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 355 Collections and/or Records:
Franklin Grove Collection
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: RHC-RC-115
Scope and Contents
The Franklin Grove Collection contains a variety of documents detailing several facets of the community's history. One series comprises minutes and treasurer's account books, (1932-1980) from the Cross Roads Community Club. This club organized in the early 1930's to provide social and recreational entertainment programs for Franklin Grove families. Another series partially documents the Franklin Grove Nursery from 1844 to 1884. A.R. Whitney, owner of the nursery, developed the famous...
Dates:
created: 1844-1995
Found in:
Northern Illinois University
Westclox Incorporated Records (LaSalle)
Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-116
Scope and Contents
A valuable source for the study of late nineteenth and twentieth century industrial firms, the Westclox, Incorporated Records document the establishment and history of this clock manufacturer from 1885 to 1971. The collection comprises six major record series: minutes; correspondence; financial records; department reports; company newsmagazines; and visual material.
Board of Directors minutes, resolutions, and reports (1887-1937) constitute the first series in the collection. These...
Dates:
created: 1885-1971; Other: Date acquired: 11/03/1980
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:
created: 1824-1946; Other: Date acquired: 11/09/1980
Found in:
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb League of Women Voters Records
Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-118
Scope and Contents
The DeKalb League of Women Voters, organized soon after the formation of the national League, educated the first women voters of DeKalb County on the mechanics and policies of government. These records document the League’s efforts towards securing legislation of special interest to women, wiping out legal discrimination against women, and educating the general public on city, county, state, and national politics. Information is available on the League’s work to save the DeKalb city park...
Dates:
created: 1924-1998
Found in:
Northern Illinois University
Wheatland-Salem United Methodist Church Records
Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-119
Scope and Contents
A church fire in November 1927 destroyed a portion of this organization’s historical manuscripts. Nevertheless, the remaining records provide sufficient documentation for a thorough study of the Wheatland Salem United Methodist Church’s history. Of primary importance are the church minutes dating from 1860 to 1963 (1916-1947 are missing.) describing organizational changes, building or expansion problems, and general church business. In addition, quarterly conference records (1920-1967)...
Dates:
created: 1860-1981
Found in:
Northern Illinois University
Thurow Family Records (Plano)
Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-010
Scope and Contents
The Thurow Family Collection contains materials collected by Walter M. Thurow tracing three generations of family history in Plano, Illinois from the late 1800s to 1965. Box 1 consists of fifteen folders of typescript World War I records, letters, diaries, and local histories of the American Legion in Kendall County, Illinois. Contained in box 2 are legal documents including deeds, certificates, land leases, contracts, and ten envelopes of family and geographic photographs. Of special...
Dates:
created: 1890-1965; Other: Date acquired: 00/00/1972
Found in:
Northern Illinois University
Lindenwood Grain Co-Op Records
Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-011
Scope and Contents
The Lindenwood Collection traces the economic development of an agricultural co-operative from 1919 to 1956. The materials are arranged in a series of three record groups all providing a comprehensive account of the co-op’s fiscal operations.
The first series consists of the co-operative’s general business files, 1921-1947; included in this series are correspondence, receipts, tax returns, and annual reports. Also included are several folders of material concerned with the implementation of...
Dates:
created: 1919-1956; Other: Date acquired: 06/23/1978
Found in:
Northern Illinois University
Hilmer Borggren Collection (Rockford)
Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-012
Scope and Contents
The Hilmer Borggren Collection contains a variety of materials collected by Borggren between 1932 and 1977. Borggren's role in the Scandinavian Fraternity of America, the Vasa Order of America, along with his experiences during World War II are revealed through the scrapbooks, the correspondence, programs, convention materials, songbooks, and photographs. Since Rockford comprises a large Scandinavian population, these records partially reveal the important social function of American...
Dates:
created: 1905-1977; Other: Date acquired: 08/08/1981
Found in:
Northern Illinois University
Unitarian Fellowship Records (DeKalb)
Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-013
Scope and Contents
The Unitarian Fellowship of DeKalb Collection documents the history of a liberal religious society from 1961-1971. Unfortunately, records providing information on the society’s first months of existence in 1960 are missing from the collection. Nevertheless, a complete set of minutes (1961-1971) comprehensively details the concern of the Unitarians with educating the community about their beliefs and promoting a strong, dedicated membership. Newsletters, correspondence, treasurer’s reports,...
Dates:
created: 1961-1971; Other: Date acquired: 00/00/1960
Found in:
Northern Illinois University
Prairie View Grange Records (Pecatonica)
Collection
Identifier: RHC-RC-014
Scope and Contents
The Prairie View Grange No. 1786 Collection documents the establishment and history of a farming organization in Pecatonica, Illinois from 1915 to its dissolution in 1970. The main series of the collection consists of a partial set of minute books (1931-1970) containing information about the members’ concern with agricultural problems. These books also relate how social events relieved the loneliness and isolation typical of the farming life. A major weakness in the collection is the lack...
Dates:
created: 1915-1970; Other: Date acquired: 08/25/1980
Found in:
Northern Illinois University
