For relaxation, McCormick often read detective novels and murder mysteries in his private sitting room.  For amusement, McCormick enjoyed reading P.G. Wodehouse’s books on the antics of Jeeves and Wooster, an upper class Englishman and his butler during the 1920s.

When McCormick was a child, he lived in England, where his father served as a diplomat.  When young “Bertie” McCormick attended a private English boys school, he asserted his patriotism and pride in the United States by using an American flag as a bedspread.  Also while the English boys diligently read books by their favorite English author Charles Dickens, McCormick read books by his favorite American author, Mark Twain.  Hence the large collection of Mark Twain’s books in this room are in the upper left of the book shelves.  One of the books is signed by the author, whose real name was Samuel Clemens.

In addition to reading books for pleasure as he stretched out his 6-foot, 4-inch tall frame onto the custom-made chaise-lounge, Colonel McCormick wrote his own books.  Some of his published works featured on the side table, and include books on American history, journalism and First Amendment rights, some of McCormick’s favorite topics of conversations.  The Gothic style bookcase from 1840 houses many books on Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton.

McCormick also enjoyed playing with his dogs, especially the one that is featured in the photograph on the bookshelf.  This English bulldog, formerly named Cecil, but nicknamed Buster Boo, went everywhere with the Colonel, including his downtown office in the Tribune Tower.  Buster Boo became known throughout the company as the drooling dog, for whenever a Tribune Company employee came into the Colonel’s office, the dog drooled on their shoes.

The pieces of luggage belonged to Colonel McCormick.  Each bag has the Colonel initials and the colors of the First Division painted on them.

Artifacts of note in this room include the painting above the chaise-lounge called “Decks Awash” by English artist Montague Dawson (1895-1973).