Many administrators, trustees, faculty members, and students of the Art Institute were among the Chicagoans with the most conservative opinions. Director William M. R. French famously let his opinions on the show be known from California - "If this work were submitted to me without explanation, I should regard it as a joke" - and Director of Finance Charles H. Burkholder expressed his opinion that "hanging [was] too good," for some of the pieces in the show. Indeed, the trustees of the museum voted "To Hang," or "Not to Hang," three paintings, including Robert Henri's Figure in Motion (1913); fortunately, all three pieces survived the vote.

The students of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago were more militant in their reaction to the Armory Show and took to the steps of the museum in protest. In a mock trial of Matisse, they burned copies of three of his paintings including The Blue Nude (1907) and Luxury I (1907).

1. Director William M. R. French Letter Book (1 of 3), cover. February 6, 1913-August 9, 1913.
2. Director William M. R. French Letter Book (2 of 3), letter of March 3, 1913. February 6, 1913-August 9, 1913.
3. Director William M. R. French Letter Book (3 of 3), letter of April 8, 1913. February 6, 1913-August 9, 1913.
4. Chicago Evening Post, April 17, 1913.
5. "Students ready for cubist art 'execution.'" Chicago Daily News, April 18, 1913.
6. "Students burning futurist art and celebrating cubists' departure." Chicago Daily Tribune, April 17, 1913.
7. School of the Art Institute of Chicago students, c. 1913.
8. School of the Art Institute of Chicago students, c. 1914.
9. School of the Art Institute of Chicago class of 1913, 1913.
10. Minutes of trustees meeting. Records: The Art Institute of Chicago. March 17, 1913.
11. Installation photograph featuring Robert Henri's Figure in Motion, 1913.
12. A page from a typewritten essay by William M. R. French, February 22, 1913.