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 7 Collections and/or Records:
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
Found in:
Northern Illinois University
F.E. Griffith Family Correspondence (Sandwich)
Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-089
Scope and Contents
The Griffith Family Papers collection is a three generation chronicle of the Frank E. Griffith family containing letters, photographs, and legal documents dating from the late 1700's to 1938. The major series of this collection consists of letters Frank Griffith sent home during his military service in the Civil War (1862-1865), and several letters from other family members. These letters are a unique primary source providing insights on the Union Army attitudes and revealing the struggles...
Dates:
translation missing: en.enumerations.date_label.created: 1794-1938; Other: Date acquired: 03/14/1980
Found in:
Northern Illinois University
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
Found in:
Northern Illinois University
Hall Family Collection (Sycamore)
Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-117
Scope and Contents
The collection partially documents four generations of the Horace Hall family of Sycamore, Illinois from 1824 to 1946. Most of the correspondence provides detailed information on family lifestyles in the last half of the nineteenth century. Important to note are the letters that provide insight on family attitudes during the Civil War years. Genealogical charts, personal diaries, family legal documents, publications, photographs, and scrapbooks complete the collection. The original...
Dates:
translation missing: en.enumerations.date_label.created: 1824-1946; Other: Date acquired: 11/09/1980
Found in:
Northern Illinois University
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
Found in:
Northern Illinois University
The Griffith Letters Collection (Sandwich)
Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-270
Scope and Contents
The Griffith Letters collection consists of research files created by the author, Joan Metzger, while writing her book entitled, The Griffith Letters: The Story of Frank Griffith and the 116th New York Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War. The records consist of nine series created by the author: Book and Drafts, Griffith Family Research, 116th NYSV Research, New York Research, Louisiana Research, Washington D.C. Research, Correspondence, Miscellaneous Research, and...
Dates:
translation missing: en.enumerations.date_label.created: 1861-2004; Other: Date acquired: 01/25/2005
Found in:
Northern Illinois University
W.W. Embree Collection (DeKalb)
Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-002
Scope and Contents
Waite W. Embree and his father, Elmer E. Embree, preserved most of the historical materials generated by the family’s business and social activities. Waite, especially, collected a large volume of printed materials and photographs that relate to his main interests--the history of DeKalb and the history of railroading. It is important to note that Embree was a collector: indeed, in the absence of an active county historical society, Waite Embree filled a void in DeKalb County with his keen...
Dates:
translation missing: en.enumerations.date_label.created: 1881-1966; Other: Date acquired: 03/00/1967
Found in:
Northern Illinois University
