The Architectural Forum Links to an external site./Public Domain. Digitized by Google.

Eric Edwin Hall 

The Cook County Criminal Courthouse was the result of a decade-long collaboration between lead architect, Eric Edwin Hall and a commission appointed by the city to spearhead the construction of a new courthouse (Hall 155). 

Hall (b. 1883) spent the first twenty years of his life in Sweden where he studied engineering and architecture (National Parks Service 189). Only one year after immigrating to Chicago in 1913, Hall was appointed Architect of Cook County, a position that lasted until his death in 1942 (NPS 189). During his short life, Hall ran several firms, eventually organizing a new firm in 1924 named Hall, Lawrence & Ratcliffe (NPS 189). This would prove to be a successful trio, constructing numerous neoclassical-inspired buildings including not only the Cook County Criminal Courthouse, but infamous buildings like the now-defunct Chicago Stadium (NPS 189). However, due to its location roughly six miles from the Loop, the Cook County Criminal Courthouse and Jail hardly sees any foot traffic besides those who are awaiting trial or imprisoned within its walls.

 Chicago Stadium 1984 Links to an external site. by David Wilson Links to an external site./CC BY 2.0 Links to an external site.

Ralph Warner Hammett

Ralph Warner Hammett was the lead designer on the Cook County Courthouse project and continued his partnership with Hall, Lawrence and Ratcliffe on their later projects, including the Chicago Stadium (Ann Arbor News). Hammett was born in Mankato, Minnesota on June 26, 1896. He received two degrees in architecture, the latter of which was from Harvard University (Monuments Men and Women Foundation). During his tenure at Harvard, Hammett was awarded the prestigious “Rome Prize” with which he spent two years studying at the American Academy of Rome and documenting his findings for his 1927 book The Romanesque Architecture of Western Europe (MMWF). Despite returning to America for a professorship, Hammett found himself back in Europe during World War Two as a Monuments Officer in Paris where he was tasked with cataloging European monuments and fine art (MMWF).   

                  Ann Arbor News/Public Domain                                               Dana hull Photo Portrait/Public Domain

Edward H. Bennett

British-born Edward H. Bennett (b. 1874) served more or less as an architectural consultant on the courthouse project, “direct[ing] aid and criticism to Mr. Hall’s staff,” (Hammett 158). Bennett, who rose to prominence for his work on the 1909 Plan of Chicago with Daniel Burnham, helped pick the site for the courthouse and assisted Hall with the conceptual drawings (Hammett 158).

Peter Toneman

Peter Toneman from Joseph Dux Studios in partnership with the Indiana Limestone Company, who provided the Bedform limestone for the building’s face, was the sculptor behind the eight allegorical figures that adorn the building’s classical exterior (see Style section)(ArchitectureChicago PLUS). Toneman was born in Germany in 1863, and would later come to the United States to work on projects across the Midwest (ArchitectureChicago PLUS). As a matter of coincidence, Toneman’s great-granddaughter-in-law would serve jury duty at the courthouse in 1997 (Bogira). She described her late relative’s work as “impressive and intriguing,” but starkly in contrast to the “depressing” tone inside (Bogira 50).