NIU Alumni Association holiday card, circa 1965

The Fordtran Family Collection contains materials of the Fordtran/Wherley/Barkley family. The items were among the personal effects of Lola Belle (Barkley) and Eugene Fordtran. Material related to Rockford High School is a large part of the collection and includes student published periodicals and newsletters when Fred and Marie Barkley (1908-09) and Dorthy Wherley (1945) attended the school. The collection also contains records related to Lola Belle... (Barkley) Fordtran’s attendance at Northern Illinois State Teachers College (NISTC) from 1938-1942. These materials include NISTC publications, catalogues, and programs as well as Lola Belle’s registration forms, room contacts, class assignments, and textbooks. The collection also includes photographs. Two from 1920 capture Wherley family members: Norman, Mary, Bertha, and Ruben Gunther, Sr. The 1940s photo shows Lorayne Wherley with her bowling league group. Also included are writing samples of Frances Conklin French. F.C. French was an alias used by Peggy French, a dear friend of Lola Belle.