Sabin and Van Arsdale Collection (Aurora)

Collection

Identifier: RHC-RC-032

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Sabin-Van Arsdale Collection consists of 845 photographs, a small amount of correspondence, diaries and school work, surveyor’s notebooks, tour books, and other printed material. The photographs depict western mining and manufacturing operations, landscape and scenery from Europe and the United States dating from the early twentieth century, and portraits and candid shots of relatives and friends of the Sabin and Van Arsdale families. Also found in the collection are souvenir and costume books from several European counties collected by Van Arsdale during his extensive travels. Among the printed materials are books on surveying, merit rolls and other publications from the New York Free Academy, and by-laws and catalogs from the Columbia College School of Mines. Smaller portions of the collection include Aurora YMCA posters and information and the Circus Fans of America. Of special interest in the collection is the folder containing wanted notices for criminals in the Ogle and Lee County area.

Dates

created: 1856-1960
Other: Date acquired: 00/00/1966

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on access to the collection.Items relating to the Columbian Exposition have been restricted for preservation purposes. Copies are available for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights in the collection belong to the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public. Items relating to the Columbian Exposition have been restricted for preservation purposes. Copies are available for research.

Biographical or Historical Information

Jay Horace Sabin, son of Dwight Mays Sabin (U.S. Congressman from Minnesota, 1882-1886) was born in Stillwater, Minnesota in 1875. He graduated from Northwestern University in the late 1890's and became a surveyor of Winnebago County. He is known to have lived in the Illinois area (Chicago) until 1954 although his death date is at this date unknown. William Henry Van Arsdale was the step father of Jay Horace Sabin. He was born in New York City in January 1846. Van Arsdale attended and graduated from the New York City Free Academy and the Columbia School of Mines. He married Katherine Hillman. In 1883 he became the first vice-president of the new Aurora Smelting and Refining Company, Aurora, Illinois which later became the Chicago and Aurora Smelting and Refining Company. Van Arsdale was also president of the Aurora YMCA from 1886-[1905?]

Note written by

Extent

4.75 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Source of Acquisition

Charles F. Andrews, Geneve Harris

Method of Acquisition

Charles F. Andrews donated the records of Jay Horace Sabin and William Henry Van Arsdale to the Northern Illinois University Archives in 1966. J. Joseph Bauxar, University Archivist, transferred the records to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center in May 1978. An addendum was added to the collection on April 25, 2008 by Geneve Harris.