Harvey B. Hurd

Biography

Harvey B. Hurd was a devoted lawyer whose career spanned the furious growth of Chicago after the Civil War. He represented railroad and municipal interests with care, and he strove to make the great city’s civic and legal life more accessible to its inhabitants.

Beyond his legal practice, he became one of Cook County’s most thoughtful historians, compiling a comprehensive history of the county that preserved the stories of its people and places. His philanthropic support of educational efforts and his encouragement of public libraries reflected his belief that knowledge strengthens civic virtue.