From: Elmwood Park Public Library

Local history images of Elmwood Park

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Illinois State Library

The Illinois State Library has a large collection of materials relating to the life, political career, and assassination of Abraham Lincoln. In addition to biographies of Lincoln this collection includes contemporary accounts of the assassination and the trial of the conspirators; descriptions of Lincoln’s funeral and the Lincoln National Monument; the restoration of New Salem; and Lincoln in Springfield.

Subjects that this collection appears in: History Makers | Lincolniana | State History

From: Algonquin Area Public Library District

The local history of Algonquin and Lake in the Hills

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Hayner Public Library District

This is a collection of photographs and postcards related to the history of the Alton area. Includes topics such as historic buildings, downtown Alton street views, the Mississippi River, tornadoes and floods, and select images from Godfrey, East Alton, Bunker Hill, Wood River, Grafton, Elsah, and other nearby cities.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: McLean County Museum of History

The McLean County Museum of History Print Collection has thousands of images of the built environment in the County, from the earliest cabins to construction of homes in the 21st century. The works of local architects such as Arthur L. Pillsbury, Paul O. Moratz, George Miller, Eugene Asbury and A.T. Simmons compose decades of architectural heritage in Illinois.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | The Arts

From: Arlington Heights Memorial Library

This collection contains images, videos and personal stories from Arlington Heights, IL residents documenting how the COVID-19 pandemic affected their daily lives. These resources were collected by the Arlington Heights Memorial Library as part of its COVID-19 Story Project which began in April 2020. The library requested residents share stories, artifacts and any form of artistic or creative expression about life during the pandemic. The collection includes dozens of photographs, original artwork, videos and personal statements documenting this historic time.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | State History | State History

From: Arlington Heights Memorial Library

Local history images of Arlington Heights

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Arlington Heights Memorial Library

A collection of papers concerning the Civil War belonging to early Arlington Heights residents.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Military History

From: Arlington Heights Memorial Library

Historical images of Arlington Heights people and places.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Art Institute of Chicago

This collection consists of Art Institute exhibition catalogues dating from 1882 to 1930. The catalogues document the earliest exhibitions of many important artists who studied and worked in Illinois, such as Walt Disney, William A. Harper, Archibald J. Motley, Jr., Georgia O'Keeffe, William Edward Scott, and Grant Wood.

Subjects that this collection appears in: The Arts | The Arts

From: Arthur Public Library District

The community of Arthur, Illinois has a rich history, some of which has been recorded in the photographs in this collection. The first settlement of Arthur began about 1850. At that time, much of the area was swampland. Amish settlers arrived in 1865 and the Arthur area is now home to the largest Amish settlement in Illinois. In 1870 the railroad was built to go across "The Big Slough", from Paris to Decatur, Illinois and in 1872 the building of Arthur began in earnest. By 1873 there were thirty dwellings in this new town, in addition to a large store, drug store, church, meeting hall, blacksmith shop and three grain offices - all doing business in Arthur.

The photographs in this collection depict everyday sights from the early 1900's to the middle of the century. One interesting series of photographs depicts the paving of Vine Street with brick, at a cost of $30,000 - a considerable sum in 1907. Many of the photographs in this collection are made available through the generosity of Mr. Noel C. Dicks. Mr. Dicks, a local pharmacist and owner of Dick's Pharmacy from 1960 to 1995, began collecting photographs of pharmacists and physicians who had practiced in Arthur. This collection sparked his interest in the history of the town. Due to the contributions of many local people his collection now consists of thousands of photographs, glass negatives, and other items of local interest.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Aurora Public Library Disctrict

The images in this collection depict Aurora, IL and the surrounding area from the 1870s through the 2020s. The collection contains photographs and postcards that cover a variety of subjects, including public libraries, Aurora downtown, historic buildings, and portrait photography. The images are part of the Aurora Public Library District's Community History Collection, which preserves and makes available for research materials of enduring value related to Aurora, Illinois.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | History Makers | Industrial History | Industrial History | State History

From: Bensenville Community Public Library

The settlement of the Bensenville area began after the 1833 Treaty of Chicago which formalized the final displacement of Northern Illinois Native Americans (the Sauk, Fox, Winnebago, and Potawatomi) west of the Mississippi. German settlers began to arrive and lay claim to vast tracts of land, setting up homesteads and selling land for new families to live and work on. Settler families included the Fischers, Franzens, Korthauers, Koehlers, Lessemans and Schmidts. These families were escaping crop failures in the German Kingdoms of Hanover and Prussia, and desired opportunity to own land in the New World.

A community life quickly formed around church construction and land was donated in 1851 for the first school. Settlers raised animals and crops while surviving harsh winters and hot summers. The village plat was finalized in October of 1873 and the village incorporated in 1884. The railroads would change Bensenville forever, enabling faster transport of agricultural products to Chicago but also beginning the end of agricultural dominance in the area. World War I greatly increased railroad traffic and Bensenville became a hub of railroad freight and was home to Godfrey Yard and a large turn table.

Light industries joined the list of local businesses, taking advantage of the proximity to railroad transportation. By World War II, the military had built an aircraft manufacturing facility which eventually became O’Hare Airport, opened by the City of Chicago in 1955. In the years following, Bensenville had many land battles with the City of Chicago over land grabs for the ever expanding international airport. Homes and businesses were torn down, and cemeteries moved after protracted legal battles.

Today Bensenville exists on the southwest corner of O’Hare Airport and is home to multiple schools, parks, churches, businesses and light manufacturing. In 2019 Bensenville is a mix of white, Hispanic, African American and Asian. Spanish is the main language of 43.4% of the population, English 41.1% of the population. 58.59% of the population speak languages other than English.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Madison County Historical Society

The images within this collection are scans of the handwritten journals of World War I Army Nurse Bertha Love who served in Rouen, France, from May 1917 to April 1919. Bertha was a resident of Madison County born in Hamel, Illinois. She graduated from St. Luke's Hospital training school in 1905 and went on to work as a registered nurse of the hospital. Bertha left for active duty, assigned to Base Hospital Unit #21 in Rouen, in May of 1917, and proceeded to document her time overseas in three journals she took with her. While in Rouen, she shuffled through many nursing positions on base such as a stint in the surgical hut, working with PTSD patients, and even a brief period of running the mess hall. The journals capture a time when Base Hospital #21 was quarantined due to a diphtheria outbreak as well as offering a look into the days when influenza hit the hospital. Some major themes that appear in Bertha's journals are the friendships she formed while serving in the army, the daily life on base, the recreational activities they found to keep themselves occupied, and the tourist spots she explored in London and France during her service. This collection contains some content that may be difficult or harmful to view. Some of the materials presented here may reflect outdated, biased, and offensive views and opinions. It is the duty of the Madison County Historical Society to preserve and present archival materials as authentically as possible. The Society is grateful to the many Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) interns who worked to digitize, transcribe, and describe the journals under the direction of Madison County Archival Library staff, and to the SIUE IRIS Center for providing the digitization facility and supervising the digitization.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Community History | Military History | Publications

From: Madison County Historical Society

The images within this collection pictures from World War I Army Nurse Bertha Love who served in Rouen, France, from May 1917 to April 1919. Bertha was a resident of Madison County born in Hamel, Illinois. She graduated from St. Luke's Hospital training school in 1905 and went on to work as a registered nurse of the hospital. Bertha left for active duty, assigned to Base Hospital Unit #21 in Rouen, in May of 1917. While in Rouen, she shuffled through many nursing positions on base such as a stint in the surgical hut, working with PTSD patients, and even a brief period of running the mess hall. Some of the materials presented here may reflect outdated, biased, and offensive views and opinions. It is the duty of the Madison County Historical Society to preserve and present archival materials as authentically as possible. The Society is grateful to the many Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) interns who worked to digitize, transcribe, and describe the journals under the direction of Madison County Archival Library staff, and to the SIUE IRIS Center for providing the digitization facility and supervising the digitization.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Community History | Military History | Military History | Publications

From: Bishop Hill State Historic Site:https://dnrhistoric.illinois.gov/experience/sites/site.bishop-hill.html

This collection includes digitized copies of the Bishop Hill News. This weekly newspaper was published from 1889-1890 and served Village of Bishop Hill and its surrounding communities.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Institutional History | Publications | State History

From: Blessing Health Professions Library

Blessing Health Professions Library at Blessing Health System in Quincy has a unique collection of 19th century primary records of the founding of the Adams County Medical Society, Blessing Hospital and Blessing Training School for Nurses, among other institutions. The dates chosen for this collection are primarily post Civil War to 1900. These dates cover the beginning of the hospital, the nursing school, the medical board, and the veteran’s home (then known as Illinois Soldier’s and Sailor’s Home) .

Digitization of this collection was developed pursuant to a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a Department of the Office of Secretary of State using state grant funds.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History | Institutional History

From: McLean County Museum of History

The Bloomington-Normal Black History Project was founded in 1982 and its collections span the 19th and 20th centuries. The collection contains photographs, portraits, booklets, articles, and photocopies related to club organizations and churches of the local Black community. In 1989, the Black History Project was affiliated with the McLean County Historical Society, which now serves as a repository for the project's collections.

For more information about this project visit this link at the McLean County Museum of History site.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Community History | State History

From: Calumet Heritage Partnership

The Acme Steel Company collection is curated and owned by the Calumet Heritage Partnership (http://www.calumetheritage.org), a group that serves the greater Calumet region at the southern end of Lake Michigan in Illinois and Indiana. CHP includes environmental, cultural and historical organizations, individuals, libraries, educational institutions, municipalities, and government agencies committed to celebrating, preserving and protecting the unique heritage of the Calumet region. Due to the loss of opportunity to create the Steel Heritage Museum at the Acme Coke plant, and its ongoing demolition, the Partnership group and friends have, over the past two years, rescued a large collection of blueprints, photographs, and other materials.

The importance of this collection has made it the focus of the Calumet Heritage Partnership for this digitizing grant. The Acme Steel section of the archives includes the digitization of Acme corporate-made photographs of employees and production equipment, aerial views, catalogs, booklets, and maps and other artifacts.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Industrial History | State History

From: Cary Area Public Library

The collection includes Cary area historical photos, Cary Cemetery gravestone photos, and Cary Area Library historical photos. If you have any questions or comments please email us: carylibrary@gmail.com.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Community History

From: Illinois State Library

A collection of some of the publications from the Centennial of Illinois from 1918. The collection mostly includes the libretti and music from the masques and pageants written in celebration of the event.

Subjects that this collection appears in: State History

From: Flora Public Library

Charles Overstreet is a long-time citizen of Flora with a passion for photography. During most of his eighty years, Mr. Overstreet has used his camera to record images of history. During World War II, as a member of the U. S. Army, 252nd Field Artillery Battalion, he captured over 700 images of life as a soldier and unique snapshots of events of the war.

Note: Please be aware that there are images (some graphic) of the atrocities committed at Gardelegen, Germany in April 1945 in this collection.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Military History

From: Chatham Area Public Library

The Chatham Area Public Library District provides access to primary and secondary materials that document the historical and current information of Chatham and Ball Township and contiguous townships of Auburn, Cotton Hill, Curran, Loami, New Berlin, and, Woodside along with their inhabitants, government, environment, businesses, institutions, and organizations. This will be a growing collection that will include historical photos, programs, artifacts, and unique memorabilia.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Chatham Area Public Library

The Chatham Area Public Library District has a growing collection of school photos, yearbooks, school records and memorabilia. This collection includes materials from one room school houses in Ball and Chatham Townships along with the Chatham High School and Ball Township High School which consolidated in 1948 to become the Ball-Chatham School District.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Cherry Valley Public Library District

The history of Cherry Valley in many ways typifies that of a small, mid-nineteenth century Illinois town. Its establishment in 1835, its mill on the Kishwaukee River, the coming of the railroad in 1852, its schools, businesses, civic organizations, and pioneer families - all the strands weave a fabric of heritage that provides the present foundation and civic character of Cherry Valley. Included in this collection is a document created by the Cherry Valley Bicentennial Committee, "Cherry Valley: Our Memories are Warm". This committee collected photographs, written histories and oral histories from village and area residents.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Chicago Botanic Garden, Lenhardt Library

The rare book collection at the Lenhardt Library of the Chicago Botanic Garden offers a comprehensive perspective on five centuries of research in botany, botanical art, horticulture, agriculture, gardening and landscape design. The digitized rare books included in Illinois Digital Archives provide an opportunity for close examination of unique materials.

Subjects that this collection appears in: The Arts | The Arts | The Arts

From: Chicago Botanic Garden, Lenhardt Library

The Chicago Horticultural Society founded in 1890, established a public garden in 1972 that is known today as the Chicago Botanic Garden. Society publications such as Garden Talks began in 1945, and then continued from 1953 until 2007 until its name was changed. The informative journal includes growing tips, essays, and event listings, for Chicago-area urban gardeners.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Publications | The Arts | The Arts | The Arts

From: Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute:https://chicagoanalysis.org/library/

The purpose of the Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute McLean Library Digital Archive Collection is to gather and preserve historical pictures, written materials, events and memories of the Institute community. The items in the collection date back to the organization’s founding in 1932, by Franz Alexander, the first graduate of Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic training program. They have been donated by Institute leadership from that time on

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History | Institutional History

From: Chicago Ridge Public Library

Chicago Ridge Public Library’s Online History Collection contains images and texts related to the people and places unique to the history of the village of Chicago Ridge, Illinois. The collection includes photographs, pamphlets, newsletters, brochures, scrapbook pages, interviews, narratives, artwork, and clippings from the Chicago Ridge Citizen Newspaper, as well as anniversary editions of The Reporter Newspaper. The materials digitized are either owned by the library or digitized with the permission of the owner. Chicago Ridge Public Library’s mission includes collecting, preserving, and providing access to the history of the village and its residents.

Digitization of this collection was developed pursuant to a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, an Office of the Secretary of State using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act .

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Coal City Public Library District

Strip mining was a major source of employment and very important to the Wilmington Coal Field towns of Coal City, Braidwood, and Wilmington during the 1930's through the 1950's. The Wilmington Coal Field is located sixty miles south of Chicago. The growth of the city and its need for energy prompted the search for coal in this area. In the late 1800's and very early 1900's many of the small villages in the area were built. Due to the proximity of coal to the ground surface, shaft mining was dangerous and expensive. Strip mining was first introduced in the Danville, Illinois area in the mid 1800's and it was tried in the early 1900's in the Wilmington Coal Fields but it wasn't until the end of the 1920's that strip mining became commercially successful in this area.

This collection includes information on the mining process, how strip mining affected the communities and how they have recovered and continue to progress today. For more information about this project visit this link at the Coal City Public Library site.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Industrial History | State History

From: Generations Serving Generations

Continuance tells the stories about how generations get connected and the amazing results when they work together for a common goal. The stories offer building blocks for the organization of intergenerational programs and for achieving a cooperative spirit at all levels of state and local leadership, referred to as the intergenerational infrastructure. The broad focus has been learning, service, and policy that reflect the needs and resources of all generations.

Continuance was launched in 1987 by Generations Serving Generations (then called the Campaign for Aging and Education), through a HECA grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education and with the support of 40 education, aging and service organizations in Illinois. In 1999, Continuance was expanded to a magazine with the support of the Corporation for National Service to promote a stronger intergenerational focus on service and learning. The last issue of Continuance was published in 2018.

Generations Serving Generations is providing this collection in cooperation with the Illinois State Library and the continued celebration of organizations and people who have provided the stories about generations working together. A list of partners can be viewed in the first issue, Winter 1987.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Publications | The Arts | The Arts

From: West Chicago Public Library District

Tthe West Chicago Public Library's digitized collection of book plates. The book plate collection was received in February 1935 as a gift from Cornelia Eames Anthony, who was part of a prominent family rooted in West Chicago. Cornelia Anthony was a formidable elocutionist providing dramatic readings to groups throughout the United States, but her greatest interest was in book plates. The book plate collection received by the West Chicago Public Library District was the result of Ms. Anthony's effort of collecting book plates over a 14-year time period. Her book plate collection consists of approximately 10,000 book plates, is international in scope, and was at one time considered by many librarians to be second only to that of the Library of Congress.

Subjects that this collection appears in: The Arts

From: Elgin History Museum

The Courier - News Negative Collection is an excellent source of images of people in Elgin, Illinois from 1936 - 1986 with a focus on the African American, Asian American, and LatinX communities in Elgin.

This project is partially funded by the Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Illinois Fire Service Institute

This collection contains images, documents, and videos documenting how the COVID-19 Pandemic has affected Illinois fire departments. These resources were created as part of a grant funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to the Illinois Fire Service Institute Library for 2021-2022 titled “Experienced-Based Knowledge Management Initiatives to Support Illinois Firefighters’ Dynamic Needs in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic."

Subjects that this collection appears in: State History

From: Czechoslovak Heritage Museum

Images and documents describing the history of Czechs, Slovaks, Moravians, and Bohemians in the City of Chicago.

Subjects that this collection appears in: State History

From: Deerfield Public Library

Local history images of Deerfield.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Vespasian Warner Public Library District

Letters and service records of men and women of DeWitt County who served in World War I.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Military History

From: Mount Prospect Public Library

This collection includes photographs and descriptions of artifacts and large print items documenting the growth and transformation of the Mount Prospect area from the late 19th to late 20th century. These items reflect the agricultural, business, church and governmental activities of the villages' residents. The artifacts are from the collections of the Mount Prospect Historical Society and the Mount Prospect Public Library. This collection was made available by a grant from the office of Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Dixon Public Library

Dixon College was established in 1881 with John C. Flint as first president and Jesse B Dille as first principal. The college initially used the old seminary building situated in Bluff Park. Over the next decade a collection of buildings were erected on a site on the west side of Dixon bound by First and Third Streets and College Avenue. The College advertised its courses under many names including Dixon College, Northern Illinois Normal School, and Dixon Business College. Notable alumni included Davy Jones, an outfielder for many major league baseball teams between 1901 and 1918, and Noah Mason who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois' 12th and 15th districts from 1937 to 1963. Dixon College closed in 1914.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Institutional History | Publications

From: Dixon Public Library

A collection of photographs and documents about the history of Dixon and the surrounding area. It also includes Dixonian Yearbooks from Dixon High School. Dixon is the county seat of Lee County and is situated on the north and south sides of the Rock River. The city is named after John Dixon, who operated a rope ferry across the Rock River having bought it from Joseph Ogee in 1830. Dixon was the boyhood home of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan. The Lincoln Monument State Memorial commemorates Abraham Lincoln joining the Illinois militia at Fort Dixon in 1832 during the Black Hawk War.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | State History

From: Dixon Public Library

Dixon Living is a magazine published by Sauk Valley Media starting in 2009. It is usually published three times a year, and features articles on Dixon businesses, people, and organizations, as well as some on local history. Dixon Public Library is providing this collection with permission and support from Sauk Valley Media. New issues will be added as they become available.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Institutional History | Institutional History | Publications | The Arts

From: Downers Grove Public Library

The Downers Grove Public Library recognizes that we are living through historic times and seeks to share and preserve experiences of Life in the 2020s from members of the Downers Grove community. This digital collection includes photos, videos, journal passages, letters, drawings, songs, etc. to create a “picture” of Life in the 2020s in Downers Grove. Topics may cover but are not limited to COVID-19 and may focus on things such as school, work, family time, celebrations, and shopping as well as other important community events in the 2020s.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | State History | The Centennial & the Bicentennial

From: Oak Park Public Library

The Early Years—Ernest and Marcelline Hemingway in Oak Park is a collaboration between the Oak Park Public Library and the Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park. Images and artifacts include Ernest and his older sister Marcelline’s family, friends, and the communities that they grew up in. Documenting the first 19 years of Ernest’s and Marcelline’s lives, we can gain greater insight into Oak Park at the turn of the century through two of its own most famous residents.

Digitization of this collection was developed pursuant to a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a Department of the Office of Secretary of State using state grant funds.

Subjects that this collection appears in: History Makers | The Arts

From: Eastern Illinois University, Booth Library

The East Central Illinois Local History Oral Interviews project is a collection of recorded interviews (including transcripts) with residents of east-central Illinois, particularly Coles County, as well as with important political figures and Eastern Illinois University faculty and staff. The interviews were conducted mostly in the 1970s and 1980s by graduate students of History at Eastern Illinois University. Until now, the cassette tapes have been safely stored away but difficult to access. The participants in the interviews, many of them already long-time residents of Coles County at the time of the interviews, represent first-hand accounts of such historical events as the Charleston-Mattoon tornado of 1917, rationing in Coles County during World War II, and insights into farming and domestic life as far back as the very early years of the 20th century. The interviews provide unique perspectives and observations from individuals who represent direct linkages to the past through their experiences.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Oral History

From: Illinois State Archives

Eddie Winfred "Doc" Helm was the official State of Illinois photographer for almost half a century, from 1941 to 1992. Working from the Secretary of State’s office for both Democratic and Republican office-holders, he chronicled state government by taking pictures of notable politicians, celebrities, important events and the day to day operations of state government. In the course of his work he also photographed hundreds of ordinary Illinois citizens and events. He left behind a legacy of more than 40,000 negatives, which are housed at the Illinois State Archives. Most of the collection consists of 4" x 5" black and white acetate film negatives. There are also 35 and 60 millimeter negatives, 5" x 7" negatives and some slides.

The digitization of this collection was supported in part by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, National Archives and Records Administration.

Subjects that this collection appears in: State History

From: Eisenhower Public Library District

Images of Eisenhower Public Library and military service in Vietnam.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Ela Area Public Library

Local history images from the Lake Zurich area.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Elgin History Museum

Elgin American Collection: Elgin American Manufacturing was a division of the Illinois Watch Case Company. Elgin American became famous for producing women’s compacts, cigarette lighters and makeup vanities. This collection includes company newsletters, catalogs, and photographs. Most of the collection is from the 1940s and 1950s.

Digitization of this collection was funded in part by a grant from the Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History | State History | State History

From: Gail Borden Public Library

Collection of photographs and postcards related to the history of the Elgin area. Includes topics such as Sears houses in the area, the tornado of 1920, the Elgin Watch factory, and the Northern Illinois Hospital and Asylum for the Insane.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Postcards

From: Elgin Community College

The institutional history of Elgin Community College.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History

From: Elgin History Museum

The Gylleck Photo Collection consists of about 3,500 black and white images of Elgin, Illinois from 1847 to the 1960s. Elmer Gylleck was a photographer in Elgin who purchased a large collection of glass plate negatives from the first photographer in Elgin and many other Elgin photographers.

He made 11 x 14 prints of many of the glass negatives as well as film negatives of the glass plates. He also made prints from his own photographs. The images in the collection highlight the Elgin National Watch Company, Elgin streetscapes, the Elgin Road Races, manufacturing, homes, schools, and general Elgin life. Gylleck mounted many of the images on matte board and they have notations pasted or written in ink on the back.

These notations give more details about the images.

Digitization of this project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library services FAIN MA-31-16-0142-16.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Ella Johnson Memorial Public Library District

From the time when the area was originally settled in the late 1830’s the district has been an inventive and progressive area. Towns have moved, car races have been organized, Lincoln Logs were produced and life has continued to move forward. The Historical Collection contains artifacts, documents, newspapers, books and pamphlets that chronicle the history of the communities the library serves

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Ella Johnson Memorial Public Library District

The Grand Army of the Republic was an organization for Civil War Veterans that ran from 1866 until the death of its last member in 1956. Locally the organization was extremely active and the extensive collection of records left in the care of the library provides a first-hand account of the period and the people that shaped it.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Military History

From: Ella Johnson Memorial Public Library District

Images have been donated to the library as one of the single best methods of documenting the history of the communities within the library’s district. The collection of images today reflects aspects of everyday life from the communities of Hampshire, Burlington, Pingree Grove, Stark’s Corner as well as the outlying areas and other communities both past and present.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Rockford Public Library

Local history images from the Rockford area.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Community History

From: Evanston Public Library

Local history images from the Evanston area.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Evansville Public Library

The Evansville Enterprise is a weekly Illinois newspaper providing news coverage on Evansville, Illinois and other local Randolph county towns. Later titles : Red Bud pilgrim. Chester herald-tribune. Prairie du Rocher sun. Randolph County herald tribune

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Publications

From: Fenton Community High School District 100

The Fenton High School Collection features photographs of student life, faculty and facilities at Fenton High School District 100 dating from when the school opened in September 1955. For more information see www.fenton100.org.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History

From: Madison County Historical Society

This collection of letters features over 70 correspondents and spans two centuries. Prominent themes include land speculation in Illinois, local and national politics, and Madison County farm life. The collection centers on three generations of the Flagg family:

Gershom Flagg was 23 years old when he headed westward from New England in 1816. He settled in Paddock’s Grove, building one of the first houses on Springfield Road in what would become Moro, Illinois. Gershom planted an apple orchard on his farm and promoted fruit cultivation in the area. He also brokered land deals in Madison and Macoupin counties.

Gershom and his wife Jane (Paddock) Richmond had one child together: Willard Cutting Flagg (born 1829). Willard attended Yale University (class of 1854). Willard was Republican: letters in the collection discuss national and local strategies for the 1864 election. A noted pomologist, Willard also contributed articles to horticultural publications.

Willard and his wife Sarah Smith had six children, but only three survived infancy. Norman Gershom Flagg was their youngest child. Norman graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 1888. He married Josephine Hehner in 1896; they had six children. Norman served as a Republican in both houses of the Illinois legislature. He died in 1948, on the Moro family homestead where he was born. He was 80 years old.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Flora Public Library

This project is the first phase of a multi-phase project to digitize the local newspaper which is currently on microfilm. Funding for this project was made possible by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a Division of the Office of the Secretary of State, using funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), under the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

The scope of this project covers approximately sixteen years, an estimated 7,800 pages, of early 20th century local newspapers that are currently on microfilm. These newspapers contain a wealth of local history information on businesses, individuals and events that is not available elsewhere.

The reels include: one reel with eight sporadic issues ranging from 1883-1917 (Southern Illinois Journal & Weekly Journal), two reels that contain most issues from 1907-1908 (Southern Illinois Journal), and thirteen reels covering most issues for Oct. 1912 through Dec. 1926 (Southern Illinois Record, Flora Record, and Flora Journal Record).

Subjects that this collection appears in: Publications | State History

From: Illinois State Archives

The premiere issue of For the Record…Newsletter of the Illinois State Archives was published in April of 1975. Edited by then Archives Director John Daly, it coincided with multiple projects, including the first full-scale published descriptive inventory of the Archives’ holdings and the publication of Norton on Archives, a collection of writings by Margaret Cross Norton, who served as the first director of the Archives from its inception in 1922 until her retirement in 1957.

The newsletter was published sporadically from 1975 until 1996 and there was a gap in publication from 1996 until 2001. In 2002 the newsletter returned as a publication of both the Illinois State Archives and the Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board. Since 2002 the newsletter has been published continuously, three times a year, in winter, spring, and fall.

For the Record includes stories on the history of the Illinois State Archives, such as the creation of the Illinois Regional Archives Depository system and the introduction of Archon, the online descriptive inventory for the Archives. It also contains articles on current and upcoming events in Illinois, announcements for grant opportunities and information on IRAD intern selections. The winter issue contains a list of the accessions into the Illinois State Archives from the previous year.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Publications | State History

From: Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County

The Fort Sheridan Collection contains objects, photographs, and postcards dating from the 1890s to the 1980s, relating to military and civilian life at the former U.S. Army post.

For more information visit the Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County web page.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Military History

From: Fountaindale Public Library

Minutes of the Fountaindale Public Library, various dates, from the 1970s and 1980s.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History

From: Gail Borden Public Library

Collection of photographs of the Gail Borden Public Library from its location on Spring Street to its building at 270 N. Grove Avenue.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History

From: Galena Public Library

The city of Galena, Illinois has a wealth of history. The Galena Public Library's Historical Collection works to preserve and share that history. The photographs in this collection range from portraits and views from the mid to late 19th century to photos of disasters and other events from the late 20th century. For more information, please contact The Galena Public Library at 815.777.0200 or by emailing info@galenalibrary.org.

Digitization of this collection was developed pursuant to a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a Department of the Office of Secretary of State using state grant funds.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Geneseo Public Library District

Various historical images of Geneseo and Henry County.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Chicago Public Library

This digital collection is made possible by a generous Illinois History-Digital Imaging Grant (awarded in 2018) from the Illinois State Library, Office of the Illinois Secretary of State.

The George Cleveland Hall Branch Archives contain materials related to the operation of Chicago Public Library’s Hall Branch, opened in 1932. The branch is named after prominent African American physician, activist and leader George Cleveland Hall.

The Hall Branch Archives contain annual reports, branch bulletins, programs, fliers and memos from 1932 through the 1970s. The majority of objects displayed were created during the tenure of branch head Vivian G. Harsh. Harsh is well-remembered not just as CPL’s first African American branch head, but for her dedication to social outreach and the study of history and literature.

During the 1930s and 1940s, Hall Branch became a magnet for Chicago’s African American writers, artists and scholars, and the general public. Harsh launched the Book Review and Lecture Forum, a semimonthly event designed to bring library patrons together with speakers on topics in Black history, literature and current events. Harsh cultivated an impressive constellation of African American presenters, including Richard Wright, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Arna Bontemps, Gwendolyn Brooks, Margaret Walker, Horace Cayton, William Attaway, Alain Locke and St. Clair Drake.

The George Cleveland Hall Branch Archives are housed in the Vivian G. Harsh Collection of Afro-American History and Literature at Woodson Regional Library.

Subjects that this collection appears in: State History | The Arts | The Arts

From: Highland Park Public Library

The Chaplain George D. Rice lantern slide collection is a collection of approximately 470 glass lantern slides, photography by Chaplain Rice during his service with the United States Army at the turn of the 19th-20th century. The collection includes religious presentations, images of overseas war theaters and social life in Highland Park, Illinois. Rice classified the series in the collection as Boer Wars, Crusaders, Ben Hur, Christian Hymns, Pilgrim’s Progress, US Navy, Wreck of the Maine, Mining Trade, Emin Pasha Relief Expedition, and Spanish-American War.

Rice served as chaplain of the 6th Massachusetts Volunteers in the Spanish-American War in 1898, and was appointed a first lieutenant in the 26th Regiment, United States Volunteers, organized to serve in the Philippine Islands, July 5th, 1899. He served the 27th Infantry Regiment, one of the ten new Regular Army regiments authorized for the Philippine-American War, organized on February 2, 1901. Chaplain Rice served at the battle of Bayan (May 2, 1902), ministering to the sick and wounded. He documented the assault on the cotta of the Sultan of Bacolod on April 6, 1903, known as the Battle of Bacolod, Philippines, with his Kodak Brownie camera. Rice also served as Fort Sheridan post librarian in the early 20th century. Please consult the collection finding aid for further information: http://www.highlandparkhistory.org/index.php/chaplin-george-d-rice-lantern-slides-1890-1920

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Elgin Community College

Elgin Community College was founded in 1949 as part of Elgin Public Schools, sixteen years prior to legislation which created the Illinois Community College system. Gilbert I. Renner took leadership of ECC in 1950, serving as Dean and first President of the college. He was an early student of the community college movement and actively involved in creating the Illinois system. Renner maintained a personal collection of correspondence and other documents which reflect the deliberations and creativity that contributed to this formative period in the development of this highly-regarded system. His son, Richard Renner, a consultant to the grant, has agreed to provide access to this collection. Through digitizing, creating metadata, and uploading these documents, ECC archives staff will provide a valuable primary resource to those who are conducting research on higher education in Illinois. Also we are going to scan the old official minutes of district 509 that are not born digitally. Funding awarded by the Illinois State Library Digital Imaging Grant 2018.

Funding awarded by the Illinois State Library Digital Imaging Grant 2018.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History | State History

From: Glenview Public Library

Local history images of Glenview.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Graham School of Nursing Library

The celebration of the Graham Hospital School of Nursing’s 100th anniversary provided the impetus to begin a two-fold project documenting the history of the School through words and images. Images from the Past includes a digital collection of photographs and scanned documents found in the School Library’s historical collection. Voices from the Past includes the transcripts, cover sheets and audio clips resulting from more than eighty oral history interviews with graduates of the Graham three year diploma RN program located in Canton, IL. Both of these labors of love were made available through funding from the Illinois State Library and also the Greater Midwest Region of the National Library of Medicine. The results of these ongoing projects can be found here in the Illinois Digital Archive.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History | Institutional History

From: Illinois State Library

The Hambletonian Stakes, the premiere harness race in the United States, was run at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds from 1957 through 1980.

The race is named in honor of Hambletonian 10, a 19th century American trotter and founding sire of the Standard horse breed.

The Hambletonian was primarily run in New York State from 1926 through 1956. Lexington, Kentucky hosted he race in 1927 and 1929, and at the Yonkers Raceway in 1943 because of gas rationing during World War II.

Through the visionary efforts of William R. Hayes, beginning in 1957, the Hambletonian was held at the Du Quoin State Fairground until it relocated to New Jersey’s Meadowlands Racetrack in 1981.

Hayes was the president of the DuQuoin Coca-Cola Bottling Company and senior member of the Hayes Fair Acres Stable. His horse, Lusty Song, won the 1950 Hambletonian, a race that Hayes aspired to bring to the DuQuion fairgrounds that he was instrumental in developing and expanding in the 1920s and 1930s.

In the early 1940s, the Illinois State Fair at Springfield had been converted into a military facility. The harness races usually run in Springfield were shifted to Du Quoin where they had never previously raced. The harness racing industry was impressed with the facilities and hospitality offered them by the Hayes group. As a result, Du Quoin was added to the annual harness racing schedule.

Hayes died in 1952, and his, Donald and Eugene, carried on the Hayes legacy, and in 1957, secured the rights to host the Hambletonian. Under the leadership of the Hayes family, the fair --- and the Hambletonian --- thrived through the 1970s, but the deaths of Donald and Eugene left the family faced with financial burden. In 1979, the fair was sold Saad Jabr and then purchased by the State of Illinois in December 1985.

The Hayes Family through Illinois First Lady M.K. Pritzker donated this collection.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Community History

From: Henderson County Library

The Museum contains collections in frontier life, the development of an emerging agricultural economy, one-room prairie schoolhouses, the impact of both World Wars on rural Illinois, and the westward migration of the American population during the 19th century. The collection of early 20th century home, school and working life includes a complete blacksmithing shop and one-room schoolhouse.

Subjects that this collection appears in: State History | State History

From: Intuit Gallery

This collection contains digitized versions of microfilm copies of outsider artist Henry Darger's handwritten and typed notebooks, largely regarding his fantasy manuscript The Story of the Vivian Girls, in What Is Known as the Realms of the Unreal, of the Glandeco-Angelinian War Storm, Caused by the Child Slave Rebellion. Fifty-two volumes were recorded on microfilm, including several for separate works, such as Vivian Girls in Chicago, History of My Life, and Darger's Weather Reports. The notebooks and journals were originally set to microfilm by Kiyoko Lerner, one of Darger's landlords and the caretaker of his estate. The original material is held by the American Folk Art Museum (New York).

Subjects that this collection appears in: The Arts | The Arts

From: Highland Park Public Library

Highland Park was incorporated in 1869. Images in this collection record the community’s development.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Urbana Free Library

Images of historic homes in Champaign County.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Aurora Public Library Disctrict

The historic maps in this collection represent a unique historical resource. These maps show the physical changes and growth, over time, of Aurora. They also show changes in the city's political boundaries such as ward changes, street names, and, in some cases, building and business locations. Maps in this collection include:

1860 map of Kane County - this map is one of the earliest owned by the Aurora Historical Society and may be the earliest extant map of Kane County.

Aurora city maps dated 1859, 1868, 1872, 1876, 1884, and 1891 - these maps show the growth and development of Aurora, including street name and ward boundary changes.

"Aerial view" maps of Aurora, 1867 and 1882 - detailed artists' renderings showing streets, houses, and buildings.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Maps

From: Park Ridge Public Library

Two history books about Park Ridge, Illinois: The History of Park Ridge, 1841-1926 by the Park Ridge Community Church Circle copyright 1926, and A History of Park Ridge by Orvis Jordan copyright 1961.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Field Museum of Natural History:http://www.fieldmuseum.org/department/library

Exhibits History 1921-1959

From: Field Museum of Natural History

Before blockbuster exhibits like the Treasures of Tutankhamun exhibit in 1977 and the unveiling of SUE the T. rex in 2000, a big Field Museum event in Chicago was the opening of its new building on May 2, 1921 in Grant Park. The building contained some exhibits that had been moved from 5 miles south from the Museum's original location in Jackson Park. Many new exhibitions were added in the 1920s and beyond. This website contains more than 4,200 images and text records of the History of Exhibits at Field Museum, from 1921 to 1959. The site includes Botany, Geology, Zoology and the process of creating the exhibits as well as the completed exhibits. There are also photos of the educational outreach departments including the Raymond Foundation, the N.W. Harris Public School Extension, now known as the N. W. Harris Learning Collection, which still serves teachers and young learners today.

Search for the year 2023 in the box at the upper right and you'll find modern views of the exhibits and models. Some have been re-used in different exhibits and some have been moved behind the scenes.

For the records, subject headings were used so that the images can be easily found. Most of the records include links to historical Field Museum publications, like the Bulletins and Annual Reports that give the user hundreds of other published materials to explore. Whether you're a history enthusiast, a curious learner, or just someone looking for an online adventure, we hope this website is for you.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | State History | State History | State History

From: Methodist College

This collection is the photographs and documents of the Methodist College archives. It spans over 120 years of health care and human services education in Peoria, Illinois. Founded in 1900 as Deaconess Hospital Training School with five students, this initial group led the way for the College’s current students. When Deaconess Hospital changed its name to Methodist Hospital in 1917, the school follow suit and changed its name to Methodist Hospital School of Nursing. The School of Nursing offered diplomas in nursing through 2004. After 100 years of nursing education, Methodist College of Nursing was formed in 2000 to offer Bachelor's Degrees and the School of Nursing closed. The RN-BSN and second-degree programs were added in 2008 and 2010 respectively. In 2012, enrollment started in the Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree and Gerontology Certificate programs. With the expansion of more programs beyond nursing, the name of the College was changed to reflect this and became Methodist College. That same year initiated the Arts and Sciences curriculum to provide general education courses. In 2016, Methodist College moved from downtown Peoria, next to the hospital, to its current location in NorthWest Peoria. Methodist College added the Master of Science in Nursing program in 2015 and in 2017 added Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant, and Bachelor of Social Work programs. The College is committed to following the fine example of education established over the years and looks to the future to meet the needs of health care and human services education.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History | Institutional History

From: Huntley Area Public Library

This collection was created by the Huntley Area Public Library Local History Department and includes digitized materials that are part of our local history collection. This collection highlights Huntley’s dairy and agricultural heritage. This is an ongoing project. If you have additional information pertaining to items in this collection, please contact the Huntley Library Local History Department at 847.669.5386.

Digitization of this collection was developed pursuant to a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a Department of the Office of Secretary of State using state grant funds.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Industrial History

From: Huntley Area Public Library

This collection was created by the Huntley Area Public Library Local History Department and represents the first step in our initiative to digitize our collection. This is an ongoing project and we will be adding items continuously.

If you have additional information pertaining to items in this collection, please contact the Local History Department at 847.669.5386.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Huntley Area Public Library

The Huntley Farmside newspaper is featured in this digital collection from 1960 through 2000. The Farmside is a weekly Illinois newspaper providing news coverage on Huntley, Marengo, Union, and other local suburbs. High resolutions scans were made of the print archives of the Huntley Area Public Library with a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library (ISL), a Division of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided the by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), under the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Publications

From: Illinois State Library

Immediately following the capture of Fort Sumter, President Abraham Lincoln, on April 15, 1861, issued a call for 75,000 militia - thus putting an end to all speculation about whether there would be civil war. At this time, Illinois had no arms nor an effective militia force. Governor Richard Yates called a special session of the General Assembly to provide for the organization of six regiments - the Illinois quota under the President's order. By October of that year Illinois had forty-three regiments in service. From April 17, 1861 to April 30, 1865 Illinois furnished 256,297 men who served during the war. By the end of the war, 35,000 Illinois men died fighting to preserve the Union. (For a more in-depth look at Illinois during the Civil War, see the Illinois Blue Book, 1959-1960, "Illinois and the Civil War" by Clyde C. Walton, Illinois State Historian, pp. 16-45)

This collection contains full-text books and documents.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Military History | State History

From: Illinois State Library

The Illinois Blue Book is one of the most comprehensive sources of state government information. It is a nationally recognized source for information about Illinois' executive, judicial and legislative branches of government. Originating in 1861 as a privately published roster of legislators, the Blue Book has evolved into a historical publication complete with biographies, articles, illustrative photographs and helpful information for Illinois citizens.

This collection contains keyword/subject searchable versions of the Illinois Blue Book and the legislative directories that preceded them.

For years 2007 forward please use the Electronic Documents of Illinois collection at http://www.ediillinois.org/ppa/meta/html/00/00/00/04/47/54.html

Subjects that this collection appears in: Publications | State History

From: Illinois State Historical Society

The Illinois Centennial Business Collections features Illinois enterprises that have achieved or surpassed the century mark in continuous operation.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Industrial History | State History

From: Illinois State Library

The first constitution of the State of Illinois (1818) was compiled mainly with provisions taken from the constitutions of Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. It was adopted by the delegates to the convention, but never submitted to the people of Illinois. This first constitution put virtually unlimited power in the hands of the Legislature while effectively keeping it away from the people.

In 1847, with an increase in the population, a movement began for calling a convention to "alter, amend, and revise" the constitution of 1818. The resulting constitution of 1848 was an improvement over the previous one, but still proved to be susceptible to abuses that encouraged greed of all kinds, which caused the Legislature to waste much time and attention, to the detriment of the public interest.

The Legislature of 1859 submitted a proposal, to hold a third constitutional convention, to a vote of the people. This proposal was endorsed in the election of 1860 and the convention convened in Springfield on January 7, 1862. According to law, the delegates to the convention were required to take an oath to support the state constitution, before starting the business of the convention. Unfortunately, the majority of the delegates not only refused to do this, but they assumed powers such as the right to interfere with military affairs - powers they did not have. This convention was soon termed a "high rolling convention", to the disgust of the people and their work was brought into disrepute. Once the delegates became aware that the convention was being severely criticized, they began to make a great effort to create a constitution acceptable to the people. The constitution was overwhelmingly defeated in the popular vote and matters left as they were until after the war.

Once the war was over and Reconstruction began, calls again began to be made for changes to the 1848 constitution. This need for constitutional changes was primarily based on the continuing growth in both population and economic complexity of Illinois. Because of the widespread belief that changes in the state constitution would affect improvements in the performance of Illinois state government, the constitution of 1870 was approved by a large majority and went into effect on August 8, 1870.

Until 1970, Illinois had five state conventions for the purpose of creating a state constitution. Of these, the 1818, 1847, and 1869-70 conventions adopted constitutions that went into effect, while the proposed constitutions framed by the conventions of 1862 and 1922 were rejected. Illinois government basically remained static from 1870 to 1970. The sixth constitutional convention, in 1970, produced a new constitution which was approved by voters on December 15, 1970.

This collection of full-text materials includes the text of all the Illinois constitutions.

Subjects that this collection appears in: State History

From: Illinois Fire Service Institute

The Illinois Firefighter Line of Duty Deaths Digital Image Collection documents the ultimate sacrifice of Illinois firefighters who died in the line of duty over the past 150 years. Providing access to this history memorializes the firefighters, increases awareness of their sacrifice, and supplies contemporary firefighters with valuable "lessons learned" from the various deaths. Funding for this project was awarded by the Illinois State Library (ISL), a Division of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), under the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). Additional information about these fallen firefighters, including summaries of the incidents where they were fatally injured, is available through IFLODD, the Illinois Firefighter Line of Duty Deaths Digital Image Collection Database

Subjects that this collection appears in: Oral History | State History

From: Illinois State Geological Survey Library

On May 12, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the Agricultural Adjustment Act. This law was originally administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Adjustment Administration (USDA-AAA), and today the USDA-AAA is known as the USDA Farm Service Agency. Since the mid 1930s, the USDA-AAA and subsequently the USDA-FSA have periodically acquired nationwide aerial photography. Acquired on a county-by-county basis, this aerial photography was first used by the USDA to assess the nation's agricultural lands by estimating cropland acreages from measurements taken on the photographs. USDA-AAA aerial photography also served as the basis for the first national soil surveys.

In Illinois, first-time statewide coverage of USDA-AAA aerial photography was achieved between 1936-1941. This aerial photography is widely recognized in Illinois as a unique resource that represents the earliest photographic record of the cultural and physical landscape features of the entire state. It is intensively used by government agencies, surveyors, planners, consulting scientists and engineers, and other individuals for diverse purposes ranging from determination of past land uses to providing the basis for needs assessment studies in ecological restoration.

In Illinois, this USDA photography between the years of 1936-1941, is estimated to be 33,066 photographs. When the original 9"x 9" and 7"x 9" cellulose nitrate film negatives for these photographs were deemed a fire hazard, they were transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration in the 1960s and eventually destroyed, and high-quality photographic paper prints remain as the only physical record. Public access and continual use of library print collections for several decades has resulted in a significant number of the photographs becoming defaced, faded, worn, or lost. The Illinois State Library (ISL), the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS), and other libraries have collaborated on scanning these photographs in order to complete a digital archive that will provide a comprehensive photographic record of the early twentieth century for the entire state. As a result of previous contracts and grants, more than one-half of the print collection has already been digitized, and on-line Internet access is available at the Illinois Historical Aerial Photography (ILHAP) web site (http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/nsdihome/webdocs/ilhap/). Once a statewide digital archive is established, it will reduce and eventually eliminate the need for patrons to regularly handle the original paper prints. Furthermore, placing the digitized photographs on-line ensures the most widespread access to potential user groups and reduces the pressure on the print collections residing at libraries within the state.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Industrial History | State History

From: Illinois State Library

ILLINOIS LIBRARIES was the official journal of the Illinois State Library. The purpose of ILLINOIS LIBRARIES was to disseminate articles of general interest to library staff and library governing officials in Illinois who represent all types of libraries and library consortia. The publication began in 1919. The years 1995 to 2000 can be found at Illinois Periodicals Online - http://www.lib.niu.edu/illistyrs.html

Various years from 2001- to the end of publication in 2007 can be found at EDI http://iledi.org/ppa/meta/html/00/00/00/00/01/78.html

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History | Publications

From: Illinois State Archives

The Illinois State Archives serves by law as the depository of public records of Illinois state and local governmental agencies. This collection (RS 301.110) consists of maps used during World War I and brought back to Illinois by the 33rd Infantry Division of the Illinois National Guard. The 33rd Infantry Division was federalized in July of 1917 and was the only division from the Illinois National Guard to fight in the war as its own unit. These maps are the only known maps to survive the war and provide a great insight into the situation faced by the 33rd during the war. The collection was transferred from the Illinois National Guard to the State Archives in 1958. The collection is primarily made up of American and French intelligence maps but does include one German propaganda poster (#35). The maps vary in information and include topographical information, trench locations, enemy troop and supply locations, and placement of allied units as the war neared its end in October and November of 1918.

Related 33rd Infantry material available at the State Archives includes daily correspondence of battlefield orders (October-November 1918); enemy organization maps (September-November 1918); and battlefield intelligence maps (October-November 1918).

Subjects that this collection appears in: Maps | Military History

From: Illinois State Historical Society

The Illinois Sesquicentennial Church collection is compiled from an ongoing project to document Illinois Houses of Worship that have served their congregations for over 150 years and include church histories, photos, personal narratives and books. The program was initiated and is managed by the Illinois State Historical Society, whose mission is to "foster awareness, understanding, research, preservation and understanding of Illinois history."

Subjects that this collection appears in: State History

From: Illinois State Fair Museum

The first Illinois State Fair opened on October 11, 1853 with an admission of 25 cents. The attractions included cattle, horses, and sheep venues, among displays of reapers, mowers, farming tools, and a variety of corn planters. On the third day, over 15,000 people attended. The fair was a success, netting $853 in profits with $1500 in premiums paid out to prize-winning exhibits. There were a total of 765 entries in all areas.

For the next 40 years, the Illinois State Fair was hosted by twelve different cities including Freeport, Chicago, Alton and Olney. It settled permanently in Springfield in 1894. During World War II, from 1941 to 1945, no fairs were held. During this time the fairgrounds were used as a supply base for the Army Air Force.

After the war, the major agricultural fairs in the United States underwent a subtle transition. At that time agriculture became more mechanized, more efficient, with bigger farms and greater production per acre while the size of the rural population was shrinking and the rural youth migrating to urban centers. Major fairs, Illinois included, began increasing exhibits on modern living, on industry and labor, on education and entertainment for the general public.

In 1965 the Illinois Legislature passed an act creating the Illinois State Fair Agency. The main purpose of the Agency remained what had been the goal of the Fair throughout its history: to promote improved methods of agriculture, encourage increased yields and the raising of improved breeds of livestock, and to acquaint farmers with the latest implements and machinery. The Fair was also charged with exhibiting and promoting the activities of Illinois in the fields of industry, labor and education.

Subjects that this collection appears in: State History | State History

From: Illinois State Library

The history of the Illinois state highway map was written by Ron Peddicord and published as “The Evolution of the Illinois Official Highway Map, 1917 to 1992” in Illinois GIS&MapNotes, v. 11, no. 2, Summer 1993, p. 2-12. In that article, Ron details the evolution of printing in black and white versus color and on one side versus both sides, the change in the line and point symbols showing roads and other types of information, the different cartographic companies making the map, and other facets of its history. Ron also states that the Illinois State Library owns one of the two definitive collections of the Illinois state highway map. This historic run is so valuable for so many purposes that the State Library map staff chose to scan the state highway map as one of its first web map access projects. The State Library holds the Governors/Div. of Highways/IDOT version as well as the Secretary of State’s version but only the Secretary of State’s version was scanned except for some years, such as the 1950’s and 1960’s, when only a Div. of Highways version was published.

The description of some of the cover images of the official map can be found at http://www.idot.illinois.gov/transportation-system/Network-Overview/highway-system/official-highway-map-collection However, the full map, front and back, has never been available on the web before. Starting in 1917, when the roads were trails and were named instead of numbered, through the early years of Rt. 66, the beginning of the interstate highway system, to the present day, one can watch the Pontiac Trail become Rt. 66 and then fade into memory as I-55 erases Rt. 66.

The web version of the images is JPEG2000. Upon request, the State Library map staff can send a TIFF version or can make a full-scale color paper copy.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Maps | State History | State History

From: Illinois State Library

This collection includes full-text materials in numerous subject areas.

Subjects that this collection appears in: History Makers | State History

From: Illinois State Museum

A digital collection of writings, artwork, personal narratives, and photographs submitted to the Illinois State Museum by the people of Illinois during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.

Subjects that this collection appears in: State History | The Centennial & the Bicentennial | The Centennial & the Bicentennial

From: LaSalle Public Library

Originally platted in 1837, the citizens of LaSalle, Illinois have been long-time supporters of libraries and the rich resources they provide to the community. While the library has seen growth and evolution of its services over 130 years, one thing that has remain unchanged is the library dedication to its residents. Part of that dedication includes the preservation and access to a local history collection.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Illinois State Library

On October 27, 2000 President Bill Clinton signed into law Public Law 106-380 establishing the Veterans' History Project. This law charged the Library of Congress with the responsibility of collecting and preserving the wartime memories of our nation's veterans and those civilians who supported the war efforts.

The Illinois Secretary of State's office has been a partner with the Library of Congress in the Veterans' History project since November 2003 and officially launched the Illinois Veterans' History Project in November 2005. The Illinois Veterans' History Project began with the collection of written information about Illinois veterans through use of the Illinois Patriot Information Form. In September 2007 the Secretary of State's office entered the next phase of the project, collecting oral histories of Illinois veterans. These histories will now be available through the Illinois Digital Archives.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Military History | Oral History | Oral History | State History

From: Chicago Public Library

This digital collection is made possible by a generous Illinois History-Digital Imaging Grant (awarded in 2018) from the Illinois State Library, Office of the Illinois Secretary of State.

The Illinois Writers Project: ”Negro in Illinois” Papers contain research notes, transcripts, oral histories and original manuscripts intended to present a history of African Americans in Illinois from roughly the late 18th century to the early 20th century.

As part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal, the Illinois Writers Project, within the Works Progress Administration, created a special division with over a hundred researchers tasked with documenting the African American experience in Illinois from 1779 to 1942. Poet Arna Bontemps and writer Jack Conroy supervised the study. Among the notables who participated were Richard Wright, Fenton Johnson, Kitty Chapelle and Robert Lucas.

Topics included the enslavement of African Americans, abolition, religion, politics, sports, social life, music, theater and art.

Destined to be published in book form with the title “The Negro in Illinois,” the research ended when the government canceled the project in 1942. Chicago Public Library’s first African American branch head, Vivian G. Harsh, agreed to house a large portion of the research in her “Special Negro Collection” at CPL’s George Cleveland Hall Branch.

The Illinois Writers Project collection is housed in the Vivian G. Harsh Collection of Afro-American History and Literature at Woodson Regional Library.

Subjects that this collection appears in: State History | The Arts | The Arts

From: Itasca Community Library

Experience the history of Itasca through historical photographs and images from the early days of the village in the mid-1890s through the 20th century.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Itasca Community Library

Experience the history of Itasca through historical photographs and images from the early days of the village in the mid-1890s through the 20th century.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Bronzeville Historical Society

Bronzeville Historical Society Lifetime member James S. Parker contributed greatly to the Society’s holdings. Mr. Parker provided a searchable Bronzeville property database listing more than 300 specific homes and streetscapes in alphabetical order. The database is formatted on Excel with photograph icons to aid researchers. Mr. Parker donated more than 1,500 images detailing Bronzeville community buildings and streetscapes from the 1950’s to 1999.

The early pictures, taken between 1940-1970, were commissioned by the city of Chicago and were taken by Copelin Photographers. The photographs are 8x10 prints in black and white format. These shots documented dangerous/condemned structures throughout the city. The City of Chicago then used these photographs to authorize renovation, development, or demolition of these properties.

The later pictures were taken by James S. Parker between 2000-2002 on a 35mm camera. Parker returned to these properties to document what happened to these specific locations. Some of the properties were turned into new housing, parks, schools, and churches. However, many of the pictures taken by Parker show that much of the land was left undeveloped as vacant land lots after the properties were demolished.

Overall, these photographs illustrate how policy, economic conditions, and urban renewal influenced the changing of demographics in the Bronzeville community.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Community History

From: Meadville Lombard Theological School

A Chicago-area Unitarian minister, Jenkin Lloyd Jones (1843-1918) was the general secretary of the World Parliament of Religions where he advocated for including non-Christian religions in the World Parliament. The Jenkin Lloyd Jones World’s Columbian Exposition Collection includes correspondence and printed ephemera related to Jones’s position as general secretary and his work on continuing the mission of the World Parliament after the World’s Fair.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Social Movements | State History | State History

From: Spertus Institute

Collection Provided by Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership

The Sentinel was the premier Jewish weekly in Chicago. Published from 1911 to 1996, The Sentinel reflected the changing Chicago Jewish community, covering not only local issues, but also national and international Jewish news. Available on this site are the 2,029 digitized issues representing thirty-nine years of The Sentinelfrom 1911-1949. Made available by Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership

Subjects that this collection appears in: Publications | State History

From: Columbia College

John Fischetti (1918-1980) was a political cartoonist who drew for publications such as the Chicago Sun, Chicago Daily News, Chicago Sun-Times, The New York Times, The New York Herald Tribune, and Stars and Stripes, among many other publications. A syndicated cartoonist, Fischetti reached a national audience and won the Pulitzer Prize for political cartooning in 1969, on the strength of his work covering the 1968 riots in Chicago surrounding the Democratic National Convention. As a long-time Chicagoan, his work touched on local issues, such as Richard J. Daley and his “cohorts”, but also addressed national issues such as the Watergate scandal, the energy crisis, and terrorism, among others.

Subjects that this collection appears in: The Arts | The Arts

From: Joliet Public Library

On April 19, 1989, the Joliet Public Library was firebombed, destroying the non-fiction section of the children's area, closing the entire library for 9 days, and closing the children's section for several months.

These are images from the immediate aftermath.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History

From: Illinois State Historical Society

The Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society contains articles on every facet of Illinois history. The mission of the Illinois State Historical Society, founded in 1899, is to foster awareness, understanding, research, preservation and recognition of history in Illinois.

This selection of article titles illustrates the diversity of subjects covered by the Journal:

• British Coal Miners: A Demographic Study of Braidwood and Streator, Illinois
• The Socialist Party of America in Municipal Politics: Canton, Illinois, 1901-1920
• John Brown White and Early Women’s Education: A History of Almira College
• Thomas Sharp and Anti-Mormon Sentiment in Illinois, 1842-1845

Subjects that this collection appears in: Publications | State History | State History

From: Kewanee Public Library District

Kewanee Public Library District was awarded an LSTA FY09 Digital Imaging grant. Thanks to this funding the library was able to digitize 162 volumes of both Kewanee and Wethersfield high schools entire collections of yearbooks dated from 1904 up to 2008. Due to grant restrictions each year after 2002 will be uploaded and added one at a time. The "PictureIt! Global Gallery" digital imaging grant has created worldwide access to a collection that was once available only to library visitors.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Community History | Institutional History | Publications

From: La Grange Public Library

The La Grange Public Library was founded in 1896, and the Carnegie library was built in La Grange in 1905. A new building designed by architects Holabird & Root was constructed in 1968. When the library collection outgrew this building, staff moved into a temporary location on Shawmut Avenue during construction of the new building, which opened in 2007. The La Grange Public Library Digital Archive contains documentation of the building process and photographs of the library in its four locations from 1905-present.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County

The Lake County History Archives provides access to primary and secondary source materials documenting the history of Lake County, Illinois. The Lake County Postcard Collection includes postcard images from throughout the County, with special emphasis on Lake Michigan, Waukegan, and the Chain O’Lakes area.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Postcards | Postcards | State History

From: Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County

The Lake County History Archives provides access to primary and secondary source materials documenting the history of Lake County, Illinois.

The online collections include: Civil War era letters, diaries, and photographs from the Minto Family, 1918 school histories written by 7th and 8th grade students in celebration of the Illinois Centennial, World War II pamphlets, sheet music, photographs taken by Gordon Ray of Diamond Lake circa 1908 – 1945, and The Rays homespun newsletter produced from 1943 to 1946 by Lloyd Ray of Diamond Lake.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Lake Forest Academy

Lake Forest Academy (LFA) was established in 1857 as the boys’ preparatory department of Lind University (later renamed Lake Forest University). The girls’ preparatory department was added in 1869; it was called the “Young Ladies’ Seminary at Ferry Hall” until 1887 when it became known simply as Ferry Hall. In 1925 both LFA and Ferry Hall legally separated from Lake Forest College, becoming independent secondary educational institutions. In 1974, LFA and Ferry Hall merged into one coeducational independent school called Lake Forest Academy- Ferry Hall. In 1988, the school dropped the name “Ferry Hall” and continued as Lake Forest Academy.

LFA was originally located on the campus of Lake Forest College, but in 1946 a fire destroyed the main Academy building. The school purchased the former Lake Forest estate of J. Ogden Armour, and converted it into a school campus. The school continues to use this campus today.

The Lake Forest Academy and Ferry Hall Archives Collection consists of historical images dating back to the 19th century, documenting school life, academics, athletics, campus buildings, and significant persons and events in the school’s history. The images are digitized from a wide variety of materials: administrative records; school catalogs and publications; photographs; yearbooks; diaries; scrapbooks; and school newspapers. For further information about the collection, please contact the archivist at Lake Forest Academy.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History

From: Lake Forest Public Library

Selected Lake Forest places of architectural significance are represented in this collection of photos, postcards, articles, and reports.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History | The Arts

From: Cook Memorial Library

Enjoy selected items from the archives of the Libertyville Historical Society, including postcards and photographs of early Libertyville, telephone books, wedding dresses, and mail order houses.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Illinois State Archives

The Illinois State Archives serves by law as the depository of public records of Illinois state and local governmental agencies. This collection consists of official state documents that relate to Abraham Lincoln or his family. They include records from Lincoln’s tenure in the General Assembly (1834-1841) and correspondence with various state officials and many of them were written by Lincoln himself.

Subjects that this collection appears in: History Makers | Lincolniana | State History

From: Lisle Library District

Images of the community history of Lisle

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Illinois State Museum

The Living Museum has for decades been a rich source of information on Illinois art, natural history, anthropology, and history. This online project does not replace the print version of The Living Museum but makes this popular educational resource also accessible electronically to students, teachers, researchers, and others throughout the world. The Living Museum, a quarterly journal of the Illinois State Museum, is available without charge. To subscribe, contact editor@museum.state.il.us. For more information on the Illinois State Museum, see http://www.museum.state.il.us

Subjects that this collection appears in: Publications | Publications | State History | State History | State History

From: Meadville Lombard Theological School

Founded in 1853 in Galesburg, Illinois, Lombard College was a progressive coeducational Universalist college and was one of three colleges in the state of Illinois to be granted an Illinois Charter. The Lombard College Collection consists primarily of institutional records and student ephemera from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History | State History

From: Edwardsville Public Library

The creation of this collection serves to preserve and give access to a wealth of information about Madison County history. It contains keyword searchable versions of:

• Cemeteries and Tombstone Inscriptions of Madison County, Illinois
• Glenwood Cemetery, Collinsville, Illinois: A Preliminary Study of Burials, 1922
• St. Joseph Cemetery, Highland, Illinois
• Illustrated Encyclopedia and Atlas Map of Madison County, Illinois, 1873
• New Atlas of Madison County, State of Illinois, 1892
• Standard Atlas of Madison County, 1906
• Naturalizations and Intentions of Madison County, Illinois: An Index, 1816-1900
• History of Madison County, Illinois, 1882
• A Complete Surname Index to the Historybof Madison County, Illinois, 1882
• Portrait and Biographical Record of Madison County, Illinois, 1894
• Index of Biographical Sketches, Madison County, Illinois

Subjects that this collection appears in: Publications | Publications | State History | State History

From: Southern Illinois Univeristy

This is a unique collection of Madison County naturalization records from the nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | State History | State History

From: Marshall Public Library

The purpose of the Marshall Public Library Digital Archive Collection is to gather and preserve historical pictures, events and memories of Marshall, Illinois area residents through photographs. Photographs were collected by Friend of the Library volunteer Eleanor Macke, community volunteers, and library staff.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Marshall Public Library

The purpose of Friends of Marshall Public Library Oral History Project is to gather and preserve historical events and memories of the Marshall, Illinois area residents through recordings, interviews, and photos. Oral History interviews were conducted by Friends of the Library volunteers, community volunteers, and library staff.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Oral History

From: Park Ridge Public Library

A collection of over 1460 index cards, some with newspaper articles, about Park Ridge residents who served during World War II. The Mel Tierney American Legion Post in Park Ridge collected the information during the war. Although this is a large collection, we are unable to confirm that it includes all Park Ridge residents who served in World War II.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Military History

From: Lincoln Library

The Mercury Studio collection consists of thousands of photograph negatives taken for the years 1946 to the 1990s. The majority of the images were taken during the 1960s and 1970s. The collection was first started by Walter Bubnis and eventually was purchased by James Woodruff. The Sangamon Valley Collection acquired this collection after Woodruff's death in 2004. The collection consists of a variety of images including street scenes, businesses, weddings, conventions, portraits and social events. For further information, please contact Lincoln Library.

Subjects that this collection appears in: State History | The Arts

From: Illinois Prairie District Public Library

Metamora Herald Newspaper Image Collection includes wedding announcements, engagement announcements, anniversaries, sports teams, community activities, 4-H Fair activities and school activities. Published since December 20, 1889 until July 7, 2011, the newspaper covered the Illinois towns of Spring Bay, Washburn, Roanoke, Benson, Germantown Hills, Cazenovia, and Low Point as well as the village of Metamora.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Publications | State History | State History

From: St. Clair County Historical Society

The Metro East Streetcar Photographic Collection contains 835 images of streetcars and transportation infrastructure in St. Clair and Madison Counties in Illinois. These photographs were taken between 1915 and 1930. They show equipment and scenes along the routes of the East St. Louis & Suburban Railway and the St. Louis & Belleville Electric Railway.

The subjects of these images include railroad rolling stock, trackage, buildings, switches, accidents, and maintenance facilities. They also include streetscapes in East St. Louis, Belleville, Lebanon, O'Fallon, National City, the St. Louis National Stock Yards, Alton, Granite City, Collinsville, Edwardsville, and Venice. Images of the terminus of the line at the western end of the Eads Bridge in downtown St. Louis are also included.

The original photographs consist of 835 8" x 10" photographic prints. They comprise a portion of the Photography Collection of the St. Clair County Historical Society in Belleville, Illinois.

These photographs were donated to the St. Clair County Historical Society in 1997 by Jerry Herbert, a former resident of Fairview Heights, Illinois. He received the photographs from his father, Girard Herbert, who had received them from his father, Raymond Herbert. Raymond Herbert was a longtime employee of Union Electric Company, the electric utility that provided the power for the electric railways in the Metro East. It was in the course of his duties for Union Electric that Raymond Herbert came to possess these images.

The photographs were scanned by the St. Clair County Historical Society in 2012. They were catalogued and prepared for digital presentation in 2020 by Kendra Tucker, a Museum Studies graduate student from SIU Edwardsville. Ms. Tucker performed this work as part of an internship with the St. Clair County Historical Society.

Subjects that this collection appears in: State History | State History

From: Rockford Public Library

In 1968, Midway Village Museum was organized for the purpose of collecting, preserving and interpreting the history of the Rockford area. This collection contains images from their collections.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Community History

From: Mount Olive Public Library

"Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living", her words still inspire labor organizers, but who was Mother Jones? Mary Harris "Mother" Jones, known as the Miners' Angel, was once described by West Virginia District Attorney Reese Blizzard as "...the most dangerous woman in the world." She described herself in these words: "I'm not a humanitarian, I'm a hell-raiser." In reality, she was all of these things and more in her role as one of the foremost labor organizers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

She claimed to have been born in Cork, Ireland on May 1, 1830. Although a recent (2001) biography by Elliot Gorn states that she was actually born on August 7, 1837. It is unclear why she changed the date of her birth to make it earlier. In 1867, she lost her husband and children in a yellow fever epidemic and in 1871, she lost everything she owned in the great Chicago Fire. It was at this time that she became involved with the newly-formed Knights of Labor and began traveling around the country working for or with labor.

Her growing interest in labor union issues and radical politics led her to become active as a radical labor organizer. Some of the activities in which she was involved include: 1877, helped with the Pittsburgh railway strike; after 1890, became involved in the struggles of coal miners and became an organizer for the United Mine Workers; 1898, helped found the Social Democrat Party; 1899, organized the coalfields of Pennsylvania; 1905, was present at the founding of the Industrial Workers of the World.

This small collection includes photographs of mines and mine workers from Mount Olive as well as some Mother Jones memorabilia - including the letter she wrote to the miners of Mount Olive, requesting that "I hope it will be my consolation when I pass away to feel I sleep under the clay with those brave boys." Mother Jones died on November 30, 1930 and is buried in the Union Miners Cemetery at Mount Olive, Illinois. Her grave is near that of "those brave boys" she referred to - the victims of the Virden mine riot of 1898.

Subjects that this collection appears in: History Makers | Industrial History | Social Movements | State History

From: Mitchell Museum of the American Indian

Collections of the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian

Subjects that this collection appears in: State History | State History | The Arts

From: Marshall Public Library

The Mobile Memory Lab works with Illinois Libraries to digitize and share local history and genealogy materials contributed by library users. Materials were contributed by residents of Marshall, Illinois, and surrounding towns, and were digitized at Marshall Public Library by the Cataloging Maintenance Center.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Community History

From: Morrison-Talbott Library

The Morrison-Talbott Library was gifted the collection of almost 15,000 original survey records from three generations of Monroe County, IL surveyors. These documents date from the mid to late 1800’s to the mid 1970’s, and detail the history and growth of Monroe County.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Community History

From: Sterling Morton Library

Collections of the Sterling Morton Library at the Morton Arboretum

Subjects that this collection appears in: History Makers | History Makers | State History

From: Mount Prospect Public Library

This collection includes items related to the history of the village of Mount Prospect and some of the surrounding area. Businesses, churches, government agencies, organizations, residents, and schools are represented by photographs, newspaper clippings, oral histories, documents and ephemera. Most of the items are from the Mount Prospect Historical Society but items from the collections of the Mount Prospect Public Library and other area groups are also included.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Oral History

From: Mount Prospect Public Library

The Mount Prospect Public Library collection includes documents, photographs, and ephemera related to the history and development of the Mount Prospect Public Library from the 1930s to the present. Among these are photographs of each the building the Library has used and the contents of the cornerstone from the first permanent library home built in 1950. Most of the materials are from the archives and local history files of the Mount Prospect Public Library.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Institutional History

From: Mount Prospect Public Library:https://mppl.org/

The Mount Prospect Historical Society , in cooperation with the Mount Prospect Public Library , Mount Prospect Community Engagement Committee, the Mt Prospect Park District and River Trails Park District asked residents and others affiliated with Mount Prospect to share photos, videos, essays, impressions, and poems to help others put this experience into a larger context and provide those who come after us with a snapshot of what life had been like during this COVID-19 Pandemic in Mount Prospect. This Mount Prospect Pandemic Moments collection includes selected photos and essays from among those items that first appeared on the Mount Prospect Pandemic Moments page of the Mount Prospect Historical Society website.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | State History | State History | State History

From: Loyola University Women and Leadership Archives

The Mundelein College Collection documents over 60 years of history from Mundelein College, the last private, independent Catholic women's college in Illinois at the time of its affiliation with Loyola University Chicago in 1991.

Digitization of this collection was developed pursuant to a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a Department of the Office of Secretary of State using state grant funds.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History | Social Movements

From: Sallie Logan Public Library

This collection features materials associated with The Murphysboro Apple Festival. It primarily consists of souvenir booklets held by the Sallie Logan Public Library, Murphysboro, which is the official depository of Apple Festival print materials, pictures, and memorabilia.

Started in 1952, The Murphysboro Apple Festival is the oldest and largest festival in Southern Illinois and is still held annually every September during the second weekend after Labor Day. Attendance is currently estimated at 45,000. Originally began by the Murphysboro Chamber of Commerce as a one-day event to promote Murphysboro business, the Apple Festival is now a four-day festival as well as a 501(c)3 non-for-profit organization ran by more than 100 volunteers and event chairs.

The festival’s signature event, the Appletime Grand Parade, is considered by many to be the largest parade in Southern Illinois, with an average of 160 total units participating. Additional activities have varied throughout the Festival’s decades-long history and include apple-themed events and contests such as the “App-L-Ympics” (consisting of apple core throwing and apple seed popping contests); the Apple Peeling Contest; the Miss Apple Festival Queen pageant; an arts and crafts fair; marathons; music performances; and Drums at Appletime, the marching band field competition.

Digitization of this collection was made possible by the Illinois State Library Illinois History Digital Imaging Grant Program.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Publications | The Arts

From: Pritzker Military Museum & Library

The First World War is considered to be the most musical of all of America's wars. This exhibit uses optical musical recognition software to digitize the World War I sheet music in the collection of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library and added it as playable .mp3, MIDI, and AIFF files.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Military History | The Arts

From: Naperville Public Library

The Naperville Heritage Collection features books, pictures and films held by Naper Settlement and the Naperville Public Library. The collection includes telephone directories covering most years from 1909-1960, City Council minutes from 1857-1935, church histories and a number of DuPage County and Naperville history books.

Settled by Captain Joseph Naper and his family in June 1831, Naperville, Illinois is the oldest city in DuPage County. It has grown from prairie wilderness to pioneer village to prosperous city through the efforts of its citizens, natural resources, transportation links, and proximity to the city of Chicago. Various celebrations of historic milestones have helped document the growth of the city and its progress. Naperville citizens have taken pride in their civic improvements, schools, libraries, and variety of businesses, churches, and community organizations, while watching their city become the fifth largest in Illinois.

For the historian and the genealogist, sources from the Naperville Heritage Collection will help identify land plats, farm families and their descendants, early businesses, development of the Centennial and Sesquicentennial memorial gifts to Naperville, the growth of city services and its three libraries, and listings of early telephone subscribers. Publications for the Home Coming in 1917 and the Centennial in 1931 provide timelines of important events and profiles of prominent citizens and leaders. Naperville celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2006, and looks back to the accomplishments of the Centennial of 1931 and Sesquicentennial of 1981 through books, pamphlets, slides, and films in this collection of sources. A history of DuPage County reveals the role of Joseph Naper and his associates in carving out DuPage County from Cook County in 1839 and establishing Naperville as its first county seat.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: McLean County Museum of History

The McLean County Museum of History offers access to a wide range of Native American objects. The collection includes pre-historic lithics and pottery fragments found in Central Illinois used in farming, hunting, and food processing. The collection also contains objects obtained through trade with early European settlers and made by Kickapoo and other Native Americans for use in daily life.

Collection highlights include artifacts gathered from archeological excavations at the Grand Village of the Kickapoo and Kickapoo Stockade, photographs taken at the Kickapoo Reservation in Horton Kansas in 1906, and manuscripts and documents relating to the Kickapoo People collected by Milo Custer. Additional highlights include artifacts excavated from archeological work conducted at the French and Fox Indian battle location known as the Arrowsmith Battlefield. You can also view lithics and pottery fragments from the Woodland and Mississippian eras.

Subjects that this collection appears in: State History | State History | The Arts

From: Niles Public Library District

Images from the development of the Niles Public Library

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History

From: Skokie Public Library

The Niles Township Illinois Historic Documents Digital Collection comprises a set of digitized documents, primarily meeting minutes and treasurer’s accounts, from the beginning of Niles Township, Illinois, and its governing bodies, such as the Drainage Commission, Highway Commission, and School Board of Trustees. Dates range from the Niles Township School Trustees Treasury accounts from 1843 to 1861; the first documentation of Niles Township Officers in 1850; to voter registration forms in 1927 to Budget and Annual Appropriation Ordinances from 1945 and Commissioner of Highways for Niles Township Minute records from 1936 to 1949, though the majority of documents are from the late 19th century.

These primary source materials document the necessary activities of Niles Township and its growth from a sparsely settled collection of family settler homesteads, following the 1833 Treaty of Chicago in which the Potawatomi, Ojibwa, Ottawa, and Chippewa tribes ceded their territory and were expelled to land west of the Mississippi (not documented here), to a Township of incorporated towns and villages interconnected by roads, some paved, irrigation canals, and school districts.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: North Central College

A selection of images from the North Central College Archives’ main photograph collection, including subjects such as buildings and grounds, student organizations, celebrations, musical groups, graduations, and college history. Dates range from the 1860s to the 1990s.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History

From: North Suburban Library District

In 1994 the Friends of North Suburban Library formed a local history committee. Since that time they have collected scrapbooks, photographs, maps, yearbooks, diaries, letters and other memorabilia documenting the history of the communities that surround Rockford, Illinois: Loves Park, Machesney Park and Roscoe. Included in the collection presented here are images from the Harlem School District, Harlem Village in the late 19th century, and the Lusk collection of buildings. Photographs of farms and businesses that represent important developments in the community are also featured. The minutes of the Roscoe Women's Christian Temperance Union and the Roscoe Literary Club, in the late 19th century, afford a sense of the community at the time.

These are historical images of Loves Park, Machesney Park and Roscoe.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Northbrook School District 28

The Northbrook Area History collection features photographs from Northbrook School District 28. The collection's photographs date back to the early 1930's and span the District's history of over 100 years. The photographs include students and faculty from the now-closed Crestwood and Oaklane Schools. Also featured are many photographs from the District's four current schools - Northbrook Junior High School, Greenbriar School, Meadowbrook School, and Westmoor School. The scenes show the District's evolution, including the adoption of new teaching styles, curriculum, and technology. For more information about Northbrook School District 28, please see: www.northbrook28.net

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History

From: Bensenville Community Public Library

The Bensenville Community Public Library has, over the past three decades, collected a substantial amount of material dealing with the transformation of Douglas Field from a World War II aircraft manufacturing facility into O'Hare International Airport. Contained within this collection are letters, press releases, governmental resolutions, photographs and other historic documents. These materials may help the researcher understand O'Hare’s development into a national transportation center, its impact on the ecology of northern Illinois, and the consequences of various expansion plans on the quality of life in Chicago's western suburbs.

For more information, visit the Bensenville Community Public Library site.

Subjects that this collection appears in: State History | State History

From: Lincoln Library

Established in 1856, Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois, is the largest cemetery in Illinois in land area (365 acres). More than seventy thousand people are interred in this historic cemetery. With more than 2.5 million visitors each year, it is the second most-visited cemetery in the United States.

Each entry includes the name of the deceased; the date of death; age at death; cause of death; a designation of the grave location, through a combination of block, lot, range, and grave numbers; place of birth; and remarks.

Note: The text of each volume is searchable (within the volume) by name, year of death, and cause of death.

These records were made available through the collaborative efforts of the Sangamon Valley Collection at Lincoln Library, Oak Ridge Cemetery, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and the Papers of Abraham Lincoln.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Lincolniana | State History | State History

From: Old Town School of Folk Music

Old Town School of Folk Music has digitized hours of audio and video that document a portion of the School’s La Peña concert series (1995-2005) and has licensed the performances for inclusion in The Illinois Digital Archive. This project provides public access to fragile, previously unavailable traditional and ethnic arts source material from Chicago’s Hispanic community, and engages new, diverse, and culturally curious communities via the Illinois Digital Archive.

Announcements of this project have been presented as podcasts, playlists and video shorts on YouTube and SoundCloud – all with prominent links to the Illinois Digital Archive.

Subjects that this collection appears in: The Arts

From: Centralia Regional Library District

In 1975 a project to commemorate the American Revolution Bicentennial was undertaken by the Centralia Public Library. The result is this collection of oral histories created by local residents who talk about their personal experiences and their family histories. Topics covered include: Education, railroading, oil industry, mining (including the story of the Number 5 mine disaster), agriculture, businesses, churches, and ethnic groups.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Oral History

From: University of Illinois at Springfield

The Oral History Collection at UIS consists primarily of material collected by the Sangamon State University Oral History Office from 1971 to 1991. Some oral history memoirs have been added in recent years by volunteers and UIS graduate history students. The collection includes the memoirs of a wide array of people including: coal miners; members of the African-American, Italian-American, Jewish, and other ethnic communities in central Illinois; Illinois legislators and politicians; farm families; WWII conscientious objectors and prisoners of war; members of Springfield churches and clubs; teachers in rural one room schools; and many others.

The collection is a vital record of life in Illinois and beyond from the late 19th century to the present, and preserves the memories of many individuals whose experiences would not otherwise be recorded.

This oral history collection is housed in Archives/Special Collections at Brookens Library, University of Illinois at Springfield. A guide to collection may be found at http://library.uis.edu/archives/collections/oral/contents.html

Subjects that this collection appears in: Oral History | State History

From: Orland Park Public Library

The digitized collection of photographs and texts are related to the Orland Park Library’s special collection, NASA archives and history of the Orland Park area. It includes topics such as Orland Park Community Guide in the area, Orland Park Community profile from the community development department, Village of Orland Park, NASA transfer bag, Replica Philadelphia Inquirer Newspaper about NASA, Apollo 17 Pre-launch.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Palos Heights Public Library:http://www.phlibrary.org

The Palos Heights Public Library has a collection of historical photographs, documents, oral histories, and articles relating to the geography, schools, local government, and social organizations of Palos Heights that document the growth and transformation of its residents, businesses, and community.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | State History

From: McLean County Museum of History

This collection of images from the Pantagraph, a Bloomington, Illinois newspaper dating back to 1846, records the history of Central Illinois through the work of Pantagraph photographer-reporters between 1932 and 1939. The Pantagraph was known for its coverage of agricultural concerns as well as local sports and social events in 10 counties surrounding McLean County. The collection of negatives, donated to the McLean County Museum of History by the Pantagraph, preserves vivid images of the Depression. Funding for this project came from the Illinois State Library as well as the supporters of the McLean County Museum of History.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Military History | State History

From: McLean County Museum of History

This collection of images from the Pantagraph, a Bloomington, Illinois newspaper dating back to 1846, records the history of Central Illinois through the work of Pantagraph photographer-reporters between 1940 and 1945. The Pantagraph was known for its coverage of agricultural concerns as well as local sports and social events in 10 counties surrounding McLean County. The collection of negatives, donated to the McLean County Museum of History by the Pantagraph, preserves vivid images of the Homefront of WWII in Illinois. Funding for this project came from the Illinois State Library as well as the supporters of the McLean County Museum of History.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Military History | State History

From: McLean County Museum of History

This collection of images from the Pantagraph, a Bloomington , Illinois newspaper dating back to 1846, records the history of Central Illinois through the work of Pantagraph photographer-reporters between 1946 and 1949. The Pantagraph was known for its coverage of agricultural concerns as well as local sports and social events in 10 counties surrounding McLean County. This collection of images, donated to the McLean County Museum of History by the Pantagraph, preserves vivid images of the post-war years. Funding for this project came from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Military History | State History

From: McLean County Museum of History

This collection of images from the Pantagraph, a Bloomington , Illinois newspaper dating back to 1846, records the history of Central Illinois through the work of Pantagraph photographer-reporters between 1950 - 1954. The Pantagraph was known for its coverage of agricultural concerns as well as local sports and social events in McLean County. This collection of images, donated to the McLean County Museum of History by the Pantagraph, preserves vivid images of the prosperous Baby Boomer years. Funding for this project came from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Military History | State History

From: McLean County Museum of History

This collection of images from the Pantagraph, a Bloomington, Illinois newspaper dating back to 1846, records the history of Central Illinois through the work of Pantagraph photographer-reporters between 1955- 1959. McLean County enjoyed the prosperity of its new industries, its dominance in corn and soybean agriculture and a brief period of peace between the Korean War and the Vietnam.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Military History | State History

From: Park Forest Public Library

Park Forest began in 1946 as a dream held by Carroll F. Sweet, Sr., to build a "G.I. Town" for returning veterans. Due to the lack of building during the Depression and World War II, the returning veterans and their young families faced a severe housing shortage. Carroll F. Sweet, Sr., introduced Nathan Manilow, a Chicago builder to Philip M. Klutznick, who was working in Washington D.C. as head of the Federal Public Housing Authority. Both men thought the dream was worth bringing to reality. The result was the first post-World War II planned community to include a shopping center and all of the amenities of modern life built in to the original plan. The plan was turned in to FHA in November 1946. Move-ins began in August 1948. On February 1, 1949, at the suggestion of the builders, Park Forest was incorporated as a village. By October 1949, 3,010 rental units had been completed. Construction of "For Sale" homes was begun by 1950.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Oral History

From: Meadville Lombard Theological School

Dr. Preston Bradley (1888-1983) was a radio personality and Unitarian minister. A major influence on Chicago’s cultural and political life, he was a member of the Chicago Public Library Board and served on both the Chicago Council against Racial Discrimination and the Mayor's Committee on Race Relations. The People’s Church Audio Recordings Collection consists of sermons and speeches given by Preston Bradley and other civic and religious leaders at People’s Church between 1939 and 1985.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History | State History

From: Peoria Public Library

Postcards of images of Peoria.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Postcards

From: Madison County Historical Society

The 203 images in this collection represent a small sampling of the approximately 6,000 photographs and illustrations in the Madison County Archival Library’s “P. Files” (picture files). The featured postcards, drawings, and photographs date from the 1800s to the 2000s and cover a wide variety of subjects. This digital collection was curated by library staff not as a comprehensive county history but as a visual introduction to some of the unique and interesting people, places, objects, and events of Madison County, Illinois.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Postcards | State History | The Arts | The Arts | The Arts

From: Park Ridge Public Library

Park Ridge’s history includes everyone from government to businesses to the citizens themselves. In the library’s Heritage Room, we already had some photographs and papers, but we knew it was just a small piece of the historical puzzle. We contacted City Hall, the Fire Department, and the Historical Society to begin pulling together this digital collection. Then we broadened the collection’s range to include local churches, the Youth Campus, and the Pickwick Theatre. Finally, through an article in the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate newspaper, we called upon the local businesses and people of Park Ridge to share their items with us. Making this incredible collection available allows people access to items they might have had trouble gathering on their own, might never have known existed, or might never have gotten to see or handle due to some items’ fragile conditions. The Library greatly appreciates the willingness of private donors to make their items available. The Park Ridge Juniors Foundation and the Park Ridge Community Bank provided funding for this project.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Plainfield Public Library District

Items represent collections within the Plainfield Historical Society, Plainfield Public Library, Shorewood-Troy Public Library District, and the Will County Recorder of Deeds office and include index books, plat atlases, glass plate negatives and newspapers spanning 125 years of Plainfield and Will County history from the 1830s to the 1950s. The Will County Grantor/Grantee indexes comprise over 250,000 entries of property transactions from 1836-1885. Original records are held at the Will County Recorder of Deeds Office in Joliet, Illinois.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Polo Public Library District

This collection consists of cemetery records dating to the 1850's. Volunteer members of the Polo Historical Society walked through each of the individual cemeteries and recorded information from stones and markers.

Subjects that this collection appears in: State History | State History

From: Madison County Historical Society

This collection of nearly 800 images documents the activities of the Edwardsville Fire Department from the 1890s through the 2000s. The photographs show the firefighters battling blazes, undergoing training, relaxing at the station, and interacting with the community. The collection depicts fire trucks and other equipment used throughout the decades. The collection also includes a series of photographs of a suspected arson. The photographs, along with additional archival materials and artifacts, were donated to the Madison County Historical Society by the Edwardsville Fire Department in 2021.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Institutional History

From: Plainfield Public Library District

This joint project with the Plainfield Public Library, Plainfield Historical Society, and Wheatland Township Supervisor’s office represents over one hundred years of Plainfield history through maps and government records. Within the collection are dozens of township record books for Wheatland and Plainfield Townships. These include Wheatland Township Road and Bridge surveys, Tax assessment records (listing all property both real estate and personal effects for Wheatland Township residents from 1852-1858), Chattel mortgages and Justice of the Peace hearings, Plainfield Township Cemetery records (1836-2000) Plainfield Township board minutes, Plainfield Village ordinances, Plainfield Village water bills, and other miscellaneous government business transactions spanning 1845-1955. Maps include Plainfield Village annexation maps from the 190s-1970s, Plainfield area subdivision plat maps from the 1990s-2000s, and other miscellaneous local historical maps from the early Twentieth Century.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Madison County Historical Society

The eleven letters in this collection document one side of a correspondence spanning 1888–92. Nan Howell’s frank and expressive writing gives us rare insight into the real lives and private thoughts of late nineteenth-century women.

Anna “Nan” Howell was born in 1869 in Aurora, Illinois. She grew up there the youngest of six children. Her father was a wealthy lumber dealer. Letter recipient Hannah “Hallie” Wade lived with her parents and sister in Alton, Illinois. Her father was a banker. Both women were from white, upper-middle-class families. They met as students at Monticello Female Seminary in Godfrey, Illinois. Nan’s letters are sprinkled with mentions of fellow classmates (notably Nora “Dell” Hatheway of Alton).

The Howell-Wade correspondence covers a wide range of personal topics. The women’s future husbands (Charles “Harry” Reeves, Jr., and John “Jack” Duncan, respectively) feature prominently. In the first letter, Nan gives her impressions of Jack after meeting him for the first time. In the next, she relates that Harry has had an operation for a sexual disorder.

But Nan covers a multitude of other topics too. She writes candidly about feelings of depression. She answers questions from Hallie about pregnancy and recommends a sex education book. In her letter of January 12, 1890, Nan reports that she has had a lumpectomy.

The long-distance friendship survives hurt feelings on both sides, documented in the letters. The last letter in the collection, dated July 29, 1892, is a brief note informing Jack Duncan (via Hallie) of Nan’s address in Grand Haven, Michigan. Nan died seven months later.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | State History

From: Prospect Heights Public Library District

City news from the Citizens of Prospect Heights, Illinois

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Publications

From: Prospect Heights Public Library District

Published by the Prospect Heights, Illinois Improvement Association

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Prospect Heights Public Library District

Prospect Heights City Journal : newsletter for the city of Prospect Heights, Illinois for 1984-2002.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Publications

From: Melrose Park Public Library

The Melrose Park Public Library digitized copies of our local newspaper, The Herald, from the WWII years of 1941-1945. These papers depict life during the war years for the residents of not only Melrose Park, but neighboring communities including Maywood, Bellwood, Forest Park, Stone Park, Hillside and Westchester.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Military History | Publications

From: McLean County Museum of History

The Public Life in McLean County Collection covers all aspects of public activity, including clubs, schools, parades, sports, service organizations, government and medicine in McLean County. Special collections inside feature events and places like the Vietnam War, ISSCS and Central Illinois sports.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Pullman State Historic Site

The Pullman State Historic Site (https://www2.illinois.gov/dnrhistoric/Experience/Sites/Northeast/Pages/Pullman-Site.aspx) focuses on their special collection archive of images and information relating to Pullman and Roseland history. The grant project focuses on Pullman's industrial and labor history featuring historic photographs of the 1881 Pullman Palace Car Company, George Pullman's Town of Pullman, and the town of Roseland; related maps and other materials are also included.

The Pullman Company continued its transportation activities into the 1980s and the selection will include visuals representing all the eras of Pullman production. It will include images from well-known Pullman photographers, including Henry R. Koopman. J. W. Taylor, Thomas S. Johnson, John P. Van Vorst, and Melvin C. Horn. Many of the visuals illuminate the lives of the workers in the Town of Pullman and the community of Roseland as well as showcase the Pullman factory and its historic train cars.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Industrial History | Industrial History | Industrial History

From: Eureka Public Library District

The Eureka Pumpkin Festival, which was held in Eureka between 1939 and 1961, was a community event to support local businesses, promote tourism, and honor Eureka's Libby, McNeil, and Libby canning factory. The festival was immensely popular and regularly averaged at least 50,000 attendees from all over Illinois and the Midwest. In 1947 film star and Eureka College alumnus Ronald Reagan and Illinois Governor Dwight Green attended, drawing national attention and record crowds. This digital collection features photographs, memorabilia and other items pertaining to the festival from various public and private collections.

Digitization of this collection was developed pursuant to a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a Department of the Office of Secretary of State using state grant funds.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Institutional History

From: Quincy Public Library

The Quincy Area Historic Photo Collection includes more than three thousand historical images covering more than a century of life in the Quincy area. The collection includes images of people, businesses, churches, entertainment, government, homes, and street scenes from the 1830s forward.

The photo collection documents a growing city that played a significant role in Illinois history. Quincy was first settled by John Wood in 1821, and became the county seat when Adams County was formed in 1825. Quincy gave refuge to Mormons during the winter of 1838-1839, and local abolitionists helped slaves on the Underground Railroad. Quincy was the site of the sixth Lincoln-Douglas debate during the Senate race of 1858.

By 1870, Quincy had become the second largest city in Illinois with a population of 24,000. Many businesses and industries had their start in Quincy such as Collins Plow Company, Comstock-Castle Stove Company, E.M. Miller Carriage Company, Gardner Denver Incorporated, Gates Radio Company, Irwin Paper Company, and Moorman Manufacturing Company. The R.G. Dun & Co.’s official report of June 29, 1889 stated, “That Quincy manufactures more steam governors, more omnibuses, more show cases and more hay presses than any other one city in America is a fact worthy of note.” Robert W. Gardener’s 1860 invention harnessing steam, led to the Gardner Governor Company, now Gardner Denver.

The Quincy of today, which was named an All-American City in 1963 and again in 1985, is a modern and progressive industrial city in the heart of a large and fertile agricultural area. Present manufacturers include: electronic equipment, air compressors, industrial pumps, mining and oil drilling equipment, stoves, wheels, truck and trailer bodies, mineral foods and stock preparations, as well as vegetable oils and various dairy products.

The initial 2008 project was made possible by a grant from the Library Services and Technology Act, administered through a competitive grant program by the Illinois State Library.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Illinois State Library

As a crossroads state, as well as incorporating the city of Chicago, a terminus of industry going back to the 19th century, Illinois was a crucial link in the railroad industry. Both passengers & freight were moved in great numbers throughout our territory. One of the most valuable collections held by the Illinois State Library is a collection of railroad maps showing the development of the state's rail system starting in 1854 and up through the present day. At one time many companies crisscrossed the state, but as time passed lines gradually merged as numerous went out of business, their track bought up by the remaining entities until only a few remained. These maps will show what companies existed when and where their track went. Also electric rail passenger lines, i.e. interurban railroads, will be shown on these maps as well. One can still find traces of their tracks, but the maps will show the entirety of these long gone modes of public transportation.

The web version of the images is JPEG2000. Upon request, the State Library map staff can send a TIFF version or can make a full-scale color paper copy.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Industrial History | Maps | Maps

From: Roosevelt University

The Illinois Labor History Society Collection includes moving images and sound recordings, many of them oral histories, documenting labor unions; women, African-Americans, and Latinos in labor; labor art and music; the Haymarket Square Incident; Pullman Porters; labor and politics; and labor during the Depression across Illinois.

Subjects that this collection appears in: History Makers | Industrial History | Institutional History | Institutional History | Social Movements | State History

From: Illinois State Archives

Registers of Prisoners for Alton, Joliet and Menard State Prisons 1833-1908

This database provides an index for the Registers of Prisoners received at the Illinois State Penitentiary at Alton Prison (1833-1841; 1847-1858), the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet (ca. 1858-1901) and Southern Illinois penitentiary at Chester (Menard) (ca. 1865-1908). A complete history of Illinois prisons is accessible at http://ilsos.libraryhost.com/?p=creators/creator&id=36. Registers provide information about the prisoner, including personal history and family history.

Digitization of this collection was developed pursuant to a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a Department of the Office of Secretary of State using state grant funds.

For more information, see http://ilsos.libraryhost.com/?p=creators/creator&id=36 | Illinois State Archives

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History | Social Movements | State History

From: Roosevelt University

In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a lifelong sailor and former assistant secretary of the Navy, sent Winston Churchill a handwritten note, in which he included a quotation from an 1849 William Longfellow poem, “The Building of the Ship,” which began “Sail On, O Ship of State!” His use of a ship’s metaphor to describe the battle then being waged between Great Britain and Germany, and to fortify the spirits of the British, reflects his fascination with the sea, but also suggests the degree to which Roosevelt saw himself as a captain of his own ship of state. It is no accident, therefore, that during his presidency, companies mass produced images of Roosevelt at the helm, steering the American state. Imposed on clocks and lamp bases, Roosevelt’s image and figure reminded Americans that a strong leader would guide them through troubled seas.

Artifacts such as the ones in this collection, located in the Joseph M. Jacobs and Lowery Collections of FDR memorabilia at the Roosevelt University Library, illustrate the extraordinary popularity of America’s 32nd president. Through these artifacts, we see the way in which Franklin D. Roosevelt and New Deal liberalism influenced the public careers and private lives of Americans in Chicago and across the nation.

Subjects that this collection appears in: History Makers

From: Thomas Ford Memorial Library and Western Springs Historical Society

Remembering the Houses of Western Springs is a collection of photographs of 19th century houses, with dates and some background information on each house. The Western Springs Historical Society took the photographs in 1977, and Thomas Ford Memorial Library in Western Springs digitized them in 2005.

Western Springs is a suburb of Chicago located on the western edge of Cook County. The community was first settled in 1870s, and the village was incorporated in 1886. Being located along the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad, the village became an affordable location for the homes of Chicago-bound commuters. The village was in many ways typical of Chicago suburbs that developed in the late 19th and early 20th century. Remarkably, many houses built in that era survive.

The photographs may also be found in the book Western Springs: 19th Century Houses and Their Owners, 1978.

For more information about this project visit this link at the Western Springs History site.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Community History

From: Ridgewood High School

The communities of Norridge and Harwood Heights are entirely landlocked by the City of Chicago, which annexed the surrounding land to build O'Hare Airport. Both communities were founded in 1948. In 1959, the two communities elected to build a high school to provide secondary education to their ever-increasing populations.

In bedroom communities like Norridge and Harwood Heights, still welcoming new immigrants to the U.S., there is no town square and not much of a shared history or experience with other residents; however, Ridgewood High School is the one experience that everyone shares. It is a life-long experience. Residents come there as young students; return as parents for their children; use the gym or auditorium facilities; and learn as adult learners in its extension classes. In this very real sense, Ridgewood High School is the community.

The first superintendent of Ridgewood, Eugene R. Howard, was a great proponent of the educational theories of Dr. J. Lloyd Trump. Dr. Trump's teaching methods of secondary school education were revolutionary for their time. Students attended classes ranging in length from 20 to 80 minutes. One third of the instruction was done in large lecture halls of 60-160 students, making extensive use of educational TV and films. One third was then done in small discussion seminar groups of 10-20 students, led by students and guided by teachers' aides. The final third of the students' time was intended to be devoted to individual study.

Ridgewood High School was designed with the Trump System in mind. The building was wired for cable television and initially laid out with the required lecture halls and seminar spaces. The school became famous for these educational innovations, with articles appearing in 1968 in Time Magazine and Ladies Home Journal proclaiming the school was one of "America’s Top Ten High Schools".

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History | Institutional History

From: Rockford College -- Howard Coleman Library

Historical images from Rockford College.

Digitization of this collection was developed pursuant to a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, an Office of the Secretary of State using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act .

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History

From: Rockford Public Library

Historical images from Rockford, Illinois.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Roselle Public Library

Partnering with the Roselle History Museum, the Roselle Public Library digitized historical artifacts that illustrate the growth and development of Roselle, Illinois.

The History Museum maintains a large collection of original photographs and documents. Digitizing the collection not only serves to preserve it, but also to organize and index it. In addition, digitizing makes it possible to present the collection on the Internet as a searchable database, accessible to anyone with a computer and Internet access.

The images in this collection were digitized using the "best practices" suggested by the Illinois State Library. The History Museum and the Library each retain high quality archival copies of all of the images presented in this database.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Madison County Historical Society

The images in this collection come from a book known at the Madison County Archival Library as the “School Album.”

The School Album began life as a hardbound souvenir printed in 1918 to celebrate Illinois’ centennial anniversary as a state. But at some point the book was repurposed as a scrapbook. The scrapbook-maker concentrated on photographs of rural schoolhouses, each one labeled with the school name and township.

By the year 2000, no one working in the library knew when the scrapbook had been created, or by whom. If a previous library staff member made the School Album, then where did they get the photographs? Or did someone donate the scrapbook to the library?

While conducting research for this project, library staff discovered that two of the included photographs were taken by Edwardsville Intelligencer reporter-photographer Herb Crocker (1883-1948). Additional photos in the collection may also be Crocker’s work, but this has not yet been determined.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Institutional History | State History

From: Skokie Public Library

Photographs, documents, and artifacts relate the history of the Skokie Fire Department.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Skokie Public Library

Photographs, maps, business cards, advertisements, and architectural drawings document the history of Niles Center and Skokie from the early 1800s to the 1990s.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Skokie Public Library

Newspaper articles, letters, and audio recordings document the attempt of the National Socialist Party of America (Nazis) to march in Skokie in 1978.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Social Movements

From: Skokie Public Library

Photographs, letters, and artifacts document the life and career of Dr. Louise Klehm, Skokie’s first woman doctor. Dr. Klehm graduated from medical school in 1902, interned at Jane Addam's Hull House, studied surgery in Berlin and Vienna, and finally came home to Skokie to practice medicine.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | History Makers

From: Elmhurst College, A.C. Buehler Library

Since its founding in 1871, Elmhurst College has been a community where spiritual life, humane values, mutual respect, service to others, and responsible citizenship are practiced. Throughout its history, these values have led the College and its students to participate in the social activism of twentieth century America. Particularly since the 1920's, discussion and debate in the college newspaper, speakers brought to campus to discuss important current issues, and student activism both on and off campus have characterized the College's engagement in social issues. Events at Elmhurst College have reflected on a smaller scale the national scene, and thus provide an interesting context for studying the social movements of twentieth century America.

The collection includes photographs, excerpts from the college newspaper, and other supporting papers from the Elmhurst College archives. The largest part of the collection focuses on the social movements of the 1960's - civil rights, student activism, Vietnam War - but materials from other eras, including the 1920's and World War II are included.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History | Social Movements

From: Pullman State Historic Site

The Southeast Chicago Historical Society (http://www.neiu.edu/~reseller) curates a collection particularly strong in materials related to industrial and labor history. Included in their collection are artifacts related to numerous industries in the area including Wisconsin Steel, United States Steel South Works, Republic Steel, Acme Coke /Interlake Steel, Valley Mould, and others.

Materials digitized from this collection focus on industries in the Calumet region other than Pullman and Acme/Interlake Steel. This includes several major steel mills including U. S. Steel, Wisconsin Steel, and Republic Steel. Other area industries such as General Mills, the State Line Generating Station, and local shipyards are also included. Labor activities, especially the Memorial Day Massacre of 1937, related to these industries and local millgate communities including South Chicago, South Deering, the East Side and Hegewisch are featured.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Industrial History

From: Lincoln Library

The Springfield Aviation Company Collection, 1927-1955, was donated to the Sangamon Valley Collection at Lincoln Library in May 1995 by Craig Isbell, former co-manager of the company. Isbell formed a partnership with Gelder Lockwood in the late 1920s and operated this company at Springfield's Southwest Airport. This airport was first called Commercial Airport and later Municipal Airport. It continued as a private airfield after the opening of Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in 1947. The collection is comprised of several hundred photographs, publications and newspaper clippings related to the company and aviation in Springfield.

These digital images, made available by the Sangamon Valley Collection at the Lincoln Library (Springfield), are of photographs from this collection.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History | Institutional History | State History

From: Illinois Fire Service Institute

This collection dates from the 1960’s through the 1980’s and contains historical images of apparatus and scenes from a wide variety of incidents that the Springfield Fire Department responded to during this time period. All images were digitized from 35mm slides.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Institutional History

From: St. Charles Public Library

The St. Charles Public Library (SCPL) digital collection chronicles the events and people that have shaped the history of St. Charles, IL from the early 1800s to the present. Materials include old maps (including the city of St. Charles, St. Charles Township and Campton Township), militia records, biographies, photographs, diaries and other materials from the Library's archived collection.

Many of the files are compilations of clippings taken over the years from local newspapers covering topics of interest such as the school district, police department, local businesses and more. Although the city of St. Charles is the main focus of the collection, some information about the surrounding Fox Valley area and Kane County is also included. Digitization and addition of materials to the collection is on-going.

To improve your search, try using both subjects (such as "Business and Industry") as well as proper names. Some larger works also include separate indexes which have also been digitized and provide a good starting point. In addition, you might like to visit the "Local History" page of the St. Charles Public Library web site (http://www.stcharleslibrary.org/node/342) for more information about local historic buildings as well as other resources that are available at the Library.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: St. John's College

This collection of images represents a portion of the rich history of St. John’s College in Springfield, Illinois. The images cover the time from the School’s inception in 1886 as St. John’s Hospital Training School to the demolition of the old School of Nursing building in 1990. Father Louis Hinssen and the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis started the School on October 4, 1886 (Feast of St. Francis). It was the first Catholic hospital school of nursing, and in the beginning was a one-year program exclusively for the Hospital Sisters. In 1912, the first lay women were admitted. The first men were admitted in 1955. The School of Nursing officially became St. John’s College, Department of Nursing, in 1991.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History | Institutional History

From: Sterling Public Library

Local history images from the Sterling Public Library collection.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Stickney-Forest View Public Library District

The Stickney Local History Initiative is a collection of historical items, both text and image based, encompassing the Stickney, Forest View and surrounding areas.

A highlight of the collection is the 1939 journal of Herbert R. Maid. Maid was the Stickney Township Supervisor in the 1930's. The journal was donated to the collection by Louis Viverito.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Illinois State Museum

Since its creation in 1877, the Illinois State Museum has been the steward of the Illinois Legacy Collection. What started as geological specimens stored in various nooks and crannies of the capitol building became a collection containing millions of objects documenting the natural, anthropological, and artistic history of Illinois and its people.

The Story of the Illinois State Museum collection contains photographs, publications, and ephemera that document the rich history of the Museum since 1877.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History | Institutional History | Institutional History | State History | The Arts

From: StoryCorps

StoryCorps’ mission is to preserve and share humanity’s stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world.

We do this to remind one another of our shared humanity, to strengthen and build the connections between people, to teach the value of listening, and to weave into the fabric of our culture the understanding that everyone’s story matters. At the same time, we are creating an invaluable archive for future generations.

This StoryCorps interview is part of the project “Untold Black Stories: A Downtown Alton Visual Listening Tour.”

Untold Black Stories is a collaboration between Jacoby Arts Center, Alton Main Street, Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, All Town, USA, and The Hayner Public Library designed to catalyze diversity, inclusivity and equity within the downtown Alton historic district and engage the community. This project was made possible with support from Illinois Humanities, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Illinois General Assembly

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Oral History

From: Illinois Center for the Book

Tales from the General Store Collection was a cultural journalism project that operated from 1981-1998, primarily in southeastern Illinois and southwestern Indiana, to preserve the history and culture of the general store era of the rural Midwest.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | State History | The Arts

From: Rockford Public Library

Tinker Swiss Cottage is a historic house museum located in the heart of Rockford, Illinois. The museum complex contains the historic house museum, barn, and carriage house from the Tinker family. In addition, the property is the home of the founding site of Rockford and contains a Pre-Columbian Native American conical mound.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | State History | State History

From: Towanda District Library

The Towanda District Library and the Towanda Area Historical Society collaborated on this project to digitize and make available Towanda area historical and cultural materials from the collection of the Towanda Area Historical Society. The focus of the digital collection is in these areas: historical buildings and homes; Towanda’s Main Street through the years; early rural schools of the Towanda area; oral and written family and personal stories. The collection contains: photographs; maps; family and person written histories; newspaper clippings; organization and business histories; postcards and more.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Illinois State Library

Transactions, the referred scientific journal of the Illinois State Academy of Science, has been published continually since its inaugural 1908 issue.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History | Publications | State History

From: Illinois State Archives

This collection (U.S. Surveyor General's Records for Illinois, Record Series 953.012, "Federal Township Plats") consists of official plat maps of all congressional townships statewide; these were primarily drawn from field notes of federal surveys conducted from 1804-1855 in what is now Illinois. Additional plats were created from 1868-1891; these were drawn primarily from new surveys conducted in parts of some townships statewide, as well as those for islands and lakes along the Fox River. The plats were prepared by the United States Surveyor General’s office. In 1957, the Secretary of State received official custody of the plats for deposit in the Illinois State Archives.

Plat maps include information as the township's legal description; delineation of sections; measurements in chains and acres; and topographical and vegetation features (e.g., prairie, timber, bodies of water, salines, swamps). Occasionally man-made features (e.g., roads, settlements, Native American traces) are noted in the plats, as are additional features such as survey and claim numbers to various lands, and boundary lines (including those delineated in treaties with various Native American tribes).

Subjects that this collection appears in: Maps | State History

From: Illinois State University

The materials in this collection, dating from 1917-1919, document the participation of the students, alumni, faculty and staff of Illinois State Normal University in World War I. During the war, Illinois State Normal University Librarian Ange Milner corresponded with persons in service. After the war, she sent a survey to all who could be located. The bulk of the material in this collection consists of the responses to this survey as well as letters and photographs sent to Miss Milner and others at the University. These materials were gathered in War Service Records for each individual. It also includes documentation of on-campus activities, including a reunion for everyone that served in World War I, hosted by the University in June 1919.

These women form a very interesting group. Four of them were members of the University faculty (including the director of the newly-opened women's residence hall); six had graduated since 1910; five graduated between 1900 and 1910; one graduated in 1890 and was in her early forties at the time she entered the service; seven did not graduate; three were graduates of University High School; two were sisters. Most had taught school since graduation, but several had gone into nursing during World War I. Many served as nurses, reconstruction aides or Red Cross workers, and one spent the entire war as a Navy typist in Washington, D. C. About half of these women saw service in Europe. At least two served in hospital units that came under fire in France and one was among the twenty-plus women awarded the Croix de Guerre. One of the most prominent women in this group was Julia Scott Vrooman, wife of Carl Schurz Vrooman, U. S. Assistant Secretary of Agriculture who went to Europe as a member of the Agricultural Commission. The women represented in this collection provide excellent examples of the roles that women played in World War I.

For more information about this project, visit this link at the University Archives, Illinois State University.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Military History

From: University of Saint Mary of the Lake -- Mundelein Seminary

The Eucharistic Congress 1926

The 28th Eucharistic Congress of the Catholic Church was held in Chicago, June 20-24, 1926, the first time it had been hosted in the United States. It was considered the greatest religious gathering in modern times.

On June 24th, 750,000 people made a pilgrimage in a Eucharistic Procession from Chicago to St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein. The participants traveled on foot, by auto, bus, and by rail. Shown below is a view of St. Mary of the Lake with the procession being led by Cardinal Bonzano.

Subjects that this collection appears in: State History

From: Field Museum of Natural History

In October 2006, the Field Museum Library's Photo Archives began a project that was funded by the Library Services Technology Act through the Honorable Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian. The purpose of the project was to use digital technology to create replacement-quality, high-resolution replicas of a collection of approximately 800 original glass negatives.

The images produced for this project range from 1894 to 1925 and show Chicago and outlying areas' flora, fauna, parks, and neighborhoods. They also document architectural changes to the Field Columbian Museum in Jackson Park and The Field Museum in its present location in Grant Park.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History | Institutional History | Institutional History | State History

From: Lincoln Library

The Vachel Lindsay Collection is comprised largely of materials containing the published prose and poetry of Vachel Lindsay in formats such as posters, newspaper and magazine articles, booklets, pamphlets, magazines and books. Other items include newspaper and magazine articles that contain biographical information on Lindsay and his family, critiques of his work and memorials and tributes to Lindsay. This small collection of photographs include Lindsay, his family, Elizabeth Graham, the Lindsay Verse Speaking Choir, 1940 and his tombstone. Phonograph recordings of Lindsay reading his works and his son, Nicholas Cave Lindsay, reading his father's poems make up another part of the collection.

Two scrapbook albums put together by Frances "Fannie" Hamilton, the younger sister of Vachel's mother contain materials about Lindsay from 1914 to about 1930. The albums include poems, drawings, private publications, clippings about and by Lindsay, a lock of his hair and some photographs. Bound volumes of his work include The Tramp's Excuse, The Village Magazine first edition, The Village Magazine third and fourth editions, Vision Magazine, A Letter About My Four Programmes and a notebook kept by Joy Lindsay Blair, Vachel's younger sister.

These digital images, made available by the Sangamon Valley Collection at the Lincoln Library (Springfield), are of photographs from this collection.

Subjects that this collection appears in: History Makers | State History | The Arts

From: Eastern Illinois University, Booth Library

The Warbler, Eastern Illinois University's student yearbook, provides a fascinating insight over the years into Eastern's history, from the perspective of its students. Published yearly since 1919, the Warbler captures information and photographs of students and faculty, chronicles important cultural and sporting events, describes organizational activities, and depicts changes in the campus layout and physical plant. Taken together, the Warblers document in a very vivid way, the story of Eastern Illinois University as it evolved from a small normal school to the comprehensive university that it is today.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Institutional History | Publications

From: Gail Borden Public Library

The Watch Word magazine chronicled personal stories, photos, company history, engineering successes and local businesses for employees of the Elgin National Watch Company, a leading Elgin employer for over one hundred years

Subjects that this collection appears in: Publications

From: Westmont Public Library

This collection includes digitized copies of local Westmont, IL newspapers going back to the 1940s. It includes issues of Towne Times, Westmont Progress, Westmont Challenger, Dupage Progress, Westmont Dupage Progress, and The Westmont Progress.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Community History | Publications

From: Wheaton Public Library

This is a collection of photographs and stories submitted for the project “Reflections Framed: A Celebration of Military Service Past and Present.” Veterans and family or friends with a connection to Wheaton, Illinois share a photo and story that describes a military memory or experience. Oral histories from veterans who agreed to create them are included.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Military History

From: Indian Trails Library District

Local history images of the towns of Buffalo Grove and Wheeling

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Military History

From: Sparta Public Library

The William Hayes Papers are primarily family letters written from 1830-1857. However, they also inlcude legal documents, business letters, and copies of "Andrew Borders vs. William Hayes," his 1844 civil trial at Picnkneyville for helping five Borders slaves escape to northern Illinois and the Illinois State Supreme Court trial which followed.

William Hayes was born on November 9, 1795, the son of Henry Hayes (1762-1823) and Mary Ann (Molly) Ferris(s). Little is known of his life prior to his marriage to Anna Johnston (1800-1861) on November 25, 1819. In 1825 he was a resident of Galway, New York. By 1826 he had "undertaken the farm for mother's and the girl's comfort." The mother mentioned here was probably Rachel Johnston, Anna's mother. The "girls" were Anna's half-sisters, Leah (1781-1843) and Jane (1792-1857) Cownover (variously spelled "Conover" and "Cowenhoven"). As early as 1826 William and Anna were receiving letters from her half-sister Ursula Taylor, to sell the farm and move her mother and sisters to Cleveland where she lived with her husband Charles. In 1829 William began receiving letters from Oliver Bannister, who had settled in Randolph County, Illinois, urging him to move to the Illinois country.

In late May of 1833 William, Anna, and their children (Mary Rachel, Margaret, Euphemia, William James, Isaac Henry, and Jane Ann) left their home in Galway and traveled to Cleveland to look over the land and visit with her half-sister, Ursula. Besides their large family, Anna's two half-sisters, Leah and Jane Cownover, also made the trip. In July of that same year, William left Cleveland, leaving the women and children behind, and went to Illinois to see if he liked it better than Ohio. Apparently he liked what he saw because in September 1833 he moved his family to Fort Clark, Illinois (present-day Peoria). While living in the Peoria area, William bought and sold land in northern Illinois. He seems to have been a land speculator. The Hayes family left Peoria in 1834 and settled in Randolph County. The reason given in one letter is that his wife had been sick with "the ague" for the entire year they lived in Peoria.

The first mention of William's work with the Underground Railroad occurs in a letter from his brother, James, in 1841. The following year on August 31, 1842, William helped five "indentured servants" (Susan Richardson - "Sukey", Hannah Morrison, and Sukey's children Jarrot, Harrison, and Anderson) escape from Randolph County. The five had "belonged" to Andrew Borders, a very wealthy and influential man who lived west of Sparta. The route the escapees traveled is not known, but by September 5, 1842 they had arrived in Farmington, Illinois. In February 1843 Andrew Borders sued William Hayes for aiding his servants in escaping and asked for $2500 in damages. The case was finally tried in April 1844 in Pinckneyville, Illinois. Hayes was found guilty and fined $300. He appealed the case to the Illinois Supreme Court which upheld the Perry County decision and refused to grant a new trial. A letter exists from 1845 that clearly indicates that William Hayes did not stop his involvement in the Underground Railroad. In 1848 a criminal charge was leveled against him and a Daniel Morrison for "harboring a slave" in Clinton County. This case never came to trail because William Hayes died intestate in 1849. His estate was probated in 1852. When the estate was finally settled, Anna Hayes received $118.25.

The documents in the Illinois Digital Archives website are only a portion of the letters written to William Hayes. Transcripts of the entire collection cam be found at the Sparta Public Library, Sparta, Illinois and the Knox College Library, Galesburg, Illinois. The entire story of Sukey, William Hayes, and Andrew Borders is told in the book Betwixt Two Suns: A True Tale of the Underground Raiload in Illinois by Carol Pirtle (Southern Illinois University Press, 2000.)

Subjects that this collection appears in: History Makers | State History

From: Wilmette Public Library District

The Wilmette Public Library history site displays photographs, letters, and documents to illustrate the history of the village of Wilmette and New Trier Township in Cook County, Illinois, U.S.A. A special focus of the collection is the history of the Wilmette Public Library.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: Woodstock Public Library

Community history images from the city of Woodstock

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History

From: McLean County Museum of History:https://www.mchistory.org/research/library

The "Work in the McLean County" Collection is made up of thousands of images showing examples of the hundreds of occupations that helped build McLean County and the people who labored within them.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Community History | Industrial History | Industrial History | Industrial History | State History

From: Illinois State Library

Hundreds of men, as well as many women, of Illinois were playing a part in the World War long before the United States entered the war. Some were fighting on the western front, some were Red Cross nurses or welfare workers. Others joined the Lafayette Escadrille (the American aviation unit in the French army), or entered the Foreign Legion. Records compiled by the Office of the Adjutant General show that Illinois gave 351,153 men to the army and navy of the United States during the war. Out of every twelve men in the army one was from Illinois. Illinois furnished more men to the army and navy than any other state in the Union, with the exception of New York and Pennsylvania, both of which had larger populations. The state's own division, the Thirty-third, was the only distinctly Illinois division that saw active service in France.

Money, next to men, was the greatest need of the government and Illinois gave its share and more. About seven percent of the subscriptions received for the nation's war loans, a total of approximately $1,300,000,000 came from Illinois - which, at the time, had about five percent of the population of the United States. Statistics compiled by the State Council of Defense show that the total contributions of the state to various funds raised by war aid and relief organizations was more than $45,000,000. One of the largest Illinois contributions to the war effort by Illinois farmers was the farm crop of 1918. Estimated by the Department of Agriculture to be worth $879,697,000 it was the greatest crop in money value that was ever produced by any state in the Union. As factories were quickly converted into munitions plants the output of Illinois factories in direct war contracts in 1918 was approximately $2,000,000,000.

By the time the War ended, more than 5,000 men from Illinois had given their lives in defense of world freedom and liberty.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Military History

From: Illinois State Library

On December 7, 1941 Japan bombed the American Naval Fleet at Pearl Harbor, prompting the United States to declare war on Japan. Although Illinois was divided on the issue of war or peace prior to December 7, the attack on Pearl Harbor caused a united front to form. While Springfield (the state capital) claimed to be the “heart of the nation” – not only geographically, but spiritually as well, the Illinois State Register (Springfield) reminded the citizens of its place as the “focal and central point in the State and Nation,” and called for a renewed sense of civic responsibility. Governor Dwight Green called for volunteers for defense and war services – the citizens responded, in fact the young men of Illinois crowded recruiting stations in such great numbers that they were forced to stay open twenty-four hours a day. In a telegram to President Roosevelt, Governor Green pledged the full support of the people and resources of Illinois.

This collection contains United States and Illinois government documents on subjects relating to World War II, including: rationing and conservation, women's work, civil defense, the Japanese interment, the development of the United Nations, and more.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Military History

From: Coal City Public Library District

Audio and video recordings of oral histories are accompanied by photographs, correspondence, and memorabilia from private collections to illustrate the home front and warfront lives of Coal City, Illinois area residents during World War II.

Special tribute is given to those who paid the supreme sacrifice.

For more information about this project, and other local history collections, visit this link at the Coal City Public Library site.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Military History | Oral History

From: Illinois State Library

The United States Signal Corps began in 1860, and in the 1880s, the military designated a photographic unit of the Signal Corps that assigned with the mission to document operations, equipment, people, and create a visual record of armed conflict. The importance of the photography grew in importance as World War II progressed due to increased training and organization. The Photographic Division of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer became the Army Pictorial Service on June 17, 1942. As a result, The Signal Corps created a unique pictorial record of World War II.

The photos in this collection cover operations in the European Theater from June 10, 1944-December 17, 1944. Beginning on D-Day --- June 6, 1944 --- the Western Allies carried their offensives from the Normandy beaches to the western borders of Germany. This encompasses the Normandy invasion, the campaign in Northern France and the Rhineland Campaign.

Signal Corps’ photographers documented the infantry and armored units fighting through hedgerow country toward their initial objectives of capturing the French towns of Cherbourg and Saint-Lô, as well as the advance into Western Germany. Overall, the Signal Corps documented every major military campaign in Europe, producing films and hundreds of thousands of still images, which the Army supplied the news media in the United States and around world.

The pictures were donated to the Carlinville (Illinois) High School Illinois World War II Classroom Project.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Military History

From: Illinois State Library

During World War II the United States government issued posters on topics such as national security, rationing and conservation, investing in war bonds, military recruitment, civil defense, and industrial production. These posters were part of an aggressive propaganda campaign designed to encourage and mobilize the home front war effort. Artists such as James Montgomery Flagg, Otto Fischer, Ben Shahn, and Norman Rockwell contributed their talents to create some of these posters.

This collection contains posters issued by various United States government agencies from the beginning of the war through 1945.

Subjects that this collection appears in: Military History

From: Field Museum of Natural History

As the planned outcome of Chicago's 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, The Field Museum may well be called "the Fair that never ended."

In its special collections the Library holds important original materials from the Exposition and a wealth of material relating to the founding and early history of The Field Museum. Our digital presentation of these collections allows you to browse or search among these holdings and view images.

The collections include official records, objects and photographs, as well as personal memorabilia from the Fair, such as the Robbins Family Scrapbook containing hundreds of fascinating items collected during the family's seven visits to the Exposition. Official records from the Fair include the immense handwritten financial ledger - six feet across when opened - recording the operating costs of the Fair. Also included are a collection of 350 photographs that document the construction of the Museum's present building at 12th Street, at the foot of Grant Park between 1915 and 1919.

Subjects that this collection appears in: State History | State History | The Arts | The Arts | The Arts