Williams, Dr. Daniel Hale, House
Why it's listed
This two-story frame house at 445 East 42nd Street in Chicago, measuring about 26 by 45 feet, is a modest cottage with Queen Anne or picturesque details. Its original lapped wood exterior is now covered with asphalt siding, while the interior is little changed. Property records and city directories indicate that Dr. Daniel Hale Williams lived here from about 1905 or 1906 until 1929, and he may have been the first owner. Williams, born in 1856, was a pioneering Black surgeon. He founded Provident Hospital in 1891, the first hospital in America founded and fully controlled by Black Americans, along with a nursing school for Black nurses. In 1893 he performed a heart operation on a stabbing victim, long recorded as the first fully successful operation of its kind. He later led Freedmen's Hospital in Washington, helped Meharry Medical College, and became a charter member of the American College of Surgeons in 1913. The house is recognized for its link to his national importance.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, a Black surgeon of national importance who performed the first fully successful heart operation in 1893. He also founded Provident Hospital, the first hospital in the United States founded and controlled by Black Americans, and its nursing school, the first for Black nurses. He advanced training for Black doctors across the country and was a charter member of the American College of Surgeons.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 75000655, listed May 15, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 445 E. 42nd St., Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | May 15, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000655 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1856-1931 (Williams); c. 1905-1929 (Williams residence in house) |
| Architectural style | Cottage with Queen Anne or picturesque details |
| Areas of significance | Health/Medicine |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated June 15, 1975 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as fair, with minor alterations; the exterior wood siding is now covered with asphalt siding and the interior is little changed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Chicago Park Boulevard System Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.81876, -87.61531 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 75000655.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5217407
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.