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/ Research / Finding Aids

Finding Aids

Detailed inventories of archival collections in the Museum, organized by subject, from the 1820s to the present.

    Filter by Category
  • Show all 584
  • Abraham Lincoln
  • Agriculture
  • Architecture and Historic Preservation
  • Art
  • Black History
  • Businesses
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Health and Medicine
  • Labor Unions
  • LGBTQIA+
  • Military
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Music
  • Organizations
  • People
  • Politics and Government
  • Religion
  • Sports
  • Transportation
4-H Federation / McLean County Fair Collection
The 4-H Federation is an aggregate of 4-H members from clubs in McLean County, g...
Agriculture Organizations
9/11 Collection
The 9/11 attacks were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Isla...
Politics and Government Military
A Touch of Glass
Terry Garbe established “A Touch of Glass” in 1974 in Bloomington. He moved the ...
Businesses Art People
Abstracts of Title
An abstract of title, or title abstract, briefly summarizes the various activiti...
Politics and Government
Adlai Stevenson Lecture Series 1965-1981
Adlai E. Stevenson, former Illinois Governor and two-time presidential candidate...
Education
Adult Education
The Adult Education program in Bloomington-Normal had its origins in 1935 and th...
Education
Airline Timetable Collection
...
Businesses Transportation
Aldrich, Frank W.
While Frank Aldrich was a banker by trade, he was remembered by many, locally an...
People Clubs and Hobbies
All About Normal
The Normal City Council approved creating the “All About Normal” Civic Academy o...
Politics and Government
Almanac
Almanacs are annual publications that include information such as weather foreca...
Agriculture
Almon Morrow
The collection consists mainly of correspondence from Almon Morrow, a private in...
Military People
Alton Railroad Community Band
The Alton Railroad Community Band was established to boost ticket sales during t...
Music Organizations
Amateur Musical Club
This collection contains programs (1897-1993), yearbooks (1893-1993), financial ...
Music Organizations
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Founded in 1926, the American Civil Liberties Union is the largest national volu...
Organizations Politics and Government LGBTQIA+
American Foundry and Furnace Company Collection (Soper Foundry)
Soper Foundry (then known as Flagg Foundry) began in Bloomington in 1874, produc...
Businesses
American Legion
This collection includes various Legion programs and publications, plus newspape...
Military Organizations
Amtrak Timetables
Amtrak schedules for routes around the country, including Illinois and surroundi...
Businesses Transportation
Angler’s Lake
The citizen effort to preserve Angler’s Lake, located in southeast Bloomington, ...
Places Politics and Government Sports Entertainment
Annette, Mme
Perhaps the best local newspaper reporter at the turn of the century wrote for t...
People Entertainment
Antique Study Group
The Antique Study Groups were sponsored by the McLean County Cooperative Extensi...
Clubs and Hobbies
Apollo 11 Pantagraph Run
This collection of The Daily Pantagraph covers the Apollo 11 space flight and Mo...
Politics and Government
Armstrong, Bea
Born in Hudson to William Campbell and Alma Belle Cope Blagg, Beatrice “Bea” Arm...
Education People
Arthur Drake School Band of America Collection
The School Band of America – School Chorus of America was founded July 1, 1959 a...
Education Organizations Music Entertainment
Arthur Pillsbury Collection
Arthur L. Pillsbury designed schools, churches, businesses, and homes, in the ea...
Businesses Architecture and Historic Preservation Places
As You Like It Club
Organized in 1914 with twelve members, this women’s literary group has programs ...
Clubs and Hobbies
Augsperger, LaRue
LaRue Augspurger’s diary records her observations, experiences, and adventures a...
People Health and Medicine Military
Auth Family
The Auth family opened a grocery in Bloomington around 1931 and operated it for ...
People Politics and Government Businesses
Baas, Bea Diaries
Berneice Emma “Bea” Baas began a career at State Farm Insurance in 1952 as a sto...
People
Baby Fold
Nancy and Allen Mason were pioneers in Normal–moving here just after the Civil W...
Education Organizations Places
Bach, William
William R. Bach, son of William and Sophia (Koehler) Bach, was born December 10,...
People Businesses Religion
Bagosy, John Jr.
John Bagosy, Jr (1949-2016) was born in Bloomington, IL. He served from 1966 to ...
Military People
Baldini, John
The parents of John Baldini emigrated from Italy to the United States during the...
People Businesses Politics and Government
Barbara Findley Stuart/McLean County Board Collection
...
People Politics and Government
Barbershoppers
The Bloomington Chapter of the SPEBSQSA was originally named the Bloomington Har...
Entertainment Organizations
Barn Keepers
Barns are the most important structure on a farmstead. The earliest barns in Cen...
Agriculture Organizations
Barth, Pat
Pat Barth donated this collection which contains materials from her early school...
People Music
Bartman, Fannie Mae
Fannie Mae Bartman was born in 1910 on a farm near New Holland, IL, to Koert and...
People
Barton House Archaeology and Family History
Milton Barton worked for Jesse Fell (founder and developer of Normal) and report...
Black History People
Baseball
A column in the October 20, 1857, issue of the Pantagraph suggested that it woul...
Sports Entertainment Organizations
Beel, Floyd E.—World War II Army Air Force Service
Floyd Everett Beel was born to Leown Iri and Emma Jane Calvert Beel in Decatur, ...
Military People Health and Medicine
Behr, Lincoln A. Theater Program
Lincoln A. Behr was born in Bloomington June 18, 1896.  Behr enjoyed going to th...
People Entertainment Music
Beich, Paul Frank
Born in Wehlau, East Prussia May 22, 1864, Paul Frank Beich received his early e...
Businesses People Places
Benjamin Farm Collection
This collection of farm management materials is from Kenneth and Paul Benjamin w...
Agriculture People
Bent, Horatio C.
Horatio C. Bent was born June 24, 1881 to Horatio G. and Adah Crist Bent. Bent E...
Education Politics and Government Entertainment People
Beyond Normal Films
The collection includes some newspaper clippings from 1996 through 2018 about th...
Entertainment Organizations
Bieber Family / General Telephone Company
The Schwiemann family is traced from 1878 to Charles Schwiemann’s death in 1945,...
People Businesses
Biederman Correspondence
Originally from Altenberg, Saxony, Germany, (Christian) Philipp Biederman (18 Ja...
People
Blooming Grove Ladies Aid
Founded on Jan. 17, 1916, at the Blooming Grove Christian Church, the Blooming G...
Religion Organizations
Bloomingdale School (Randolph Township)
Bloomingdale School began in 1856 when a roughly built house was located at the ...
Education Places
Bloomington Band Association
This collection contains correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and ...
Music Organizations
Bloomington Business and Professional Women’s Club Collection
During World War I, Secretary of War Newton D. Baker sent out an urgent call to ...
Organizations Businesses
Bloomington Cemetery Association
The Bloomington Cemetery Association (BCA) was a private stock corporation that ...
Organizations Businesses Places
Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA)
The Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA) occupies a site built in 1...
Art Entertainment Politics and Government Places
Bloomington Chapter Sweet Adelines
The Bloomington Chapter of Sweet Adelines joined Sweet Adelines International in...
Organizations Music
Bloomington Club
The Bloomington Club was formed on September 13, 1886. The Club was the idea of ...
Clubs and Hobbies Businesses
Bloomington Education Association Collection
The Bloomington Education Association was organized in June 1967 with nearly hal...
Education Organizations
Bloomington Fire Collection
Just after midnight on June 19, 1900, a great fire began sweeping through much o...
Businesses Places
Bloomington Fire Department Collection
This collection consists of photocopied newspaper articles, a few original artif...
Businesses Politics and Government
Bloomington Gold (Corvette Show)
In 1973, the first Bloomington Corvette Corral event took place.  By 1977, the B...
Clubs and Hobbies Entertainment
Bloomington High School
This collection contains ephemera, newspaper clippings, course guides, handbooks...
Education Places
Bloomington High School Class Reunion
This collection contains reunion programs and alumni lists for classes of 1930, ...
Education
Bloomington History Club
The History Club of Bloomington was founded in 1880 as a group of women who woul...
Clubs and Hobbies
Bloomington Methodist Congregations
This collection contains a variety of histories of early Methodism in Bloomingto...
Religion
Bloomington Public Library Time Capsule 1977
In August 1977, Withers / Bloomington Public Library staff sealed a time capsule...
Places Politics and Government
Bloomington Public Schools
The collection includes sorority histories, anniversary programs, bylaws, member...
Education Places
Bloomington Rotary Club
The Bloomington Rotary Club was organized in 1915.  From the beginning, the Rota...
Organizations
Bloomington School District 87
Bloomington School District began on February 17, 1857, with “An Act to Establis...
Education Organizations
Bloomington Sesquicentennial
Bloomington celebrated its 150th birthday with a free, family-friendly downtown ...
Politics and Government Entertainment
Bloomington Trades and Labor Assembly
Bloomington labor unions banded together on October 18, 1891, to establish the B...
Organizations Labor Unions Businesses
Bloomington-Normal Adult Education
The Adult Education program in Bloomington-Normal had its origins in 1935 and th...
Education
Bloomington-Normal Black History Project
In 1970 Marge Smith and others began to organize local African Americans to disc...
Black History Art Businesses Military Organizations Politics and Government Religion Sports
Bloomington-Normal Garden Club
The Bloomington-Normal Garden Club was formed in 1931, originally part of the Ar...
Clubs and Hobbies
Bloomington-Normal Symphony
The Bloomington-Normal Symphony Orchestra collection consists of six boxes.  The...
Organizations Music
Bloomington-Normal Women’s Golf Association
After a hiatus from 1968 to 1974, the Bloomington-Normal Women’s Golf Associatio...
Sports Organizations
Bloomington, Illinois Aviation 1920, 1930, 1940
Aviation buff Marion McClure donated these materials which he used in compiling ...
Transportation Clubs and Hobbies People
Blotters Collection
Before the age of the ballpoint pen, Americans wrote with fountain pens dipped i...
Art Businesses
Blue Mound School
What first began in 1858 as a class being held in a private residence, expanded ...
Education Places
Bogart, Ron and Doris (Stevenson Items)
The items in this collection were presented by Ron and Doris Bogart to the McLea...
People Politics and Government
Booker T. Washington Home
The Booker T. Washington Home was founded in 1918 by Mr. and Mrs. Alex Barker.  ...
Black History Places Organizations
Boysen-Presit, Gail
Gail Boysen-Presit and her family moved from Rochester, Minnesota, to Bloomingto...
Education People
Bracken Family
William Kerrick Bracken (1865-1947) was a Bloomington lawyer and Lincoln histori...
People Abraham Lincoln
Breen, Rev. Frank L.
Rev. Frank L. Breen (1886- 1967) was a prominent local Protestant minister in Bl...
People Religion
Bridgestone Firestone
Firestone Tire and Rubber Company became Bridgestone Firestone North American Ti...
Businesses Places Transportation Labor
Brigham, William B.
William Brigham was born in 1874 near Cooksville, IL. He married Emma Wissmiller...
People Native Groups
Brokaw Hospital Newsletter
The establishment of Brokaw Hospital in Normal, IL dates to 1896. In 1981, Broka...
Places Businesses Health and Medicine
Brokaw Hospital Nursing Alumni Association
This collection contains alumni association directories, newsletters, meeting pr...
Education Organizations Businesses
Brokaw Service League Follies
The Brokaw Hospital Service League was organized in 1925. It was one of the olde...
Organizations Health and Medicine
Brokaw/Mennonite/BroMenn Hospitals
This collection includes written materials concerning three interrelated Bloomin...
Organizations Businesses Health and Medicine Places
Brown, Fred S.
The Brown family lived near Yuton Station, in section 14 of Dry Grove Township. ...
People Agriculture
Brown, George W.
The George W. Brown collection is a compilation of personal documents of the Bro...
People Religion
Brown, James Proctor
James Proctor Brown was born in 1911 in Morristown, Hamblen County, TN, and died...
People Art
Brown’s Business College
Brown’s Business College (1893-1972) offered training for young men and women en...
Education Organizations Businesses
Building a Home 505 Bowles
The house at 505 Bowles, Normal, IL was built from 1951 to 1953 by Raymond W. an...
Architecture and Historic Preservation Places People
Burleigh, Cecil
Cecil Burleigh was born April 17, 1885 in Wyoming, New York. The family moved to...
People Music
Bus Transit
The Bloomington-Normal public transit system opened in 1938 under the name “Bloo...
Politics and Government Transportation
Butler, Edward
Edward C Butler was born on January 1, 1867, the son of Preston and Elizabeth Ca...
People
Calendar Collection
This collection includes calendars from 1888 to present, most with connections t...
Entertainment Art Businesses People
Camelback Bridge
The Camelback Bridge is located in the northeast quarter of Section 33, Township...
Places
Capen Insurance / Capen Family
The Capen family emigrated from Dorchester, Dorset, England in 1630 and settled ...
People Businesses Places
Carius, Larry
Washington, IL, native, Larry Carius worked for the McLean County Health Departm...
People Places Businesses
Carlock Public Library
Opening in 1979, the Carlock Public Library, formerly known as the Carey E. Burd...
Places Politics and Government Organizations
Carlock Schools
This collection of school records documents the activities of a rural school dis...
Education Places
Carlock, W. B.
William B. Carlock was a prominent Bloomington attorney, member of the Free Maso...
People Businesses
Carlock/Denman/Irvin/Porter
The Carlock/Denman/Irvin/Porter Collection contains chiefly personal corresponde...
People
Carlton Collection
Box 1 includes items from family members including newspaper articles, a Civil W...
People Military Businesses
Carpenter, Ruth
Ruth Talbott was born on August 9, 1909 in the small community of Potomac, Illin...
People
Castalian Club
Twelve members of the Travel Club resigned and formed the Castalian Club at the ...
Clubs and Hobbies
Castle Theater
The Castle Theater opened on Nov. 21st, 1904 in Bloomington, Illinois. During it...
Places Businesses Entertainment
Castle, Drew/E. M. Pike
This collection relates to Drew W. Castle (1895-1978) and Edward M. Pike (1838-1...
People Military
Centenarians
This is a collection of newspaper articles documenting McLean County residents w...
People Health and Medicine
Center School (Randolph Township)
The first school in this district was conducted in 1840 at the Stewart home by V...
Education
Central Illinois Art Exposition, Scottish Rite Temple, March 19 – April 8, 1939
The Central Illinois Art Exposition was possibly the most successful diversion i...
Art Entertainment
Central Social Club (Randolph Township)
The Central Social Club, originally known as the Diamond Grove Club, was a women...
Clubs and Hobbies
Century of Progress Collection
A Century of Progress International Exposition, also known as The Chicago World&...
Art Entertainment Places
Charles (“Old Hoss”) Radbourn
Charles (“Old Hoss”) Radbourn was born in Rochester N.Y. December 11, 1854. In 1...
Sports People
Chesebrough, David B.
David B. Chesebrough was born March 14, 1932 and died April 29, 2004.  Chesebrou...
People Religion Education
Chicago & Alton Railroad Miscellaneous
The coming of the Illinois Central and the Chicago and Alton Railroads in the 18...
Businesses Transportation
Childers, James Railroad
James H. Childers (1903-65) was born in Tennessee and according to the census ac...
People Businesses Transportation
Children’s Theater Association of Bloomington-Normal
The Children’s Theatre was the brainchild of Martha Mary Vybiral to promote chil...
Entertainment Organizations Places
Christmas
Christmas is an annual winter festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, ...
Religion Holiday
Church Records
This collection contains record books, meeting minutes, financial information, m...
Religion
Church Women United
From 1941 to today women of the Church Women United Movement have held a vision ...
Religion
Circus
Circuses had been visiting the area for many years when around 1875 a small wago...
Entertainment Art Businesses
Civil War Era Correspondence
This collection contains hundreds of letters written during the Civil War by man...
Military People
Community Players
In 1923 a women's club met in Bloomington and discussed creating a group to...
Clubs and Hobbies Entertainment Places
Constitution Trail
Constitution Trail is a “linear park” that provides more than 37 miles of trails...
Places Politics and Government Sports
Corn Belt Bank
The Corn Belt Bank was organized December 2, 1891 by General John McNulta, J.T. ...
Places Businesses Military
Corn Belt Philatelic Society
This collection includes Corn Belt Philatelic Society Chatter Newsletters for De...
Clubs and Hobbies
Corn Bowl
A true “Middle West” tradition: college football on Thanksgiving Day. The Corn B...
Sports Entertainment Places
Corn Items Collectors Association Collection
Founded in 1981 as the Corn Husking Hook and Peg Collection Association, the gro...
Agriculture Organizations
Corn on the Curb 2000
Corn-on-the-Curb, inspired by Chicago’s “Cows on Parade” in 1999, was conceived ...
Politics and Government Entertainment Art
CornBelters
The Normal CornBelters are a professional baseball team. They began play in May ...
Sports Organizations Businesses
Cornell School (Arrowsmith Township)
Cornell School (No. 113) was originally built in the 1860s.  Its location was mo...
Education
Countering Domestic Violence
In February 1977, several women in Bloomington-Normal saw the need to assist dom...
Organizations
Craig Family
This collection covers day-to-day events in Warren F. Craig’s life starting in t...
Military People
Crissey, A Elwell
Arthur “Elwell” Crissey, sometimes called “Cris,” was born February 1, 1899, in ...
People Abraham Lincoln
Crothers, Rachel
Rachel Crothers (1870/78 - 1958) was born in Bloomington to Drs. Eli Kirk Crothe...
People Entertainment
Cumpston, Robert
Robert D. “Bob” Cumpston (1930-2018) was born, lived and died on his family’s fa...
People Art
Custer, Milo
Milo Custer was born in 1879 to Samuel and Lucinda Parker Custer. Before settlin...
People Organizations
Dallinger-Rayfield Commitment Ceremony
The collection includes a wedding planner book complete with notes, orders and r...
People
Dance Card
Dance cards usually listed the specific dances to be performed and provided line...
Music Entertainment
Davis Correspondence
This collection contains photocopies of correspondence from / to David and Sarah...
Politics and Government Abraham Lincoln People
Degree of Pocahontas Collection
Degree of Pocahontas is the ladies auxiliary of the Improved Order of Red Men. T...
Organizations
Delbridge, Mary E.
The Mary E. Delbridge Collection is organized into ten folders by date and subje...
People Military
Delphi — Bloomington Chapter
Founded in 1930 as a business woman’s civic group, the Bloomington Chapter of De...
Organizations Politics and Government
Democratic National Convention 1984
The 1984 Democratic National Convention nominated Walter Mondale and Geraldine F...
Politics and Government
DeMotte
Born in Illinois on 17 July 1838, Harvey C. DeMotte eventually became a prominen...
People
Denman School (White Oak Township) Mother's Club
The Denman School Club began in 1921 as a means of communication among teachers,...
Education Organizations
Detloff
School documents, records, and textbooks belonging to Elmer Detloff...
Education People
Diaries Collection
Diaries, information on diarists, and miscellany from 1872 – 1960....
Clubs and Hobbies People
Dietrich, George
George Dietrich (1816-1900) was born in Bevidere, New Jersey, to Pennsylvania pa...
People Music Businesses
Dietrich, Julius
Julius Dietrich was a well-liked, prominent resident of Bloomington for almost t...
People Businesses
Dillingham
The Dillingham collection consists both of public and private materials from a m...
People
District 87 Unit 5 Consolidation Campaign
In 1992 an ad hoc committee requested a study of the future of education in Bloo...
Education Politics and Government
Dooley-Fairchild
The Dooley genealogy of William M. and Minerva Morris Dooley and their descendan...
People
Dossett, David C.
Born in Campbell County, TN, David Dossett moved to Anderson County, TN, with hi...
People Military
Douglas-Jones Family
Luella Douglas (1887-1979) was born in Hamilton County, Illinois. She married Je...
People
Douglass, Emmett
Emmett Douglass was a country school teacher in Lexington around 1900 who later ...
People Education Agriculture
Dowell, Joe
Joseph Harry Dowell (1940-2016) was born January 23, 1940 in Bloomington, Indian...
People Entertainment Music
Downtown Bloomington Historical Survey
In 1984 Greg Koos and William Walters began the work of obtaining National Histo...
Organizations Politics and Government Places
Downtown Bloomington Redevelopment Collection
The downtown Bloomington Redevelopment Collection contains various plans and mis...
Politics and Government Places
Duff Family
The collection deals almost exclusively with the family of Peter C. and Fannie D...
Black History People
Dunn, Betty Hinckle
Born in Peoria in 1909, Elizabeth “Betty” Hinckle grew up in Peoria and later in...
People
Dunn, Richard T.
Richard Thomas Dunn was born on August 21, 1918 in Normal, IL, to Richard Franci...
People Military
Easter Seal Camp Heffernan
The East Bay Camp was formed in 1930, when its Director Reverend Breen, with the...
Religion Organizations
Edward Miller Farm
(Gustave) Edward Miller was born at Danvers in 1886. He wed Lauraline Neal (1900...
People Agriculture
Ela, George and Frances
This collection contains photocopied letters (and digital documents of transcrip...
Military People
Election Authorities
Since the 1970 Illinois constitution, the State Board of Elections has administe...
Politics and Government
Emerson Street Investment Club
The Unitarian Investment Club began in 1990 as managers of a fund of loans and g...
Religion Organizations
Engle Family Papers
The Engle Family Papers Collection consists of 2 boxes. It contains mostly schoo...
People Education
Ensenberger Building
G.A. Ensenberger and Sons had become a successful retail furniture store in Bloo...
Places Businesses Architecture and Historic Preservation
Ensenberger Furniture Store
The Ensenberger Furniture Store Collection sheds light on the activities of this...
Businesses Places People
Ensign, Preston Poster
Preston Ensign, 1912 - 2006, graduated from University High School and Illinois ...
Art People Businesses
Espey (Pharmacy)
The small, brick building at the northeast corner of Main and Front streets is o...
Businesses Places Health and Medicine
Euleo Puppets
Sisters Eunice Speer and Leona S. Pitzer organized a puppet theatre in the late ...
People Art Entertainment Organizations Businesses
Eureka Williams Electrolux
Charles U. Williams came to Bloomington in the late nineteenth century. He was a...
Businesses Places
Evans, J. Harwood
John Harwood Evans (1899-1976) was born in McLean County and grew up in Blooming...
People Businesses
Evans, Joseph Orme
Joseph Orme Evans (December 22, 1923-March 5, 2007) was a native of Bloomington,...
People Businesses Architecture and Historic Preservation
Ewing Family Correspondence
This collection centers around the correspondence of the family of Albert Gallat...
People
Ewing, N. P. Family Farm Collection
The Ewing family, headed by Nathaniel Porter Ewing (4 Oct 1812 – 24 Jun 1876) an...
Agriculture People
Ewing, Thomas
Thomas Ewing was born in Lincoln, Illinois on September 19, 1935, the son of Sam...
People Politics and Government
Exhibit: "A Matter of Life and Death"
This collection of Medical oral histories was gathered by the McLean County Hist...
Museum Exhibits Health and Medicine
Exhibit: 9-11: McLean County Responds
Staff prepared these materials for the short-term 2002 exhibit “9-11: McLean Cou...
Museum Exhibits
Exhibit: A Turbulent Time: Perspectives of the Vietnam War
Guest curator Ross Kennedy and staff member Susan Hartzold prepared these materi...
Museum Exhibits Military
Exhibit: Come & Get It! The Way We Ate 1830-2008
This collection contains research compiled by Dr. Robert Dirks, guest curator an...
Museum Exhibits
Exhibit: Greening of the Prairie: Irish Settlement in McLean County
Staff, interns, and volunteers researched and prepared the temporary exhibit “Th...
Museum Exhibits
Exhibit: Growing up in the Fifties
The McLean County Museum of History presented this exhibit in 2001. This collect...
Museum Exhibits
Exhibit: Journey through the Great Depression
Staff worked with guest curator Illinois State University professor Sandra D. Ha...
Museum Exhibits
Exhibit: Just Corn: The 'Amaizing' Story
The Museum exhibit, “Just Corn: The ‘Amaizing’ Story,” opened in 1997. It was cu...
Museum Exhibits Agriculture
Exhibit: Made in McLean County
The McLean County Museum of History presented this exhibit in 1999. This collect...
Museum Exhibits Businesses
Exhibits: Miscellaneous
This collection contains outlines for temporary exhibits featured at the McLean ...
Museum Exhibits
Ezra M. Prince
Ezra Prince, a prolific local historian, was born in Maine in 1831. He attended ...
People Clubs and Hobbies
Family and Consumer Sciences Professionals of McLean County
The organization began in 1961 as the McLean County Home Economists in Homemakin...
Organizations
Family Circle (Pantagraph Employee Newsletter)
The collection includes both loose and bound copies of the Family Circle, a Pant...
Businesses
Farmers Grain Dealers Association of Illinois Collection
In February 1903, seventeen farmers’ cooperative grain elevator companies met to...
Agriculture Organizations Businesses
Farrell Family
Ezra Thomas Farrell (1884-1962) and Sylvia G. Walston Farrell (1882-1964) farmed...
People
Fell Family
Jesse W. Fell was a Bloomington, IL businessman and landowner. He is also known ...
People Politics and Government Businesses
Fenelon, Dr. J. H.
Dr. J.H. Fenelon was a physician who practiced for more than 45 years in McLean ...
People Health and Medicine Businesses
Fifer-Bohrer Papers
Joseph Fifer was born near Staunton, Virginia, in 1840, and moved with his paren...
People Politics and Government
First National Bank of Normal
John W. Aldrich founded and became the first president of the First National Ban...
People Businesses
Fleming Family
The Birney-Fleming family, of Scotch-Irish extraction, emigrated from Ulster, Ir...
People
Fleming Law Office
...
Businesses
Folsom, Elizabeth Irons
Elizabeth Irons Folsom was born in Peoria, Illinois, in 1876.  She moved to Bloo...
People Art Entertainment
Four O’ Clock History Club
In October 1888, twelve young women met after school to launch the Four O’ Clock...
Clubs and Hobbies
Franklin Park
Franklin Park (also known as Franklin Square) was donated by David Davis, Willia...
Places
Frazier-McCulley
Ron Frazier and Tom McCulley were one of the early openly gay couples in Bloomin...
People LGBTQIA+
Freedom Train
The Freedom Train began as a concept formulated by government officials in early...
Politics and Government Transportation
Frink, Dwight E.
Dwight E. Frink was born in Bloomington February 16, 1874.  He was educated in t...
People Art
Fuller Family Collection
The Collection includes photos and records of the Fuller family, including those...
People
Fuller, Margaret Club
The Margaret Fuller Club met for the first time on January 30, 1893, at the home...
Clubs and Hobbies People
Funk Bros Seed Company
The Funk family arrived in McLean County from Ohio in 1824.  Over the years Isaa...
Agriculture Businesses
Funk, George Washington
George W. Funk was the firstborn son of the Hon. Isaac Funk, Sr. and Cassandra S...
People Agriculture
Game Designers' Workshop
The Game Designers' Workshop Collection contains material about the war-gam...
Entertainment Businesses
Garst, Elmer Record Book
A grocer and amateur historian from Stanford, Elmer Garst compiled information a...
People Places Businesses Transportation
Gaunt, John
This collection contains papers relating to the details of a Dry Goods business ...
People Businesses
General Electric
General Electric opened in Bloomington in 1955 at 1601 GE Road in then-rural eas...
Places Businesses
Geneva, William B. & Carolyn Schertz
Carolyn Mabel Schertz was born October 13, 1892 in Hudson, Illinois, the daughte...
People Military Health and Medicine Businesses
Gentes
Alfred and Lena Gentes were born in Illinois, both of German immigrants. Alfred ...
People
German Evangelical Church
This collection includes newsletters, bulletins, anniversary booklets with churc...
Religion Places
Gladys Washburn Mennonite School of Nursing
Born in 1904 to Sarah Myers and George A. Washburn, Gladys moved with her family...
Education Health and Medicine People
Goben Family
Kim Goben was born on November 15, 1961 to James and Wini Goben. She attended Bl...
People
Goelzer Karr
This collection includes newspaper articles, a few business and professional cor...
People
Goforth
Jonathan (J. C.) Goforth moved his family from Canton, Illinois to Bloomington, ...
People Music
Gold Star Mothers
The Evergreen Chapter, National Gold Star Mothers, was incorporated on October 1...
Military Organizations
Gose, Carol Mishler Scrapbooks
Carol Mishler Gose collected this material and wrote:  “I remember being in sixt...
Politics and Government People
Gossard, Steve Railroad
Born in Galesburg in 1949, Steve Gossard moved to Normal to study at Illinois St...
Businesses Transportation People
Goudy, Frederic W.
Frederic W. Goudy was born in Bloomington in 1865. Goudy spent his early years i...
People Art Businesses
Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)
The Grand Army of the Republic was founded by Benjamin Franklin Stephenson of Sp...
Military Organizations
Grand Opera House
The Grand Opera House was built 1890-1891 and stood at 106-110 E. Market Street ...
Places Businesses Music
Graves, Harley
Harvey Graves was born to Sam S. and Clara May Myers Graves in Randolph in 1911....
People
Gravestone Photographs
This photograph collection consists of four box books of gravestone photographs ...
Places People
Gray, Vern
Vern Gray (December 19, 1897- June 28, 1972) was a former curator of the McLean ...
People Museum Exhibits
Greeting Card
The collection includes greeting cards and postcards from 1893 to the present, s...
Art Businesses
Gregor, Harold Collection
The son of Scottish immigrants, Harold Gregor was born in Detroit, MI, and earne...
People Art
Gulf Mobile & Ohio
...
Businesses Transportation
Hamilton, Violet
Hamilton was an active citizen of Normal and McLean County, where she wrote a Ce...
People Politics and Government
Hamm, Ruth Bitting
The Ruth Bitting Hamm collection contains several folders in four boxes.  The it...
People
Harrison, Arlene G Elliott
Arlene Genevieve Elliott was born July 8, 1919 to William and Ida E. (Ward) Elli...
People
Hart, James
Born in Lawndale, Illinois, in 1882, James “Jimmie” Michael Hart was initially r...
People Art Entertainment
Hartzold Family
Henry Hartzold was born about 1862 in Lancaster, PA. He moved to McLean County i...
People Agriculture Military
Harvey Family
This small collection along with a large collection of photographs was found in ...
People Music
Hasenwinkle, Ralph
Ralph Waldo Emerson Hasenwinkle was in the Spanish American War, Philippines, 18...
People
Haxel Railroading
Delmar Haxel, born in Bloomington in 1920, worked for the Illinois Central Gulf ...
People Businesses Transportation
Hay Family Reunion
The first reunion of the descendants of Jacob Hay (1818-1882) and Sarah Philpps ...
People
Hayden Murray
Born in 1906, Charlotte Murray wed Bloomington-born Thomas Hayden in 1933, after...
People
Heartland Theatre Company
...
Entertainment Businesses
Helen Littleton Burns Postcard Collection
This remarkable collection is comprised of postcards sent to and collected by He...
People Places Art Clubs and Hobbies
Helm, Grover C. (National Bank of Bloomington)
This collection consists of a series of scrapbooks put together by Grover C. Hel...
Businesses People
Hibarger, Bessie Family
This collection includes over 600 letters, 160 postcards, a book of nurserymen’s...
People Education
Higgins-Jung-Kleinau Co
Hamer J. Higgins (1840-1902) began apprenticing as a marble cutter at Haldeman’s...
Businesses Art People
Highland Park Women’s 18 Hole League
The Highland Park Women’s 18 Hole League was started in July of 1932 at the High...
Organizations Sports
Hilton and Schwoerer Farms
Guy Hilton bought a 160-acre tract next to his father’s farm in Section 11 of Dr...
Agriculture People Businesses
Historical Geography Class Papers
Papers written for Historical Geography classes and Independent Studies by stude...
Education
Historical Markers
Historical markers such as plaques, cornerstones, and others have been used sinc...
Places People
Hitch, Fred
Frederick A. Hitch (1882-1947) resided in Bloomington his entire life. After gra...
People Entertainment
Hodge-Read Family
Most of this collection is correspondence between the Hodges (1830-1880), land a...
People Education
Holder, John
The Holder collection consists primarily of materials from John’s time of servic...
Military People
Holy Trinity Church and Schools
The first time the name "Holy Trinity" appears in the directories for ...
Education Religion Places
Home Sweet Home Mission
Billy Shelper founded the Home Sweet Home City Rescue Mission in 1917 after atte...
Religion Organizations Places
Hoppe, Jim
Jim Hoppe is an avid lover of history and McLean County. He has written manuscri...
People Military Entertainment
Houghton School
Houghton School received its name because it was situated on the Stephen Houghto...
Education Places
Hubbard Roycrofters Book
Elbert Green Hubbard (June 19, 1856 – May 7, 1915) was an American writer, publi...
People Art Businesses
Humphrey
This collection contains funeral books for various members of the Humphrey famil...
People
IAA & FS Service, Inc. Relocation
The State of Illinois headquarters for IAA & FS Services, Inc. was moved to ...
Businesses
Illinois Air Force Mothers
The Illinois Air Force Mothers Club began in 1970 to support Air Force personnel...
Military Organizations
Illinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central was a major carrier of passengers on its Chicago to New Orl...
Transportation Places Businesses
Illinois National Guard
This collection contains rosters, newspaper clippings, command report, narrative...
Military
Illinois Shakespeare Festival
In 1978 the Illinois Shakespeare Festival was established. The Festival is held ...
Entertainment Art
Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's School (ISSCS)
The Illinois Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Children’s School Collection is organized in...
Education Organizations Places
Illinois State Normal University Centennial
Founded in 1857 as Illinois’ first public university, Illinois State Normal Univ...
Education
Illinois Traction Terminal
The Bloomington-to-Peoria interurban line was one of the more charming railroad ...
Businesses Transportation
Illinois Tractor
The Illinois Tractor Company was in business in Bloomington for a brief period, ...
Businesses
Illinois Wesleyan University
Illinois Wesleyan University was founded in 1850, with its first building erecte...
Education Places
Independent order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Cornerstones (1886 & 1900)
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is a fraternal, service-based organization ...
Organizations
International Tapetronics Corp
Formed in 1969 in Bloomington, Illinois the International Tapetronics Corporatio...
Businesses Technology
Irvin Bros
...
People
Irvin, Clarence E.
Clarence Edgar Irvin owned and operated several Bloomington theaters.  He was th...
Entertainment Businesses People
Irvin, Lawrence
Lawrence E. Irvin, son of Patrick and Mary Irvin, was born May 27, 1911 at Lake ...
People Politics and Government Businesses
Iseminger Family
The collection includes newspaper articles, receipts, prescriptions, recipes, ba...
People Businesses
Iseminger Ford
Floyd Iseminger (1879-1980) was born and lived his entire life in Bloomington. H...
Businesses
ISU Athletics
The collection includes Illinois State University football guides, basketball gu...
Education Sports
Ives, Elizabeth Buffie
Born in Bloomington in 1897, Elizabeth Stevenson “Buffie” Ives was the first of ...
People Politics and Government
IWU Marketing Class Papers
Associate Professor of Business Administration Fred Hoyt has long asked his stud...
Education Businesses
James S. Ewing Speeches
James S. Ewing (1835- 1918) was born in what is today Woodford County. He came t...
Politics and Government People
Jennie Rayburn Diaries
The collection consists primarily of Jennie’s diaries covering the years of her ...
People Clubs and Hobbies
John Howard Burnham Collection
Captain J.H. Burnham came to McLean County in 1858 as a student at the State Nor...
Military People
Jones – White Family Collection
This small collection contains the records of the Jones & White family reuni...
People
Jones, Ethel Pearle Smith
This collection contains the prose, poetry and plays written by Ethel Pearle Smi...
People Art Entertainment
Judd-Lucas Family
The Judd Family lived in Colfax, Illinois during the 20th century. The Judd and ...
People
Jung Family
Jacob Phillip Jung was born in Nauvoo, Illinois, the son of Christian and Elizab...
Businesses People Immigration
Kansas Kickapoo
This small collection consists mainly of copies of letters and accounts between ...
Native Groups People
Kelley, George R.
The letters of George R. Kelley relate to the life and times of a McLean County ...
People Military
Kemp, Bill
William F. “Bill” Kemp has served as Librarian/Archivist for the McLean County M...
People
Kennedy, Merlin
The collection includes the personal papers of Mr. Kennedy, and his wife Beulah ...
Black History People
Kickapoo Creek Rock Festival
On Memorial Day weekend in 1970 an estimated 60,000 people, mostly hippies and c...
Music Entertainment
Kirkpatrick Collection
Jonathon H. Kirkpatrick was born in North Liberty, Ohio in 1844.  He moved to Bl...
Businesses People
Klein, Lois Welsh School Textbooks
This is a collection of Lois Welsh’s (now Klein) books from a one room school in...
Education People
Klemm, C.W. Family
The C. W. Klemm collection contains a variety of genealogical information about ...
Businesses People
Klemm’s Department Store
C. W. Klemm came to Bloomington in 1873 after having spent five years in Springf...
Businesses Places People
Knife & Fork Club
Knife and Fork Club International is a social dinner club with chapters in citie...
Clubs and Hobbies Organizations
Knight, Robert N.
Robert N. Knight, also known as “Mr. Junior High School,” was a much loved and a...
Education People
KodaRoamers Camera Club
The KodaRoamers was formed organized in September 1944. The aim of this photogra...
Clubs and Hobbies Art
Koos Family
This collection contains financial, medical, and military information, correspon...
People Politics and Government
Koos, Greg Collection
The Greg Koos collection contains published and unpublished works by Greg Koos, ...
Museum Exhibits People
Kuerth, Hester Adams Cookbook
Hester Adams Kuerth (1891-1982) was a fifty-year member of the McLean County Hom...
People Clubs and Hobbies
Labor Fatalities Collection
List of on-the-job fatalities in McLean County....
Businesses Labor People
LaBounty, Perry & Edith
Perry LaBounty was born in Ashkum, Illinois in 1888 and died in Bloomington, Ill...
People
LaBounty, William P.
William P. LaBounty was born September 1, 1930, educated in Bloomington schools,...
People Education Military
Ladies Auxiliary of WWI Veterans
This collection includes a selection of materials preserved by Jennie Mae Taylor...
Military Organizations
Lake Bloomington Association
The Lake Bloomington Association formed to improve the Lake Bloomington Area and...
Places Organizations Sports
Lantz, Raymond Stanley
The collection materials consist of Lantz’s memorabilia, photographs and booklet...
People
Lanz, Laura
This collection contains essays by Laura from high school, her high school repor...
Education People
Latino History Project Collection
The McLean County Latino History Project seeks to research and record the cultur...
Latino History People
Lennon, Barbara E.
The Barbara Egger Lennon Collection contains many newspaper clippings, personal ...
People
Lennon, John Brown
The John Brown Lennon collection contains newspaper articles, personal and profe...
People Politics and Government Labor Unions
Lillard Collection
This collection contains genealogical research materials for the Lillard family ...
People Military
Lincoln School
This collection consists of a series of albums and notebooks relating to Abraham...
Places Education
Lincoln Statue Bicentennial Project (1975-1978)
V.L. (“Budd”) Fairfield (1926-2009). Bloomington High School American history te...
Politics and Government Art Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln, Abraham Recollections and Newspaper Articles
This collection consists primarily of newspaper recollections of Abraham Lincoln...
Politics and Government People
Lincoln, Abraham— Miscellaneous Publications
This collection contains miscellaneous publications about Abraham Lincoln....
Politics and Government People
Lincolns in Town
The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission of McLean County was formed jointly ...
Politics and Government Entertainment
Litta, Marie
The Marie Litta Collection consists of materials relating to the life, career, a...
People Music
Loeseke / Karl's Quality Café
...
People Businesses
Longfellow Club
The Longfellow Club dates to April 6, 1882 when Miss Alice Suddeth, assisted by ...
Clubs and Hobbies People
Loyal Star—Prairie State Lodge 45
Loyal Star of America is a women’s auxiliary to the Brotherhood Railway Carmen o...
Organizations
Lundeen, Edgar and Rachael
This collection includes Hundreds of letters, genealogical work for the families...
Businesses People
Major Collection of Letters from Liberia
The Major Collection of Letters from Liberia consists of twelve letters written ...
Black History People
Manahan, Eugene
Lester Eugene Manahan was born to Benton and Lillie Manahan in Arrowsmith, Illin...
Military People
Mandel-Cohn Collection
This collection covers multiple generations of the Mandel-Cohn family and includ...
People Businesses
Mark & Margaret Kalahar Hayes
Mark Bruno Hayes (1889-1959) was born in Bloomington, Illinois and earned a phar...
People Politics and Government Businesses
Markowitz, Judy
The Judy Markowitz Collection primarily consists of material from Markowitz’s ti...
People Politics and Government
Mason Family
This collection includes biographical materials; personal, family and business c...
People
Mau, McCoy, & Haskell
Helmuth and Augusta Mau came to the United States from Germany in the 1890s.  Th...
People Immigration
Mayer, Marjorie (Wood)
Marjorie Wood (1913-2008) was born in Melvin, IL and reared in rural Colfax. She...
People
McCarty Family
This collection includes personal letters, diaries, genealogies and other family...
People
McEwen Brothers Blacksmith Shop
According to an article in The Pantagraph of July 17, 1942, John and William McE...
People Businesses Immigration
McFee, John
John McFee was a well-known farmer, who also bred Berkshire swine. He lived four...
People Agriculture
McKeon
The collection includes Marguerite McKeon and Geraldine McKeon’s personal corres...
People Labor Unions
McKinzie Family
This collection primarily contains letters from sons John and James to their par...
People
McKnight & McKnight Publishing Company
William W. McKnight was born in 1874. His father was a physician in Granville, I...
Businesses
McLean County Arts Center
This collection includes exhibition catalogs and promotional materials, a colori...
Organizations Art
McLean County Arts Council
The McLean County Arts Council was incorporated in 1972 and served as a funding ...
Organizations Art
McLean County Arts Council Bicentennial
The collection contains documents pertaining to the McLean County Bicentennial A...
Organizations Art
McLean County Association for Home and Community Education
This collection includes newspaper articles referencing the various HCE/HEA memb...
Education Organizations
McLean County Bank Building
In 1853 the original McLean County Bank was founded as the first bank in Bloomin...
Places Businesses Architecture and Historic Preservation
McLean County Bar Association Memorials
The tradition of the McLean County Bar Association since 1897 has been to memori...
Organizations People
McLean County Basketball Tournament
One of the longest-running tournaments in the state, the McLean County Basketbal...
Sports Entertainment
McLean County Chamber of Commerce
This collection contains annual reports; contact lists; work program packets; br...
Politics and Government Businesses
McLean County Clergy Staff / Ministerial Association Collection
The McLean County Clergy Staff / Ministerial Association Collection was donated ...
Religion
McLean County Coal Company
The largest and most successful coal mine in McLean County was the McLean County...
Businesses
McLean County Courthouse
The McLean County Courthouse was built between 1900 and 1903 after the Great Fir...
Politics and Government Places
McLean County Courthouse Clock
A clock was installed in the courthouse tower in 1878, and that year it was deci...
Places Politics and Government
McLean County Emergency Squad
In 1967 with the near completion of Interstate 74 and Interstate 55, Bloomington...
Politics and Government Organizations
McLean County Ethnographies
Illinois State University anthropology professor Dr. Rob Dirks collected essays ...
Education Places Art Entertainment Businesses
McLean County Home Bureau
The McLean County Home Bureau was first established in 1918 by Mrs. Spencer Ewin...
Organizations
McLean County Homemakers Extension
The McLean Home Bureau changed its name to McLean County Homemakers Extension As...
Organizations
McLean County Jail Review Committee Collection
The McLean County Jail Review Committee is a citizens’ group founded in 1980 at ...
Politics and Government
McLean County Library Association
Responding to an invitation from Vail Deale of the Withers (Bloomington) Public ...
Organizations
McLean County Medical Society Minutes
In March 1854, fourteen local physicians met to organize a medical society. The ...
Businesses Health and Medicine
McLean County Museum of History Asian Indian History Project
The McLean County Asian Indian History Project was begun in the early 2000s to r...
People Museum Exhibits Asian History
McLean County Poor Farm
For more than 90 years, the McLean County Poor Farm, located south of Bloomingto...
Politics and Government People
McLean County Schools
This collection contains school directories, exams, and other miscellaneous docu...
Education
McLean County Sesquicentennial Committee
The McLean County Sesquicentennial Celebration commemorated the founding of McLe...
Politics and Government Entertainment
McLean County Telephone Co.
The McLean County Telephone Co. was organized in spring 1898 with F.Y. Hamilton ...
Businesses
McLean County WWII Memorial
The WWII Memorial Committee was formed in the fall of 1994 after Normal Mayor Pa...
Military Politics and Government Places
McLean School (Mount Hope Township)
The village of McLean, IL was platted in 1856.  School District No. 5 was laid o...
Education
McMackin Family
This collection includes an array of family correspondence, business receipts, l...
People
McNulta, John Time Capsule
Contents of glass time capsule, originally compiled by members of the Grand Army...
People
Meadows Manufacturing Company
John Rocke had the idea to build a grain elevator to improve the slow and labori...
Businesses Agriculture
Mendoza, Manuel State Farm
This collection is largely business correspondence and office information from t...
Businesses
Mennonite Hospital Newsletter
The establishment of Bloomington's Mennonite Hospital dates to 1919. By 194...
People Places Businesses Health and Medicine
Mennonite Hospital Nursing
The Mennonite School of Nursing was established as the Mennonite Sanitarium Trai...
Education Health and Medicine Places Businesses
Merwin
A Bloomington native, Loring C. Merwin served as publisher of the Pantagraph for...
People Environment
Middleton, Richard & James Gill
This collection contains newspaper clippings, genealogical research, annual repo...
Military People
Millard, Lt. Mark
This collection consists of materials collected by Helen Millard, mother of Mark...
People Military
Miller Park
This collection contains various newspaper articles associated with Miller Park,...
Places Entertainment Racism
Miller, George
George H. Miller (1856 - 1927) was one of eight children born to German immigran...
People
Minutes Books
The collection contains single volumes of minutes of various local organizations...
Organizations
Mitsubishi Motors
This collection contains material related to the Mitsubishi Motors Company as we...
Businesses Transportation
Money Creek Municipal
Money Creek Township included six square miles of land used for agriculture. The...
Politics and Government Places
Montgomery, Alfred
Alfred Montgomery (1858-1922) was born in Logan County, Illinois, and moved to B...
People Art
Moon Family
The Moon family collection contains a diverse amount of material, ranging from c...
People Agriculture
Moraine View State Recreation Area
This collection includes newspaper clippings from 1941 through 1985, plus manusc...
Places Clubs and Hobbies Sports Politics and Government
Moratz, Paul O.
This collection contains a miscellany of items, such as newspaper articles, buil...
Businesses People Architecture and Historic Preservation
Morgan, Charles
Charles Morgan, a carpenter by trade, started his diaries in 1896.  In his earli...
People Art Entertainment
Morgan, Raymond “Doc”
“He was a humble person, a fine golfer and a great gentleman.” So opined Bloomin...
Sports Military People
Morrell-Moreland Family
The collection includes correspondence (mostly personal), will and probate docum...
People
Morrissey, John O.
John O’Connell Morrissey was born April 13, 1896.  He was educated in Bloomingto...
Military People
Moses Montefiore Temple
On May 14, 1882, a group of men of the Jewish faith met in Bloomington “for the ...
Religion Places
Mount Prospect School (Old Town Township)
The Mount Prospect School started as a small frame house built around 1855.  The...
Education
Multiple Listing Service
Multiple listing service (MLS) is a set of services that real estate brokers use...
Places Businesses Technology Architecture and Historic Preservation
Munce
Mary Jeanette Munce was born to Clara DeMotte Munce and Charles C. Munce in 1907...
People
Murray & Carmody Funeral Home
Frederick E. Murray, undertaker, opened his funeral or memorial home at 914 N. M...
Businesses Places People
Myers, John F.
Born in 1834 in Kentucky, John Frances Myers came to McLean County as an infant ...
People Entertainment Art
Nancy J. Peairs Ramos Scrapbook Collection
Nancy Jane Peairs documented her years at Unit 5 in two scrapbooks. They mainly ...
People Education
Ninety-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
This collection contains documents, both official and personal, related to the N...
Military
Normal Anti-Liquor Ordinance Petition
In November 1866, a petition for an ordinance prohibiting the sale of liquor in ...
Politics and Government
Normal Avenue Neighborhood Club
The Normal Avenue Neighborhood Club was formed in the Spring of 1931 by Irene Bu...
Clubs and Hobbies Places
Normal Community Garden Club
In the summer of 1939 nine women were invited to meet at the home of Mrs. Wm. (H...
Clubs and Hobbies
Normal Community High School
This collection contains course catalogs, PTA booklets, school publications, pro...
Education Places
Normal History Club
In the late 1800s, life in a small university town did not offer many opportunit...
Clubs and Hobbies Organizations
Normal Theater
The Normal Theater was built by Sylvan and Ruth Kupfer, who owned the 209 North ...
Businesses Organizations Places
O’Hara, William J.
William J. O’Hara (1896-1986) was born in the Hudson area, the son of Owen and J...
Agriculture People Military
Old House Society
The Old House Society is a nonprofit organization in McLean County devoted to th...
Organizations Architecture and Historic Preservation Places
Old North Normal Historic District Association
Old North Normal is the oldest intact area of continuous residential development...
Places Organizations
Old Settlers Association of Eastern McLean County
From 1885 to 1915, self-described “old settlers” of eastern McLean County held a...
Clubs and Hobbies Places Organizations People
Olde Towne Neighborhood Association
The Olde Towne Neighborhood Association was formed in 1997 as a non-profit organ...
Organizations Places
Oldendorf, Sandra Brenneman
This collection covers the Brenneman ancestry as well as Sandra Brenneman Oldend...
People
One O’Clock Schoolers Club
The One O’Clock Schoolers Club is a social club whose members reside in or resid...
Clubs and Hobbies Places
Orendorff
The collection focuses upon William Orendorff (March 26, 1792 – May 12, 1869), o...
People
Orendorff, Ella
The Ella Orendorff Collection consists primarily of newspaper clippings about th...
People
Orme, William W.
The collection includes correspondence; land deeds; and assorted documents from ...
People
Outlaw, Damon G.
Damon Garst Outlaw was born April 26, 1912 in Stanford, Illinois to Roy Orville ...
People
Paddock, Joseph William
Joseph Paddock was born in Pana, Illinois, the family moved to Evanston where Jo...
People
Pantagraph
The first newspaper in the area was the weekly Bloomington Observer and McLean C...
Businesses
Pantagraph Comics
The Pantagraph added a locally developed "Wilson and Phyllis" cartoon ...
Entertainment Art Businesses
Pantagraph Printing
The Pantagraph Printing and Stationery Company originated as the printing depart...
Businesses
Parker Bros. Coal Co.
Founded in Bloomington in 1868, Parker Brothers continued under Parker family ow...
People Businesses
ParkLands Foundation
ParkLands Foundation was chartered in 1967 as a private, non-profit corporation ...
Organizations
Patton Cabin
The Patton Cabin was built by John Patton in 1829, making it the oldest extant b...
Places People Native Groups
People’s Bank
The Peoples Bank was first incorporated in March 22, 1869, with George W. Parks ...
Businesses Places Architecture and Historic Preservation
Perkins-Martin Family
Catherine Anne Perkins Martin (1900-1885) was born in Stanstead, Canada October ...
People
Phoenix Family and Nursery
Materials in the Phoenix collection cover the history of the Phoenix family and ...
Art People Businesses Places
Phonograph and Audio
The history of McLean County has been recorded and captured on vinyl covering a ...
Education Music Technology Entertainment Businesses Clubs and Hobbies Religion
Pistole, Richard
Richard “Dick” Pistole was born in Heyworth, IL. After graduating from Heyworth ...
People Sports
Political Ephemera
This collection includes an array of ballots, flyers, pamphlets, and corresponde...
Politics and Government
Portable Elevator
The company was started in 1898, located at the corner of Grove and McClun stree...
Agriculture Businesses
Porter, Ida
Ida Porter was a soprano who could sing in English, German, French, and Italian;...
Music People
Pratt, Awadagin
Awadagin Pratt was born in Pittsburgh in 1966.  He began studying piano at the a...
Music People Black History
Price School Social Club, 1946-1973 (Bloomington Township)
The Price School Social Club was a group of women associated with Price School, ...
Education Organizations
Price, William B.—McLean County Courthouse
The Mclean County Courthouse, located in the main square (200 N. Main Street) of...
Politics and Government People Places
Purnell, Paul
This collection contains documents, newspaper clippings, and other two-dimension...
People Military
Putman, Dale and Ruth of Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Hill was founded in the 1840s by Isaac Smalley.  He held aspirations th...
Places People
Quill Club
A local literary organization affiliated with the State and National American Pe...
Organizations
Quinton
The J. R. Quinton Collection consists of one box with thirty-eight folders. It p...
People Military
Railroad Books—Miscellaneous
The collection includes assorted books of labor agreements, wage schedules, rule...
Labor Transportation Businesses
Railroad Fatalities
The collection includes copies of newspaper articles and obituaries of individua...
Businesses People Transportation
Railroad Time Books
Railroad foremen used time books to record workers’ names, hours, wages and spec...
Businesses Transportation Labor
Ramsey
Although the collection donated to the Museum provides limited information, the ...
People
Red Cross
This collection holds the educational materials used by Stella Bennett, a certif...
Organizations
Reeder, Ida
Most of this collection consists of loose items from a travel scrapbook from Ida...
People Businesses
Reiner - Bennett
Bloomington-born William C. Reiner (1882-1945) worked as an upholsterer for the ...
People Businesses
Reis, Evelyn
Evelyn Reis, also known as Evy, was born on September 17, 1918 in Chenoa, Illino...
Music People Entertainment
Reitan, Carol
This collection includes a selection of materials donated by Carol A. Reitan lar...
People Politics and Government
Restaurant Menu
This collection includes menus, placemats, and materials relating to the history...
Places Businesses
Reuben Moore Benjamin Collection
Reuben Moore Benjamin was born in June of 1833 in Columbia County, New York. Ben...
People
Rhymer, Paul
Vic and Sade was a radio show (1932 – 1945) and short lived television show (195...
People Entertainment
Rice, Charles Edward
Charles Edward Rice (October 5, 1949-October 17, 2008) was an Army veteran of th...
People Military
Ringo Family
Claude Ringo (1911-2005) was born in Saybrook, IL, to Atlee and Belva Pearle Swa...
People
Rock of Praisers
Michael Louanna Casey-Beich organized the Rock of Praisers in 1990 from her home...
Religion Organizations
Rolley, Elias W.
Elias William Rolley was drafted into the U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps (CAC),...
Military People
Ronald Bogart – Adlai Stevenson I
This collection contains autographs of members of the Stevenson family, a biogra...
People Politics and Government
Ropp, Gordon L. State Representative
Gordon L. Ropp was born in Normal on April 5, 1933. He served as State Represent...
People Politics and Government
Ross, David C.
David Claypool Ross (1851-1938) was a teacher, lawyer, lecturer and businessman,...
People
Rowlands Family
Howell Rowlands was born on April 15, 1847, in Llanbrynmair, North Wales, and im...
People
Runge
The Runge Collection consists both of public and private materials primarily fro...
People Agriculture
Rutledge School (Downs Township)
Rutledge School District was laid out in 1862, but not organized until 1867. The...
Education Places
Ryburn, Orendorff, Hollis Families
This one box collection holds a variety of items including: family correspondenc...
People
Sage, Harold K.
This collection includes consists of two separate subjects. Box 1: Harold K. Sag...
Abraham Lincoln People
Salch, David State Farm
David Salch was an insurance salesman who grew up in Bloomington, Illinois. His ...
Businesses People
Sanders, Josephine ("Irene Delroy") / Pike-Sanders
This collection includes scrapbooks, posters, and photographs from Irene Delroy’...
People Entertainment
Satterfield Farm
William Franklin Satterfield, called Frank, was born on October 3, 1890 at Mario...
Agriculture People
Scharf, Emmett Electric Co.
Emmett – Scharf Electric Co. opened for business on April 20, 1922 with Fred Emm...
Businesses
School Books / School Notebooks
This collection contains student school books from 1850 – 1860...
Education
School District Consolidation Campaign 1992-96
In 1992 an ad hoc committee requested a study of the future of education in Bloo...
Education Politics and Government
School Records – Miscellaneous
This collection contains miscellaneous school records 1873-1948...
Education
Schultz, Herman C.
Herman C. Schultz (1912-1995) was born in McLean County, Illinois.  He was induc...
People Military
Scott, Garrett
The Garrett Scott 2003 Re-Election Campaign Collection primarily consists of mat...
People Politics and Government
Scott, Judge John Milton
John Milton Scott was born on August 1, 1823 in Belleville, St. Clair County, Il...
Politics and Government People Abraham Lincoln
Sebastian-Bishop
The starting point for this collection is Donna Sebastian, who donated the mater...
People
See Family
Frank See was born in Virginia to Nimrod See and Margaret Sherman. He was a 34-y...
Agriculture People
Sharp, Dorothy
This small collection contains photos, a scrapbook, programs, newspaper clipping...
People Entertainment
Sheet Music
This collection includes approximately 750 individual pieces of sheet music, boo...
Music Entertainment
Shirley Schools (Dale Township)
Shirley Schools (No. 73) and its district was organized in 1854 with John Foster...
Education
Silverleaf Community Club (Normal Township) 1918 – 1962
The Silverleaf Club Collection materials range from 1924 to 1962. The club'...
Clubs and Hobbies
Simmons School (Dale Township)
Simmons was built in 1856 when Joel Simmons sold the district the site at the so...
Education
Sinclair, Harold
During his life, Sinclair published a trilogy—American Years (1938), Years of Gr...
People Entertainment
Sister City Asahikawa
This collection contains correspondence, budgets, fundraiser information, newspa...
Politics and Government Organizations Places
Slack, Kent Collection 33rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Research
Kent Slack was an intern at the McLean County Museum of History in 1981.  His pr...
Military People
Smith, Sidney
Robert Sidney "Sid" Smith (1873-1935) was born in Bloomington, Illinoi...
People Art Entertainment Businesses
Smitson-Brown
Helen Smitson (1898-1978) was the daughter of David C. Smitson (1860-1940) and M...
People
Sohl, Jerry
This collection contains biographical material, newspaper articles, bibliographi...
People Entertainment
Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War
The Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) Collection consists of p...
Military Organizations
Soule Family
George Soule came to America on the Mayflower in 1620 a servant to Edward Winslo...
People
Spanish-American War Veterans
Includes rosters, newspaper articles, burial records, programs and proceedings f...
Military People
Sports Cards
The collection holds commercially printed sports (or trading) cards featuring in...
Sports Entertainment
St. John’s Lutheran Church
This collection contains biographical information, historical information, direc...
Religion Places
St. Joseph’s School of Nursing
St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing was a Catholic institution conducted by th...
Education Health and Medicine Religion
St. Mary’s of Bloomington Church and School
St. Mary’s Catholic Church also known as the German Catholic Church was founded ...
Education Religion
State Farm Building
The State Farm Building in downtown Bloomington, the tallest building in the dow...
Places Politics and Government Architecture and Historic Preservation Businesses
State Farm Classic
One of the largest co-ed holiday basketball tournaments in the nation, the State...
Sports Entertainment
Steak N Shake
Steak n Shake was founded by Gus Belt in Normal in 1934.  He converted a gas sta...
Businesses Places People
Steele, Nelle Theater
Nelle Hefner Steele (1902-1985) was born in Lexington and began teaching in 1933...
People Entertainment
Steele, Ruth Teaching
The Ruth Steele Teaching Collection includes the patterns for various holiday di...
Education People
Steichen, Gerard C
Born in Spring Valley, IL, in 1951, Girard C. Steichen earned a BA in philosophy...
People
Stern Family
The Stern family moved to Bloomington in 1905, where Jacob Stern opened Stern’s ...
Businesses People
Sterzbach, Robert WWII
This collection holds the correspondence between Robert Sterzbach and Alyne Trac...
Military People
Stevens, Julia Palmer
Julia Parnelle Palmer Stevens was born January 3, 1835, in Madison County, Illin...
People
Stevens, Saltzman Minnie
The Minnie Saltzman Stevens Papers consists of personal and legal papers belongi...
Music People
Stevenson Boyhood Home
Adlai E. Stevenson II (1900-1965) was Governor of Illinois 1949-1953, and the De...
People Politics and Government Places
Stevenson, Adlai E II Miscellaneous
This collection contains newspaper articles, correspondence, campaign materials,...
People Politics and Government
Stevenson, Adlai E II Newspaper Clippings
The collection includes primarily newspaper articles from a number of years of A...
People Politics and Government
Stevenson, Adlai E. II
Adlai Ewing Stevenson II was born in Los Angeles, California on February 5, 1900...
People Politics and Government
Stevenson, J.B. Letter Book
J.B. (James Bell) Stevenson (1838-1890) was the third of at least seven children...
People Businesses
Stewart, Dr. Archibald Evan
This collection contains correspondence to Archibald Stewart from May 1858 to 18...
People
Stickrod’s Drug Store
According to Bloomington-Normal city directory listings, Elmer H. Stickrod estab...
Businesses Places Health and Medicine
Streid, Robert
Robert Eugene Streid, born July 28, 1916, was a lifetime Chenoa resident farmer ...
Military People
Stubblefield – Funk Reunion Minutes
Robert Stubblefield and Isaac Funk were very early settlers of McLean County in ...
People
Sublett, Michael D.
Michael D. Sublett, born 1943 in Kansas City, Missouri, received his Bachelor’s ...
Education People
Suggs, Frank
A professor of music at Illinois State University starting in 1969, Frank Suggs ...
Black History Education People
Suicides
If you or someone you know is suicidal, call or text 988. All calls are confiden...
People
Tate, H. Clay
“Building a Better Home Town,” by H. Clay Tate was published in 1954. He wrote f...
People Entertainment
Tau Epsilon Delta
In January 1931, Louise Muxfeld organized a group of Bloomington High School gir...
Organizations
The Auxiliary to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (ASUVCW)
The ASUVCW Collection consists of encampment proceedings (1933-40), constitution...
Military Organizations
Thirty-third Illinois Infantry Regiment of Volunteers Company C.
This collection contains clerical records including: muster in and out rolls; in...
Military People
Thoms and O’Neil Families
The collection contents indicate the Thoms family lived in the area as early as ...
People
Tick, Irving Bloomington Human Relations Commission
Irving Stanton Tick (1928-2011) was born in Bloomington, Illinois and was a 1951...
People Politics and Government
Tick, Irving Family
Irving “Irv” Tick (1928-2011) and Joan “Jobie” Marie (Sayler) Tick (1929-2021) w...
People Businesses
Tilbury Flash
The Tilbury Flash is a single-seat American racing monoplane designed and built ...
Transportation Museum Exhibits
Toastmasters (Smedley) Collection
Born in Waverly IL in 1878, Ralph C. Smedley graduated Illinois Wesleyan Univers...
People Organizations
Travel Club
This collection contains program booklets (1906-2009), meeting minutes, treasure...
Clubs and Hobbies
Travis, Joan M. Spiritualism
The Joan M. Travis Spiritualism Collection consists of items about the concept o...
Religion
Tucker, Wilson
This collection contains biographical material, newspaper articles, bibliographi...
People Entertainment
Turners in Bloomington
William “Bill” Adams (1927-2013) grew up in a family which participated in the T...
Organizations Clubs and Hobbies People
Tyner Farm Collection
This collection contains documents relating to the Stubblefield and Tyner famili...
Agriculture People Businesses
Underground Railroad
In the decades before the Civil War an untold number of fugitive slaves journeye...
Black History
Underwood, Justice Robert C.
The Justice Robert C. Underwood collection contains newspaper articles, correspo...
Politics and Government People
Union Asbestos & Rubber Company (UNARCO)
In 1950, Chicago-based Union Asbestos & Rubber Company (UNARCO) established ...
Businesses
Union School (Allin Township)
Originally laid out with three sections in this county and about the same number...
Education
Uniquely Bloomington
In May 1999, the City of Bloomington created a semi-independent commission with ...
Places Politics and Government
United Way of McLean County
In 1935, local community leaders founded the Community Chest of McLean County th...
Organizations
University Christian Church
The collection contains booklets produced by the University Christian Church, di...
Religion
University High School
This collection covers the lab school beginning as part of ISNU through its succ...
Education
Urban Storm Water Task Force
In 1976, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency formed a Task Force on urb...
Politics and Government
Vanderwater, Leon Musical Program
Leon “Vandy” Vanderwater (1898-1998) was raised in Kankakee, IL and moved to Blo...
People Music Businesses
Vera Pearl Kemp Scrapbooks Collection
Vera Pearl Kemp was born December 19, 1895 at London, Kentucky, daughter of Jame...
People Entertainment Music
Veterans of World War 1 Barracks
The Veterans of World War 1 organization was created in 1949, first in Ohio, and...
Military Organizations
Vietnam Moving Wall
Several organizations present a "Moving Wall" -- a scaled down replica...
Military Organizations
Village of McLean (Crain Research Project)
This collection includes a minimum of one page on each property in the Village o...
Places People
Vladimir/Canterbury Sister City Committee
Local citizen visits to the Soviet Union, the Portland-based Ground Zero Pairing...
Politics and Government Places
Vogel, Joe Baseball Scrapbook
In many ways, the 1930s, 1940s, and into the 1950s represented the golden age of...
People Sports
Vogel, Steve WJBC
Steve Vogel worked at WJBC/WBNQ Radio in Bloomington beginning in 1972 in the ne...
Businesses People
Voice for Choice
Founded in mid-1989, Voice for Choice was a local organization “devoted to ensur...
Organizations Politics and Government
Vrooman
Carl Schurz Vrooman, son of Hiram and Sarah Buffington Vrooman, was born in Maco...
People Places
Vrooman Mansion - Theora Stark
The collection includes an array of materials relating to Mansion and to the Vro...
Businesses People Places
W. O. Davis Tributes Collection
William Osbourne Davis was the son of a Quaker farmer from Pennsylvania and bega...
Businesses People
Waddell, Jack
Collection contains newspaper clippings, performance programs, photos, and ephem...
Black History People Music
Walker School (Bloomington Township)
Located in Blooming Grove (Bloomington Township section 22), Walker School is ge...
Education
Walker, Frank Albert
In the mid-1850s, the Joseph Walker family established a farm on the northern ed...
Agriculture People Art
Wallace, Glen / Diamond-Star Motors / Mitsubishi Motors
Glen Wallace was an employee of Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) for...
Businesses People Labor Unions
Wantling, William
This four-box collection contains correspondence, professional work, academic wo...
Education People
Washburn, Dorothy M.
Born in 1904, Dorothy M. Washburn was a daughter of M/M George Washburn of Bloom...
Military People
Wayman AME Church Archaeology
In the summer of 1992, an archeological excavation was conducted at the Wayman A...
Black History Places Religion
Webb, Sidney
Sidney Webb was born on December 28, 1899 in Leicester, England. He came to Amer...
People Military Entertainment
Wellmerling, Louis F.
This collection spans from 1927-1941 and contains many photocopied and original ...
People Politics and Government
WGLT Program Guides and Annual Reports
...
Businesses Entertainment
Wheeler Family
The Wheeler family papers were given to the McLean County Historical Society by ...
Education People
Whitmer, Peter
...
People
Whittaker Family
Reginald Whittaker, born April 23, 1925, lived all his life in Normal. His paren...
Black History People
WIHN
This collection spans from 1970 to 1977.  The collection contains balance sheets...
Businesses Entertainment
Wilcox Tile Factory
An Ohio native, John Wilcox (1858-1920) came to McLean County as a child.  Durin...
Businesses
William D. Walters, Jr.
Professor Emeritus of Geography, Walters taught at Illinois State University for...
Education
Williams Oil-o-Matic
Charles U. Williams came to Bloomington in the late nineteenth century.  He was ...
Businesses
Williamson, Doug WJBC Forum
Doug Williamson, born in Bloomington 8-8-1943, lived in Bloomington-Normal most ...
People Entertainment Businesses
Wilson, Edward M.
Edward Mayne Wilson was born August 16, 1866, in Dale Township, McLean County. H...
People
Withers Home
When Sarah B. Withers died in 1897, she left her home at 305 West Locust Street ...
Places Religion People Health and Medicine
WJBC Radio
The WJBC Radio Collection consists of eight boxes and 41 folders containing mate...
Businesses Entertainment
WLS Barn Dance
WLS Radio’s National Barn Dance was one of the most popular and longest running ...
Entertainment Music
Wolcott, J.L.
The J.L. Wolcott Collection contains photocopies of newspaper articles and adver...
Businesses People
Woman's Club of Bloomington-Normal
The Woman’s Club of Bloomington-Normal collection consists of two boxes.  The da...
Clubs and Hobbies Organizations
Wood, Lois Postcard
This is a collection of over 250 postcards collected by Lois Wood over the years...
People Places Clubs and Hobbies Art
Woodward, Horace E.
Woodward, known by his friends as “Hod,” was born on August 21, 1878 to Walter M...
Military People
World War I: State Council of Defense
During the summer of 1918, the State Council of Defense of Illinois organized lo...
Politics and Government Military
World War II Collection
The World War II Collection contains papers, diaries, personal and military corr...
Military
World War II Home Front Oral Histories
The Interviewers were senior students of W. Michael Weis, Ph.D., Professor of Hi...
Education Military People
World War II Interview Papers Collection
World War II erupted in September 1939 with the German invasion of Poland and en...
Education Military People
World War II Magazine Collection
The World War II Magazine Collection contains publications that were kept or fou...
Military
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a world's fair held in Chicago in...
Places Entertainment
Wyckoff, Martin
Martin Anders Wyckoff was born in Normal, Illinois April 20, 1950, to Delmar and...
People Art
Yeast, Laurence (Larry) J.
Laurence (Larry) Yeast was born in McLean County June 11, 1915.  Yeast was a Blo...
People Labor Unions
Yoder, Wallace & Betty
Wallace Yoder’s mother was Harriett Katherine Ayers, daughter of Luther and Ida ...
People
Young, Fred H.
Fred H. Young (1892-1980) was born September 21, 1892, in Normal, and graduated ...
People
YWCA
The YWCA organization was founded in England in 1855, but women were active in t...
Organizations
Zobrist, Charles J.
This collection contains material relating to the life and career of World War I...
Military People
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