Celebrations Parties and Parades

Resources are listed in alphabetical order. More information can always be found by using our website search bar, or contacting a member of our staff.

Articles

Pages from our Past articles written by Bill Kemp

4 items

Dance marathons, walkathons once talk of the town

Although born out of the Roaring Twenties, dance marathons and walkathons peaked in popularity ...

Article

Emancipation Day once Black community’s July 4th

In the years before the Civil War and for several decades afterward, Bloomington’s African-Amer...

Article

Halloween 1945 followed world war’s end

World War II still loomed large over American life during the Halloween season of 1945. The sur...

Article

Mandolin enjoyed ‘golden age’ in late 19th century

“The members of the Lotus Club last evening entertained their lady friends at their rooms on No...

Article

Biographies

6 items

Bunn, T.J.

Thomas Jefferson (T.J.) Bunn was born on August 29, 1832 in Xenia, Green County, Ohio. He was t...

Biography

Eyer, Lloyd

Lloyd Eyer served as physical director of the Bloomington YMCA for twelve years from 1905 to 19...

Biography

Fell, Hester Vernon

Hester Vernon Fell was born on March 2, 1819 in Little Brittain, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania...

Biography

Marmon, Mary Ann

Mary Ann (Cheney) Marmon (1837-1908) grew up in a log cabin on the Illinois prairie and was a m...

Biography

Milner, Angeline Vernon

Angeline Vernon Milner, known to most as Ange, is one of Illinois' most famous librarians....

Biography

Stewart, Grace Huddleston

Grace Huddleston Stewart became known throughout Bloomington after she brought a fair housing c...

Biography

Blog

17 items

Armistice Day 1945 parade Downtown Bloomington

This photograph, taken from the east steps of the McLean County Courthouse (now Museum), offers...

Blog Post

Bloomington Centennial ‘Young Pioneers’ Parade, September 19, 1950

The City of Bloomington celebrated its centennial over a seven-day extravaganza, September 17-2...

Blog Post

Bo Peep Has Found Her Sheep Halloween Parade, Bloomington 1938

A Depression-era tradition in Bloomington was the annual Halloween Mardi Gras parade and street...

Blog Post

Easter Parade, LeRoy Style, 1937

On Sunday, April 9, 1937, The Pantagraph ran a photo spread on LeRoy ladies getting ready for E...

Blog Post

Illinois State Normal University Homecoming Parade, October 25, 1958

The Illinois State University homecoming parade has passed through Uptown Normal since the 1920...

Blog Post

Labor Day Parade Bloomington, 1985

“Buy American—Save the USA” was the theme for the September 2, 1985, Labor Day parade. Blooming...

Blog Post

LeRoy Centennial Parade October 19, 1935

A merchant’s parade was one of the highlights of LeRoy’s three-day centennial celebration, Octo...

Blog Post

LeRoy Centennial Queen October 19, 1935

This photo was taken of the LeRoy Centennial parade, held back in 1935. Rose Mae Bishop (seated...

Blog Post

LeRoy Fall Festival September 1963

The 1963 LeRoy Fall festival was held over four days, September 4-7. Billed as “Illinois larges...

Blog Post

McHistory: Voices Of The Past Come Alive

Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big momen...

Blog Post

McLean Harvest Festival September 26, 1952

The Village of McLean in the southwestern corner of McLean County used to stage an annual Harve...

Blog Post

October Means ‘Rocktober’ Kickapoo Creek Rock Festival Aerials, May 31, 1970

The Kickapoo Creek Rock Festival was held outside of the McLean County community of Heyworth on...

Blog Post

On Parade Elementary Rhythm Band, July 1951

On Tuesday we posted another photograph featuring this neighborhood music class. These children...

Blog Post

Photo of the Week: Dolls On Parade O’Neil Park, July 1939

The once-annual O’Neil Park doll parade on Bloomington’s west side prepares to get underway, Fr...

Blog Post

Santa and His Six (?) Reindeer Bloomington Christmas Parade, 1929

The December 3, 1929 Christmas parade in Bloomington featured Santa Claus, six marching bands, ...

Blog Post

Santa on Parade December 1948

On December 5, 1948, Santa arrived in Bloomington via the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad. Fro...

Blog Post

Wesleyan Homecoming, October 1958 Titans Rough Up the Bluejays

Fifty-seven years ago, Saturday, October 25, 1958, Wesleyan easily dispatched visiting Elmhurst...

Blog Post

Finding Aids

Archival collection finding aids (full contents of collections available on site)

7 items

Bloomington Centennial, 1850-1950

Although Bloomington was established and settled as early as 1831, it wasn’t officially incorpo...

Finding Aid

Bloomington Sesquicentennial

Bloomington celebrated its 150th birthday with a free, family-friendly downtown festival on Sat...

Finding Aid

Bloomington Trades and Labor Assembly

Bloomington labor unions banded together on October 18, 1891, to establish the Bloomington Trad...

Finding Aid

Central Social Club (Randolph Township)

The Central Social Club, originally known as the Diamond Grove Club, was a women’s club origina...

Finding Aid

McLean County Sesquicentennial Committee

The McLean County Sesquicentennial Celebration commemorated the founding of McLean County 150 y...

Finding Aid

Old People’s Picnic Association

Beginning in 1894, the Old People’s Picnic Association met once a year to eat, converse, celebr...

Finding Aid

WLS Barn Dance

WLS Radio’s National Barn Dance was one of the most popular and longest running programs on rad...

Finding Aid

Making a Home

Digital Exhibit

1 item

Livingston Family

In 1860 Hannah Eliel, age nine, boarded the sailing ship Clobus with her teenage sisters Betty ...

Digital Exhibit

Publications

Digitized books and pamphlets. To see all books in our collection, search our library catalog.

1 item

Official souvenir program, McLean County Centennial 1930

Early history of McLean County, by J. L. Hasbrouk and the Daily Pantagraph - - McLean County Hi...

Publication

Research

1 item

Post Amerikan

Held by the MCMH and digitized by Eastern Illinois University. The Post Amerikan began publicat...

Article

Videos

Livestreamed and recorded presentations by staff, experts, and community members.

1 item

"Still We Rise" BNBHP Juneteenth 2020

Video