Poverty

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

2 items

A man kneels, inserting an American flag next to a grave stone in a cemetery.

Central Illinois final resting place for once-enslaved persons

The stain of slavery pervades the American experience, dating well before the nation’s founding...

Article

Poor Farm home to society’s friendless and forlorn

“Be careful or you'll end up at the poor farm” was a popular admonition well in the mid-20...

Article

Biographies

4 items

Gay, Henry

It’s a rough road from the Louisiana cotton fields to Bloomington-Normal, with obstacles every ...

Biography

King, Mary Reed

Mary (Reed) King (1842-1928) and Samuel Noble (1834-1913) were a force in the advancement of ag...

Biography

Lott, Harrison Clay

Harrison Clay Lott was born August 16, 1848 in Madison, Indiana. When Lott was fifteen years o...

Biography

Pratt, Mildred

This was summarized from an Illinois State University news article by John Twork. There’s much ...

Biography

Blog

4 items

McHistory: Bloomington's Settlement House

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

Blog Post

McHistory: Homelessness in Bloomington-Normal has been a challenge in many eras

Blog Post

McHistory: Inhumane Conditions at the McLean County Poor Farm

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

Blog Post

McHistory: When socialism really was socialism

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

Blog Post

Finding Aids

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

2 items

Home Sweet Home Mission

Billy Shelper founded the Home Sweet Home City Rescue Mission in 1917 after attending a Billy S...

Finding Aid

McLean County Poor Farm

For more than 90 years, the McLean County Poor Farm, located south of Bloomington, housed some ...

Finding Aid

Videos

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

1 item

Social Justice History Walking Tour

Video