This black leather portfolio was made by the company Hazel CID (America’s Case Maker). The corners of the portfolio are made from gold-colored metal, and the lower-right corner of the cover is embossed with an Apple logo and then words “Central Operations Executive Briefing Center.”
Apple’s “Central Operations Executive Briefing Center” was located in Chicago. It is now located in a different building in Chicago and is known as the Chicago Executive Briefing Center.
The interior of the portfolio includes a vinyl pocket on the left side and a slot on the right side to hold a pad of paper. The center of the portfolio includes a cutout tab to hold a pen.
This high-quality conference bag was distributed at the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) in Chicago that was held in June 2001. This organization and conference are still held annually, but the conference changed its name around 2010 to the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference.
The bag is made from a thick, smooth, rubber-like material. One side features an embroidery “2001 CHICAGO NECC” logo, and the other side is emblazoned with a large white embroidery Apple logo. The inside includes a flap with a zippered pocket.
This NECC was significant because Steve Jobs was the keynote speaker, and Apple had a major presence on the conference floor. An Apple press release states:
“Apple today demonstrated its ongoing commitment to providing innovative technology solutions for education at the National Educational Computing Conference in Chicago. During the opening keynote, Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, announced that three more school districts…will be implementing the PowerSchool from Apple student information system.”
Apple highlighted several industry-leading educational technology products at NECC, including: the iBook and AirPort (“Wirelessly-networked notebook computers which give educators the flexibility to have computer-assisted learning anywhere”); “Tools from Apple, including iMovie and iDVD, enhance learning and make school more engaging and motivating for students;” and PowerSchool.
I attended NECC and received this bag during the conference.
On March 27, 2018, Apple held an education event at Lane Tech College Preparatory High School in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
The event was invitation-only and when attendees checked in, they were given a color-coded badge. The color on the badge assisted with auditorium seating during the event.
The event began with a keynote by Tim Cook and others that focused on Apple’s commitment to education, as well as apps and services used by schools. Specific topics included Apple’s part in the ConnectED initiative, the release of a new Generation 5 9.7-inch iPad with support for Apple Pencil (and Logitech Crayon), major updates to Apple’s Schoolwork and Classroom apps, and examples from teachers using Swift Playgrounds in the classroom.
After the keynote, attendees were invited into Lane Tech classrooms to test out and see products and services.
I attended this event live and after the keynote, I found myself in the room with Apple CEO Tim Cook. He was interviewed by Chicago news outlets and later spoke with Chicago’s governor at the time, Bruce Rauner.
This event badge measures 9.5 x 6.5 cm and is clipped to a black nylon lanyard. It is printed on thick paper (similar to a photo matte) and embossed with a “recycle” symbol. The Apple logo printed on both sides and the edges of the badge are teal.
This set of Apple latters was used in the Chicago Apple Corporate Office in the early 1990s. At the time, Apple maintained a downtown Chicago office at 10 South Wacker Drive. My best guess is that the letters were displayed at some time between 1990–2003.
I purchased these on eBay in about 2003. The seller, presumably a former employee at this office, sent an envelope with the letters (pictured) indicating that Apple Enterprise Software was located at this office. At one time, 10 South Wacker Drive also housed Apple’s Chicago Executive Briefing Center. I personally visited the Chicago Executive Briefing Center on several occasions for education-related events, but I do not specifically remember seeing these letters mounted on a wall.
The five letters are made of textured aluminum and are about 4 mm thick. The front of the letters uses a vertically textured “grain” while the backs are flat aluminum. For reference, the “A” is approximately 4 inches tall and 3 inches wide. The back of each letter includes two or three threaded holes. The letters arrived with aluminum threaded posts that had been snipped off (although a few were missing). Each letter is hand-numbered on the back with a marker.
The letters are in Apple Garamond, the Apple corporate font from 1984–2003.
The Apple Store at 679 North Michigan Avenue (at East Huron Street) was the original Apple Store in Chicago’s loop on the “Magnificent Mile.” The store opened on June 26, 2003. This store originally included an Internet cafe, a class Studio that overlooked an eco-friendly greenroof garden, a forty-foot long Genius Bar, “solution centers” for music, photography and movies, an expanded kids section with seven computer stations connected to the Internet, a software section with hundreds of software titles for the Mac, and a 48-seat theater. This was considered Apple’s first “flagship store.”
I attended this store opening where Apple gave t-shirts to the first visitors. The shirt is white with a blue Apple logo and the words North Michigan Avenue in the Myriad Apple font in light gray. The shirt is in its original packaging.
Apple closed this location on October 20, 2017, and replaced it with Apple Michigan Avenue on Chicago’s riverfront.
