside. They managed to generate sufficient steam pressure to activate powerful basement pumps, while volunteers climbed to the roof to spray water using fire hoses on both the rooftop and walls facing the advancing blaze. Unfortunately, early the next morning, the city’s waterworks system was consumed by fire, cutting off the water supply and rendering further firefighting attempts futile. Just moments after the final employee evacuated, the building erupted in flames, with fire bursting through every window.

Although the entire store was destroyed by fire, a substantial portion of merchandise was salvaged, allowing for reopening within weeks—initially resuming wholesale operations on October 28 and retail sales by November 6. These activities took place in a temporary location: a horse-streetcar barn owned by the Chicago City Railway Co. at State and 20th Streets. By April 1872, Field & Leiter had established a new presence at Madison and Market Streets (now part of West Wacker Drive). Salesman Parker remained with the firm for another 45 years, eventually advancing to General Sales Manager.

After the Great Fire

In October 1873, Field and Leiter made their return to State Street at Washington by launching a new five-story store on their original site, which they leased from the Singer Sewing Machine Company; Palmer had sold this property to fund his own reconstruction efforts. This store was expanded in 1876 but succumbed to another fire in November 1877. Demonstrating resilience once again, Field and Leiter quickly opened a temporary store by month’s end inside a lakefront exposition hall leased from the city—located where today stands the Art Institute of Chicago. Meanwhile, Singer had constructed an even larger six-story building on its former 1873 site. After some dispute, Field and Leiter acquired this building personally. By April 1879, Field, Leiter & Company had permanently reclaimed their historic corner at State and Washington.

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Marshall Field's Wholesale Store at Franklin Street, circa 1890

In January 1881, supported by his junior partners, Field purchased Levi Leiter’s share of the business and renamed it Marshall Field & Company. Following Palmer’s precedent, Leiter retired to focus on his extensive real estate holdings, including commissioning the Second Leiter Building in 1891 at State Street and Van Buren to accommodate Siegel, Cooper & Company. This building later became notable as one of America’s earliest steel-frame commercial structures still standing—alongside Baltimore’s Equitable Building—and was leased in 1932 to the nationally recognized mail-order giant Sears, Roebuck & Company.

In 1887, a seven-story Romanesque-style Marshall Field's Wholesale Store, designed by architect Henry Hobson Richardson, opened on Franklin Street between Quincy and Adams. This wholesale division specialized in selling goods in bulk to smaller merchants across central and western United States markets and generated sales volume six times greater than that of the local retail outlet. Chicago’s strategic position as a transportation hub—linking railroads and Great Lakes shipping routes—had established it as a dry goods wholesale center by the 1870s. Field’s principal competitor was his former partner John V. Farwell Sr., who operated nearby. The immense profits derived from this wholesale operation under John G. Shedd’s leadership were instrumental in making Marshall Field not only Chicago’s wealthiest individual but also one of America’s richest businessmen.

State Street location

After Leiter's exit, the retail division gained greater significance. Although it remained considerably smaller than the wholesale branch, its lavish premises and upscale products set it apart from other wholesale dry goods retailers in the city. In 1887, Harry Gordon Selfridge was appointed to oversee the retail operation, guiding its transformation into a contemporary department store. That year, Field personally acquired Leiter's remaining stake in the 1879 Singer building and began purchasing adjacent properties in 1888 to expand the available retail space.

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The famous clock at the corner of State Street and Washington Street at Marshall Field's

In 1892, buildings situated between the State Street store and Wabash Avenue to the east were demolished. Architect Daniel H. Burnham and his firm D.H. Burnham & Company were tasked with constructing a new building to accommodate the anticipated surge of visitors for the upcoming World's Columbian Exposition in 1893. The nine-story "Annex" at Wabash and Washington Streets' northwest corner opened in August 1893 under the supervision of Burnham's associate Charles B. Atwood, coinciding with the conclusion of the Exposition. In 1897, the original 1879 store was reconstructed with two additional floors added, and on November 26, the first of Marshall Field's signature Great Clocks was installed at State and Washington Streets.

In 1901, Marshall Field & Company transitioned from a private partnership to an incorporated entity. Encouraged by Selfridge, Field demolished three buildings north of their location occupied since 1888, as well as the Central Music Hall at State and Randolph Streets' southeast corner. A grand twelve-story structure fronting State Street opened in 1902, featuring an impressive new entrance. By 1906, a third building was completed on Wabash Avenue north of the 1893 Annex, which by then was the oldest section of the store.

During this expansion phase, Selfridge unexpectedly resigned in 1904, purchasing competitor Schlesinger & Mayer, only to sell it three months later to Carson Pirie Scott. Schlesinger & Mayer had commissioned the Louis Sullivan-designed Carson Pirie Scott Company Building (currently known as the Sullivan Center) in 1899. After a brief retirement attempt, Selfridge went on to found Selfridges in London.

Shedd administration

Marshall Field passed away on January 16, 1906, in New York City. On his funeral day, all State Street stores—both large and small—closed their doors, and afternoon trading at the Chicago Board of Trade was suspended as a mark of respect. The board appointed John G. Shedd, whom Field once described as "the greatest merchant in the United States," to succeed him as president. Shedd assumed leadership of a company employing approximately 12,000 individuals in Chicago (with two-thirds engaged in retail), generating around $25 million annually from retail sales alongside nearly $50 million from wholesale operations.

During Shedd's sixteen-year tenure, Marshall Field & Co. continued rebuilding efforts initiated under Field’s direction by demolishing the 1879 structure later in 1906. A new south State Street building replaced it, extending the street façade established in 1902. Opened in September 1907, this building featured a ceiling designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany, composed of Favrile glass—the largest and first-ever ceiling made with over 1.6 million pieces of this material. Upon completion, Marshall Field's briefly held the title of "world's largest department store," surpassing competitors such as John Wanamaker & Co. in Philadelphia and R.H. Macy & Co. in New York.

In 1912, the sixteen-story Trude Building located at Wabash and Randolph was purchased and subsequently demolished—considered one of the earliest demolitions of a recently constructed high-rise skyscraper. Its replacement was a new building completed in 1914 by Graham, Burnham & Company, which finalized Marshall Field’s modern store footprint encompassing an entire city block bounded by Washington, State, Wabash, and Randolph Streets.

Also in 1914, Graham, Burnham & Company oversaw construction of a twenty-story Annex at 25 East Washington across from the main store. The first six floors housed "Marshall Field's Store for Men." These developments restored its status as the largest department store globally; its numerous dining options and distinct men's and women's lounges made it a favored upscale social venue within Chicago.

Shedd further expanded Marshall Field’s wholesale operations while growing its manufacturing ventures by acquiring Southern textile mills in 1911 (see Cannon Mills Company) and managing purchase of the Marshall Field Trust’s business shares in 1917. The Field family eventually retained only a ten percent ownership interest. Shedd retired toward the end of 1922.

1913 Illinois State Senate Inquiry

In 1913, delegates from Carson Pirie Scott and Marshall Field's were summoned to the state capital of Springfield, Illinois to participate in the State Senate's examination concerning the inadequate wages paid to female workers at prominent department stores. At Marshall Field's, women held significant positions beyond clerical roles such as typists; they played an essential part in the sales division. Female sales associates received training in proper etiquette and developed a comprehensive knowledge of the products. The involvement of women sales staff was instrumental to Marshall Field's success, as their presence helped make female shoppers feel more at ease, thereby enhancing the store's appeal.

The employment opportunities offered by Marshall Field's fostered a distinct working women's subculture. Throughout the early to mid-20th century, numerous women entered the workforce, often relocating to unfamiliar cities with new prospects. Many were young, unmarried, lived independently from family, and came from diverse ethnic and social backgrounds. This subculture was heavily influenced by the wages and career possibilities available through Marshall Field's.

Nevertheless, the pay scale for female employees did not reflect their contributions within the company and became a focal point during the 1913 Illinois Senate investigation. Women earned very modest salaries, averaging between $5 and $8 weekly. Testimonies from representatives of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association, banks, Sears, Roebuck, and Marshall Field's disclosed that many leading employers compensated female workers as little as $2.75 (~$Template:Format price in Template:Inflation/year)." This amount was insufficient even by 1913 standards. During the hearings, Marshall Field's acknowledged that it had the capacity to double these wages but declined to do so. Moreover, female employees encountered additional discrimination within the company, including gender-based segregation that restricted their advancement opportunities.

Expansion of Branch Stores and the Frango Brand

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Marshall Field's location in Lake Forest, Illinois, noted as the company's final suburban store until its closure by Macy's in 2008 and subsequent replacement by bluemercury alongside other retailers

Following John G. Shedd's retirement, James Simpson assumed the presidency. Although he was perceived as favoring the declining wholesale sector, Simpson pursued retail growth by acquiring A. M. Rothschild & Co. in December 1923; this property was operated by Field's as a discount outlet named "The Davis Store." In 1924, ownership of the buildings used from 1893 through 1914 was transferred from the Marshall Field Trust.

The inaugural branch store under the Marshall Field's name launched at Market Square in Lake Forest in May 1928. Shortly thereafter, a branch opened in Evanston in September 1928; it relocated to a French Renaissance-style structure at Sherman Avenue and Church Street by November 1929. The store in Oak Park commenced operations in a building architecturally similar to Evanston’s in September 1929.

In 1929, Marshall Field's expanded by acquiring Seattle-based department store Frederick & Nelson, established in 1890 with its own downtown Seattle building dating from 1914 at Pine Street and Fifth Avenue. Although Frederick & Nelson retained its brand name, its logo was soon restyled using Field's signature script. This store introduced Frango mints—a local Seattle specialty—which were subsequently produced at the State Street store’s confectionery kitchen and gained popularity throughout Chicago.

Marshall Field & Company transitioned into a publicly traded corporation in 1930 amid the onset of the Great Depression. Capital was required to finance the construction of the enormous new Merchandise Mart, designed to accommodate its struggling wholesale division. Construction began in 1927; upon completion in 1930, it stood as the largest building worldwide at that time. Concurrently, the original Wholesale Store built in 1887 by architect Richardson, located on Franklin between Quincy and Adams Streets, was closed and demolished. Despite this investment, shifting retail distribution methods and worsening economic conditions prevented revitalization of Field’s wholesale operations. Simpson eventually departed from leadership; subsequently, James O. McKinsey, a professor at the University of Chicago and founder of consulting firm McKinsey and Company, was brought on board to restructure Marshall Field’s business model. By 1936, the wholesale segment—once central to the company—was fully liquidated. That same year saw closure of The Davis Store with its premises sold to Goldblatts. In 1939, ownership of the land beneath the main State Street flagship was acquired from the Marshall Field Trust. Meanwhile, McKinsey also streamlined vertically integrated divisions by consolidating various textile operations under the Fieldcrest brand name.

Suburban expansion

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Marshall Field & Company emblem used before the 1982 acquisition by BATUS; later abbreviated to "Marshall Field's".

The sale of the Merchandise Mart building to Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. in 1945 greatly strengthened Marshall Field's financial standing, allowing the retailer to effectively respond to the post-World War II surge in suburban residential and commercial development. Anticipating customer migration, Marshall Field's strategically established a presence in suburban areas, starting in 1950 with a store at Park Forest Plaza, developed in collaboration with innovative suburban planner Philip M. Klutznick, a prominent Jewish figure and future U.S. Secretary of Commerce. This project incorporated groundbreaking approaches to land planning and architectural design.

In 1956, a partnership between Klutznick and Field's led to the opening of the Old Orchard Shopping Center in Skokie, Illinois, built on land already owned by Field's and featuring a new department store. This was followed by the debut of a Field's location at Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin in 1959, as well as additional stores at Klutznick-developed centers: Oakbrook Center in Oak Brook launched in 1962 and River Oaks Center in Calumet City opened its doors in 1966.

Marshall Field's extended its reach to the Pacific Northwest by acquiring The Crescent in Spokane, Washington during 1962. The company further expanded eastward in 1970 through the acquisition of Halle Brothers Co., a prominent Cleveland, Ohio, department store. Its Illinois footprint grew as well with a new store at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg opening in 1971.

Additional outlets were inaugurated at CherryVale Mall in Rockford and Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills by 1973. The mid-1970s saw openings at Chicago’s prestigious Water Tower Place and the Fox Valley Mall in Aurora, both debuting in 1975. Expansion persisted with stores opening at Orland Square Mall in Orland Park in 1976 and the Louis Joliet Mall in Joliet two years later. In 1979, Marshall Field's made its first foray into the southern market by establishing a location at The Galleria in Houston, Texas.

The year 1980 marked accelerated growth through acquisitions including J.B. Ivey Co., a department store chain rooted in both Charlotte, North Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida. That same year saw purchases of The Union Co. based in Columbus, Ohio, Lipman's stores located throughout Portland, Oregon, and several Liberty House outlets across Washington state. The Lipman's and Liberty House stores were consolidated under the existing Frederick & Nelson brand in Seattle. After initially merging The Union with the earlier acquired Halle Brothers Co. stores from Cleveland, management opted to divest this combined chain by November 1981; subsequent owners moved swiftly to liquidate it.

Expansion momentum slowed during the early 1980s with only two new locations added within Illinois: one at Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee launched in October 1980 and another at Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale opened during 1981. A further Texas store began operations at the Dallas Galleria in 1982.

BATUS

In 1982, Marshall Field & Co. was taken private after being purchased by British-American Tobacco (BAT). Integrated into BATUS Retail Group, BAT’s American retail division, Field's joined a portfolio that included Frederick & Nelson, Ivey's, The Crescent, and John Brueners home furnishings stores alongside retailers such as Gimbels, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Kohl's. Under BATUS ownership, Field's expanded its footprint by opening new locations at Houston’s Town & Country Mall in 1983 and at San Antonio’s North Star Mall in 1986.

Just four years following the acquisition of Marshall Field's, BATUS began scaling back its retail ventures in 1986, divesting Frederick & Nelson and The Crescent to a local group of investors. Frederick & Nelson rapidly declined and ceased operations by 1992. The 1914 building that Field's had acquired in 1929 was eventually purchased by Nordstrom, renovated, and reopened in 1998 as a replacement for Nordstrom’s original Seattle flagship.

Also in 1986, BATUS discontinued the Gimbels division, reallocating five Wisconsin locations to the Marshall Field's division: downtown Milwaukee, Northridge Mall and Southridge Mall in Milwaukee, Madison’s Hilldale Shopping Center, and downtown Appleton. However, the Northridge and Southridge stores remained under Field's control for only three years before being sold to H.C. Prange Co. of Sheboygan in 1989 due to underperformance.

That same year, the Evanston and Oak Park outlets were shuttered because their 1929-era buildings were considered outdated and too expensive to maintain. Meanwhile, a significant restoration project began in 1987 on the flagship State Street store under the supervision of Bill Allen, Director of Construction and Maintenance.

Initially, BATUS retained ownership of Saks Fifth Avenue, Marshall Field's, and Ivey's. By 1990, however, it divested all remaining U.S. retail holdings: Saks was sold to Bahrain-based Investcorp, Ivey's was acquired by Dillard's, and Marshall Field's was transferred to the Dayton-Hudson Corporation (now known as Target Corporation).

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Plaque bearing the Marshall Field name at the Chicago State Street store

Dayton-Hudson, Target, and May

In 2000, the Dayton-Hudson Corporation rebranded itself as Target Corporation. The following year, it converted its existing Dayton's and Hudson's department stores—located outside Marshall Field’s traditional markets—into Marshall Field’s outlets. This transition introduced some of Target’s product lines into Field’s stores, which resulted in replacing portions of Field’s higher-end merchandise.

By 2004, Target Corporation chose to exit the conventional department store sector altogether by selling the Marshall Field’s chain to May Co.. This move was intended to allow Marshall Field’s to regain its distinct identity and appeal to its upscale clientele without being overshadowed by Target’s discount retailer image. Nevertheless, in 2005, Federated Department Stores, Inc. completed its acquisition of the May Company.

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Transition logo used during the change from Marshall Field's to Macy's

Federated acquisition, rebranding, and public backlash

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The former Marshall Field's outlet at Westfield Hawthorn in Vernon Hills, transformed into a Macy's in 2006

Following Federated’s acquisition, Marshall Field's stores were incorporated into the new Macy's North Division alongside L. S. Ayres and existing Macy's locations. On September 9, 2006, all Marshall Field's outlets, the majority of Filene's, and all stores belonging to nine other May Company chains were rebranded as Macy's. This change sparked resentment among many Chicago residents who opposed the replacement of their iconic local brand with the New York-based Macy's. Hundreds gathered beneath Marshall Field's renowned clock on the day of the transition, returning again on September 9, 2007. Annual "Field’s Fans" demonstrations continued each year from 2008 through 2012 with dozens participating.

The transition to Macy’s provoked feelings of betrayal among many Chicago consumers as the company altered the store’s design and customer service approaches and downgraded several Chicago-based brands. In December 2006, Macy’s disclosed that sales at former Marshall Field’s stores were down by nearly 30%, leading to a strategic emphasis on boosting the flagship State Street location in 2007.

Renovations

The Marshall Field and Company Building, situated at the intersection of State and Washington Streets in Chicago, earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and is included within the Loop Retail National Historic District. On November 1, 2005, it was officially recognized as a Chicago Landmark. Boasting nearly two million square feet of floor area, this structure ranks as the second-largest department store in the United States.

In 1987, during the period of BATUS ownership, Field's State Street location underwent a major restoration effort. Later, in 2004, while still under Dayton Hudson/Target management, another comprehensive renovation commenced at the historic State Street store with an investment of $115 million (~$Template:Format price in Template:Inflation/year). This refurbishment was finalized following the May acquisition. Among the improvements were new retail spaces on the lower levels, removal of steel grates from the upper sections of the building’s original light wells, and the creation of an eleven-story atrium where an alley and mid-store light shaft once existed.

That same year, Field's enhanced its merchandise offerings and established partnerships with luxury vendors. Approximately 10% of the retail floor was leased to external vendors, adopting a model similar to that of Selfridge's in London—an enterprise founded by former Field's executive Harry Selfridge, who drew inspiration from Marshall Field's business approach. Interestingly, Selfridge’s London store architecture was itself influenced by Marshall Field’s Chicago flagship.

Firsts, noted events, community leadership

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A view looking down into the atrium of Marshall Field's flagship store in 2006

Among Marshall Field’s innovations was pioneering the department store tea room concept. In the 19th century, women shopping downtown typically returned home for lunch since dining unaccompanied by a gentleman was deemed improper. After a clerk at Field’s shared her chicken pot pie with a weary shopper, the idea emerged to establish an in-store tea room where female customers could dine comfortably without interrupting their shopping trips. To this day, the Walnut Room continues to serve the signature Mrs. Herring’s chicken pot pie.

Marshall Field’s introduced several retail firsts: it opened the inaugural European buying office located in Manchester, England, created the first bridal registry, and launched the personal shopper service—offered free of charge at every store until the chain’s final days under its original name. The company was also a pioneer in offering revolving credit and was among the first department stores to install escalators. The book department in its State Street location gained renown for originating the "book signing" event.

Each holiday season, Marshall Field’s downtown windows featured elaborate animated displays that became a hallmark of Chicago’s shopping district festivities. These themed window presentations attracted locals and tourists alike, becoming as much a seasonal tradition as visiting the Walnut Room with its famed Christmas tree or meeting "under the clock" on State Street.

Marshall Field became well known for his motto "Give the lady what she wants," as well as for his reputation for integrity, character, and dedication to philanthropy and civic leadership. Following his passing, the company continued to play a significant philanthropic role within Chicago’s community until its final years.

Marshall Field himself, along with his store and successor John G. Shedd, contributed significantly to establishing Chicago’s global stature in commerce, arts, culture, and education. Institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum of Natural History (renamed in 1905 after its primary benefactor), the Museum of Science and Industry, the John G. Shedd Aquarium, and the University of Chicago all benefited from Marshall Field's philanthropic efforts. Additionally, he was a major supporter of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.

See also

• List of department stores converted to Macy's

Further reading

• Goddard, Leslie. Remembering Marshall Fields. Arcadia Publishing, 2011. ISBN 978-0-7385-8368-6. Available at: https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780738583686
• Kimbrough, Emily. Through Charley's Door: An Account of the Author's Experiences in the Advertising Department of Marshall Field and Company in Chicago. Harper, New York, 1952. ISBN 978-9997500496
• Kozak, Nadine I. "‘Enlightenment on all subjects under the sun’: department store information bureaux in Britain and the United States in the first half of the twentieth century." Library & Information History 38.3 (2022): 210-231.
• Laermans, Rudi. "Learning to consume: early department stores and the shaping of the modern consumer culture (1860-1914)." Theory, Culture & Society 10.4 (1993): 79-102.
• Madsen, Axel. The Marshall Fields: The Evolution of an American Business Dynasty. Wiley, 2002. ISBN 978-0-471-02493-4. Available at: https://archive.org/details/marshallfieldsev00axel
• Rosen, Renee. What the Lady Wants: A Novel of Marshall Field and the Gilded Age. Penguin Publishing Group, 2014. ISBN 9780451466716
• Soucek, Gayle. Marshall Field's: The Store That Helped Build Chicago. History Press, 2010. ISBN 978-1-59629-854-5
• Twyman, Robert W. History of Marshall Field and Co., 1852-1906. University of Pennsylvania Press, 1954.
• Wendt, Lloyd and Herman Kogan. Give the Lady What She Wants: The Story of Marshall Field & Company. Rand, McNally, Chicago, 1952.

External links

• Official website (archived)
• Map:
• 1905 Magazine Article with photographs
• Jazz Age Chicago (2006): History of Marshall Field and Company
• Comprehensive entry on Marshall Field's from Encyclopædia Britannica
• Illinois Retail Merchants Association coverage on Dan Skoda revitalizing Marshall Field's #148, September 1995
• Final farewell tribute before transition, KARE11.com, April 5, 2006
• Tribute site dedicated to Marshall Field's
• Blog and Macy's boycott platform for Marshall Field's enthusiasts
• Campaign to revive Marshall Field's
• Photographic collection from Marshall Field's final day on September 8, 2006
• Chicago Tribune: Coverage titled "Field's green fades to red" dated September 9, 2006