Since entering the field of preservation many years ago, Susan Benjamin and other members of Benjamin Historic Certifications have had many books and articles published, participated in television broadcasts, given public presentations, designed exhibits, published brochures, given talks on a wide range of subjects, set up tours, served as preservation award judges and. taught classes. They have participated in a vast variety of activities related to architecture, history and landmark preservation.

Books and Articles Published by Susan Benjamin:

Great Houses of Chicago, 1871-1921. New York: Acanthus Press, 2008.

North Shore Chicago: Houses of the Lakefront Suburbs. New York: Acanthus Press, 2004.

Both books can be purchased from orders@acanthuspress.com

David Adler: The Elements of Style. The Art Institute of Chicago and Yale University Press, 2002. Wrote essays on the Mrs. Carolyn Morse Ely House and the Mr. and Mrs. David Adler House.

Winnetka Architecture: Where Past is Present, A Guide to Timeless Styles. July, 1990. (editor)

An Architectural Album: Chicago's North Shore. Evanston: Junior League of Evanston, 1988. (editor)

North Shore Home and Decor. "Wright Among us on the North Shore," April, 1992; "Historic Inn Nominated for Registry," April 28, 1992.

Eleven Magazine. "Can Chicago Preserve Its Architectural Heritage," November, 1996; "Ocean View," June, 1991; "Building from History," May, 1990; "Building a Tradition: The North Shore's Architectural Heritage," November, 1989.

Inland Architect. "Underage Landmarks," January, 1988.

Historic Illinois. "Chicago's Fairbanks, Morse and Company Headquarters," June, 1989; "Highland Park's A. G. Becker Estate," April, 1987; "Evanston's Suburban Apartment Buildings," February, 1985.

Public Information:

While a partner with Historic Certification Consultants, Susan Benjamin wrote the text, gathered photographs and helped produce "A History of Ryerson Woods" for the Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area. Her previous firm assembled material for informational kiosks to create cultural walks in Chicago's Loop. Susan wrote the text for the walk along State Street, which focused on the street's department store history and architecture. She helped assemble images from her postcard collection for other cultural walks along LaSalle Street, Dearborn Street and Randolph Street.

Exhibits:

In 1976, Susan Benjamin worked with James Nagle and Roland Lieber to create a small traveling exhibit, sponsored by the Illinois Arts Council, on 1930s and 1940's Chicago architecture. It focused attention on architecture from a period that had not been previously showcased.

Gwen Sommers Yant curated "Celebrating the Century: 100 Years of Educational Excellence at Joseph Sears School, Kenilworth, Illinois" for the Kenilworth Historical Society. The exhibit won a Superior Achievement Award from the Illinois State Historical Society.

Talks and Tours:

Over the years Susan Benjamin has spoken to numerous groups throughout the Chicago metropolitan area on a variety of subjects, including Chicago’s great houses in connection with her 2008 book on the subject. She has given many different talks on the architecture of the North Shore and on the area's rich landscape heritage, especially the work of Jens Jensen. She has lectured on David Adler, Howard Van Doren Shaw, and on the architecture of various North Shore towns, including Winnetka and Highland Park. She has spoken in Evanston on their elegant "better class" apartments and lectured on the benefits of listing on the National Register and the Illinois Property Tax Assessment Freeze program. She has taught a class at Barat College on the history of preservation. Because of her interest in preserving the recent past, she has spoken on the history of the shopping mall (at Chicago’s Cultural Center) and on the development of the Modern house. She has spoken at the Art Institute of Chicago on her books and at various clubs (Kenilworth, University, Cliff Dwellers, Arts, Rotary, Lake Forest Garden, etc.), senior and continuing education groups, at conferences, for historical societies and for other architecture and preservation organizations, including Landmarks Illinois, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Glessner House Museum, and the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Susan served as an expert witness over a preservation issue in New Orleans. She has given many bus tours of North Shore communities on a variety of topics from estate houses, to gardens, to Modern architecture.

Interviews: Television, Radio, and Publications

Susan's television appearances have included participation in a WTTW program on Julius Rosenwald and on Chicago Tonight discussing her book on the North Shore, on HGTV segments showcasing Sheridan Road and the Paul Schweikher House, and on two shows highlighting Chicago landmarks with Bob Vila. She has been interviewed for numerous newspaper and magazine articles and for National Public Radio.