Northwest Illinois Audubon Society, 1988

The Kishwaukee Audubon Society Collection documents the establishment and history of a local environmental organization from 1960-1989. The society minutes (1960-1974) comprise a major series of the collection detailing business concerns such as treasurer's reports, membership data, publicity strategy, and plans for nature projects and field trips. The minutes also describe the club's educational presentations designed to familiarize members with environmental and conservation topics. Financial reports, membership lists, and committee reports supplement the data contained in the minutes. Club correspondence (1961-1974) contains additional information on meeting programs and the issues of conservation and pollution in DeKalb County. A second major series of the collection is a nearly complete set of monthly newsletters (1961-1989) comprehensively describing society projects including field trips, wildlife film series, environmental preservation programs, and nature lectures. A separate file of program announcements contains more detailed portrayals of society activities, particularly the seasonal wildlife film series. Researchers should note that by-laws and brief society histories, along with the photographs, provide helpful background data on the organization's origins and goals. The collection also includes general ecological education information supplied by local and state organizations as well as national public and private environmental agencies. The Kishwaukee Audubon Society Records provide a comprehensive illustration of a group of local people not only dedicated to learning more about nature, but also intensely concerned with preserving their surrounding natural environment.