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Items associated with name 'Illinois'

Autobiography of Richard Watson

by Watson, Richard (1957)

1 folder (0.1 linear feet)

Richard Watson wrote his autobiography for a class assignment in 1957 when he was 15 years old, recounting his life from birth in Peoria, Illinois in 1942 to the present day through written entries and photographs. He wrote about family vacations, the death of grandparents, and his sister getting polio and aunt's death from the disease.

Associated Subjects: Diaries • Diaries (Men) • Education • Family Life • Scrapbooks • Youth
Identifier: SC2015.004
Repository: Special Collections
Attachment: No attachment

Clyde Family Letter Collection

by Clyde, EthelClyde, Jane Leslie "Jennie"Clyde, Leslie M.Clyde, Robert A. (1916 – 1919)

9 folders (0.1 linear feet)

The Clyde Family Letter Collection documents the lives of Leslie Clyde and Robert A. Clyde as they served in France during the First World War. The letters date from 1916 to 1919 and describe the men's experiences as they trained at Fort Monroe, Virginia and served with the 2nd Trench Mortar Battery, 2nd Division throughout France. Most of the letters were written by Leslie and Robert to their mother, Jane "Jennie" Clyde, and their father, Robert S. Clyde, as well as their younger siblings: Margaret, Alexander "Sander," Jennie, and Marion. While most of the correspondence contains details about daily life, some mention national and worldwide events such as the Spanish influenza epidemic, Daylight Savings Time in the US, prohibition, the Chicago race riot of 1919, unions and the Railroad Brotherhood, and Charlie Chaplin. Some of the letters include racist slurs and sentiments.

Identifier: SC2023.010
Repository: Special Collections
Attachment: No attachment

Diaries of Elaine Zold

by Zold, Elaine (1939 – 1945)

3 folders (0.2 linear feet)

These diaries were written in 1943 and 1945 by Elaine Zold of Chicago, Illinois. Zold was a dancer and USO performer who traveled the United States and wrote extensively about her performances, life on the road, and other activities on hotel stationery and other notepads. She kept a compiled record of each of her performances from 1939 to 1945 and a notepad to practice her signature. While most of Zold's diary entries chronicle her tours throughout the United States, she also visited and performed in Italy in late 1945.

Identifier: SC2016.042
Repository: Special Collections
Attachment: View Attachment

Diaries of Eleanor Meyer Hyde

by Hyde, Eleanor Meyer (1905 – 1906)

1 folder (0.1 linear feet)

The two diaries were written in 1905 and 1906 by Eleanor Meyer Hyde. Eleanor’s entries consist of her daily activities and social life with her husband, Elbert “Bert” Hyde in Washington, D.C.

Identifier: SC2015.040
Repository: Special Collections
Attachment: No attachment

Diaries of Henry Reitzel

by Reitzel, Henry (1869 – 1875)

2 folders (0.25 linear feet)

The Diaries of Henry Reitzel were written between 1869 and 1875 by the farmer and cattle rancher from Whiteside County, Illinois who traveled to Enterprise, Kansas by wagon in 1874. One ledger spans from 1869 to 1874 while four smaller diaries cover one to two year periods. Reitzel kept track of all of his finances and wrote about his surroundings including passing missions, Indian reservations, camping on the prairie, hunting, and playing the accordion. The diaries document his journey westward from Illinois to Casey, Iowa, south into Kansas, and his return home to Illinois.

Associated Subjects: Diaries • Diaries (Men) • Farm Life • Voyages and Travel
Identifier: SC2016.125
Repository: Special Collections
Attachment: No attachment

Diary of Eugene Heath

by Heath, Eugene (1869)

1 folder (0.1 linear feet)

This diary was written in 1869 by Eugene Heath, the son of an early settler in Annawan, Henry County, Illinois. For the first half of the diary, Heath was attending school in Burlington, Iowa, but later returned home to help tend to the family farm and raise cattle. Heath also kept monthly cash accounts for his purchases.

Associated Subjects: Accounting Records • Diaries • Diaries (Men) • Farm Life
Identifier: SC2014.025
Repository: Special Collections
Attachment: No attachment

Diary of Illinois Girl

by Unknown (1930)

1 folder (0.1 linear feet)

This diary of an unidentified Illinois girl contains entries for each day in 1930.

Associated Subjects: Diaries • Diaries (Women) • Youth
Identifier: SC2013.076
Repository: Special Collections
Attachment: No attachment

Diary of Jessie Dodson

by Dodson, Jessie (1936)

1 folder (0.1 linear feet)

This diary was written in 1936 by Jessie Dodson of Alma, Illinois. The 25 year old woman wrote about her daily activities and her relationship with a man named "Doc."

Associated Subjects: Diaries • Diaries (Women)
Identifier: SC2018.017a
Repository: Special Collections
Attachment: No attachment

Papers of the House of Corrections of the City of Chicago

by House of Corrections of the City of Chicago (1923)

1 folder (0.1 linear feet)

Papers of the House of Corrections of the City of Chicago document the lives and thoughts of inmates at the Chicago/Cook County, Illinois House of Corrections in 1923. These 17 to 21 year old boys wrote confessions, letters about their daily life, memories of their home lives, and completed various assignments that their teacher, Mrs. Hoerr, tasked to them. Many of the assignments, letters, and other writings are revealing of the daily thoughts and activities of the incarcerated peoples, as well as their jobs or lives prior to the House of Corrections as "hobos," "tramps," or "bums."

Associated Subjects: City and Town Life • Education • Labor History • Personal Correspondence • Youth
Identifier: SC2017.005
Repository: Special Collections
Attachment: No attachment

Sarah Jane Clary Letters

by Clary, Sarah Jane (1850 – 1854)

9 folders (0.25 linear feet)

These 42 multi-page letters were written to Sarah Jane Clary between 1850 and 1854. Clary lived in Stockbridge, Massachusetts and primarily corresponded with her Van Slyk cousins living in New York: Peter, Hannah, and Harriet. She also wrote to her sister-in-law and brother in Williamsburgh, friends in Rockford, Illinois, and another cousin Sylvester Eldridge. Also included are several letters that Clary wrote and other ephemera.

Identifier: SC2017.047
Repository: Special Collections
Attachment: No attachment

Special Collections Pamphlet Collection

by Various (1762 – 1985)

9 cartons,  2 boxes (10 linear feet)

The Special Collections Pamphlet Collection consists of over 800 published manuscripts discussing a wide variety of national and international topics. The materials date between 1762 and 1985. Similar topics have been grouped together, but may be found throughout the collection. Some of the major topics included in the collection are: race relations, Australia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, African American history, Native American history, military history (American Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korean War), education, industry, labor history, agriculture, railways, government and politics, international relations, socialism, communism, economics, prisons, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, prohibition, temperance, women's history and groups, and biographies and obituaries.

Identifier: SC2020.032
Repository: Special Collections
Attachment: No attachment

Victor Brockenborough Letters

by Brockenborough, VictorHardy, VictoriaPray, MargaretSkillman, Mabel (1937 – 1946)

1 box (0.5 linear feet)

The Victor Brockenborough Letters are a collection of letters written to and by Victor Brockenborough between 1937 and 1946. The letters written between 1937 and 1942 are from Victor's godmother, Victoria Hardy, who lived in Spring Lake, New Jersey and Charleston, South Carolina. Some of the letters from Victoria are addressed to Victor's, Julie Brockenborough. The letters written in 1943 were mostly by Victor's pen pal, Margaret Pray, from Brooklyn, New York, but others were from Victor's twin brother, Billy, and one of his sister's friends, Mabel Skillman. The majority of the remaining letters in the collection were written by Victor to his girlfriend, Effie Shores, from Chicago, Illinois, and date from 1944 to 1946. These letters trace Victor and Effie's relationship from their first letter to their marriage. Contents of the letter include wedding plans, as well as Victor's training as a Naval electrician, his time on base in Hampton, Virginia and Glenview, Illinois, and his eventual discharge. He continued to write Effie after returning home to Corona, New York and she eventually joined him there. Other letters from 1944-1946 are from family member or friends. Included in the collection are photographs of friends and family members along with a comic strip.

Identifier: SC2014.048
Repository: Special Collections
Attachment: View Attachment