The WWII Memorial Committee was formed in the fall of 1994 after Normal Mayor Paul Harmon noticed there was a memorial for local soldiers killed in every war except the Second World War. Local architect Gene Asbury volunteered to create the design of the memorial, and Jim Meek of Felmley-Dickerson Construction volunteered his company’s help. Construction of the memorial began during late summer 1997 and was later completed that fall. The memorial dedication ceremony took place on the Saturday before Veterans Day 1997.

The collection includes newspaper articles, names of volunteers, construction planning and sketches, correspondence between contractors, dedication ceremony program drafts, lists of names for the memorial inscription, committee notes, logos, and other material.