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RHC/RC. Regional Collections

 Record Group Term
Identifier: RHC/RC
The Regional Collections include original manuscripts and records generated by private individuals, institutions, and organizations from throughout the eighteen northern Illinois counties. The collections span the period from 1800 to the present and focus on several major themes in the region's history: agriculture, politics, ethnic heritage, commerce and industry, the role of women, and urban expansion. To provide documentation in these areas of interest the Center actively collects the historical records of farmers and their organizations, businesses and retail stores, state and local politicians, churches, cemeteries, civic agencies, individuals, women's organizations, and labor unions. In addition, the Center holds vertical file manuscripts, county and local histories, atlases and plat books, city directories, maps, broadsides, posters, photographs, oral histories, genealogical journals, and core reference printed materials on the history of northern Illinois that complement the manuscript collections.

Found in 16 Collections and/or Records:

Beta Sigma Phi Records (DeKalb/Sycamore)

 Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-350
Abstract The Beta Omega Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi held their first meeting in April 1938 and was chartered in March 1939. Beta Sigma Phi was first organized in DeKalb in October 1945. The DeKalb/Sycamore Chapters of Beta Sigma Phi been composed of one or more chapters since its founding in the area in 1938, including chapters Beta Omega (Sycamore, est. 1939), Xi Gamma Upsilon (Sycamore, est. 1956), Xi Zeta Alpha Exemplar (DeKalb, est. 1963), Preceptor Gamma Epsilon (DeKalb),  and Illinois Epsilon Phi...
Dates: translation missing: en.enumerations.date_label.created: 1939-2012; Other: Date acquired: 05/27/2016

Chicago and North Western Railway Historical Society Records

 Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-051
Scope and Contents The Chicago and North Western Historical Society collection partially documents the activities of the Chicago and North Western Railroad from 1836 to 1989 and includes research materials of H. Roger Grant for various books on railways. It consists of nine series:  public relations department files; property records; memorabilia; Chicago and North Western printed material; related publications; the Chicago and North Western Historical Society's publications, North Western Lines; photographs;...
Dates: translation missing: en.enumerations.date_label.created: 1847+; Other: Date acquired: 03/24/1979

DeKalb AgResearch Records

 Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-190
Scope and Contents This collection contains many of the records generated by the DeKalb Genetics Corporation. The materials, dating from 1910-2011, provide information for a basic history of the company; for ascertaining the role played by the industry in the DeKalb area, the United States, and around the world; for the research in the company's areas of expertise; and for analyzing marketing techniques and approaches. The collection is organized into 10 series: Historical Research and General Corporate...
Dates: translation missing: en.enumerations.date_label.created: 1910-2011; Other: Date acquired: 07/00/1988

DeKalb Streetscapes Collection

 Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-276
Scope and Contents The images in this collection are a complement to the Embree Collection [RC 2] held by the Regional History Center.  The Embree Collection offers approximately 10,000 images of life in DeKalb, Illinois from the mid 1890's through the 1965.  Both the Embree and Streetscapes Collections are especially strong on documenting the built environment in the central city area.  While virtually all of the Embree Collection is black and white, two thirds of the Streetscapes Collection is color: there...
Dates: translation missing: en.enumerations.date_label.created: 2006; Other: Date acquired: 00/00/2006

Eli B. Gilbert Family Collection (DeKalb)

 Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-277
Scope and Contents The Eli B. Gilbert Family Collection spans five generations, all of whom have resided at 210 N. 1st Street in DeKalb.  Materials in this collection date from the 1830's to the 1990's, although the bulk of the collection dates from the 1860's through the mid-1940's. About half the collection consists of photographic materials including ambrotypes, cartes-de-visite, and glass plate negatives.  Scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, correspondence, a large number of legal documents, and genealogical...
Dates: translation missing: en.enumerations.date_label.created: 1844-1996; Other: Date acquired: 01/25/2007

Giles P. Ransom Family Collection (Roscoe)

 Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-275
Scope and Contents Records in the Dr. Giles Paddock Ransom Family collection date from 1789 to 2009 with the majority of the records from the 1850 through 1930 time period. They document the personal and business aspects of individuals living in Rockford and Roscoe, Illinois. There are four main families represented in the collection–Jenks, Sherman, Leland, and Ransom; the Ransom family is most predominant. The other families are associated by marriage or settled near the Ransoms or both. Documents include...
Dates: translation missing: en.enumerations.date_label.created: 1839-2009; Other: Majority of material found in 1850s-1930s; Other: Date acquired: 06/22/2006

Green River Ordnance Plant Records (Amboy/Dixon)

 Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-295
Scope and Contents

The records for the Green River Ordnance Plant (GROP) date from 1941 to 1946 and consist of the plant’s administrative office documents, plant and employee photographs, government documents, brochures, grounds passes.  Of special interest is a DVD with recent  GROP photographs (2007), scans of GROP artifacts, and Power Point Presentations created by the donor.

Dates: translation missing: en.enumerations.date_label.created: 1941-1946; Other: Date acquired: 05/25/2008

H.W. Fay Portrait Collection

 Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-026
Scope and Contents The Herbert W. Fay Collection contains 9 boxes of material directly related to and including Fay’s portrait collection.  Box 1, housing material dated between 1864-1945, contains several file folders of general and personal correspondence and portrait loan agency clippings, all reflective of Fay s occupation as an historical portrait collector. Also included in this group are printed materials (broadsides leaflets, etc) related to Fay’s social and political interests and his participation in...
Dates: translation missing: en.enumerations.date_label.created: 1864-1945; Other: Date acquired: 02/16/1966

John M. Batchelder

 Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-322
Scope and Contents The Batchelder Collection documents the collected correspondence of John M. Batchelder and his son, John K. Batchelder from 1894 to 1951. The collection includes both business and personal correspondence. The business correspondence includes letters to business partners, business customers, sales staff and clients. Also contained in the papers are invoices, business receipts, business telegraphs, transport records and bills. There are several hundred oversized documents in the...
Dates: translation missing: en.enumerations.date_label.created: 1894-1951; Other: Majority of material found in 1894-1951; Other: Date acquired: 05/21/2012

Leo B. Olson (DeKalb)

 Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-338
Scope and Contents The Leo B. Olson Collection consists of materials related to Leo Olson’s community involvement, professional activities, and military service from 1911 to 1990. The collection also includes a small amount of materials related to Olson’s family and the history of DeKalb County. His professional activities make up only a small portion of the collection. There is very little related to his time as communications director at DeKalb AgResearch. A digital image of Leo’s Bronze Medal display is...
Dates: translation missing: en.enumerations.date_label.created: 1911-1990; Other: Date acquired: 07/31/2014