The Sangamon Valley Collection owns unique collections of materials from Springfield businesses, organizations, and families. These items are stored in a secure area and must be requested. No materials in this collection are available for circulation.
Available Manuscripts
Athens Woman’s Club Collection
The Athens Twentieth Century Club was organized November 1904 and joined the state federation in 1906. The object of the Twentieth Century Club was “literary research and social enjoyment.” (1908 Constitution) It became the Athens Woman’s Club in 1922.The object of the Athens Woman’s Club was “mutual improvement and promotion of the higher social and moral conditions.” (1928 Constitution) The 2001-2002 year booklet named the object of the organization as “education, elucidation and entertaining the community and ourselves.”
150 Capital Years – Springfield Sesquicentennial Collection
The collection includes information about the April 6th celebration including logistics, call for and certificates of appreciation from Mayor Ossie Langfelder to the photographers for the 150 Capital Years book, submission/description forms for the photographs, newspaper, newsletter, and magazine articles about the Sesquicentennial, correspondence with the US Postal Service and envelopes, Springfield history research, the official logo, commissioned artwork, and finances.
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1976 Bicentennial Celebration Collection
This collection includes materials from the Capital Bicentennial Commission in Springfield, the Illinois Bicentennial Commission, and the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration.
A.H. Barth Electric Company Collection
The collection includes A.H. Barth Electric Company ledgers, receipts, customer tickets, a savings book, and a bill statement.
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Businesses & IndustriesAdministrative Management Society, Springfield Chapter Collection
The Springfield chapter of the National Office Management Association was formed in 1946. They changed the name to Administrative Management Society in 1963-1964. They held monthly programs, an annual business show, and conducted a salary survey.
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Albert Livingstone Collection
Albert Livingstone was born July 16, 1892 in Scott County, Illinois the son of James and Elizabeth Livingstone. He was a veteran of World War I. He was a court reporter for 50 years. He owned Livingstone Reporting Agency in Springfield with his brothers. He was a member of the Laurel United Methodist Church, the Elks Club, American Legion, World War Barracks 185, St. Paul’s Lodge No. 500 AF & AM. He was also a member of the TNT Club, and the Ku Klux Klan, and the Abraham Lincoln Council No. 3 of the Independent Klan of America/Knights of American Protestantism.
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Allis-Chalmers Collection
The Allis-Chalmers Collection consists of photographs showing employees and the machinery manufactured at the Springfield plant.
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Businesses & IndustriesAmerican Association of University Women-Springfield Chapter
In 1906 the National Association of Collegiate Alumnae granted a charter to Springfield to form a branch. They had their first meeting in 1907. The organization became the American Association of University Women in 1921.
Anti-Rust Club Collection
The collection is composed of items related to the Springfield chapter of the Anti-Rust Club from 1900 to the 2010s.
Beaghan Family Collection
The collection includes Beaghan family scrapbooks, photos, newspaper clippings, envelopes, and announcements. The materials in this collection date between the 1890s to 1940s.
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Families & IndividualsBeta Sigma Phi
Collection includes local chapter rosters, photos, programs, charter booklets, meeting minutes, and scrapbooks.
Book Review Club
The collection includes meeting minutes, membership yearbooks, photos, articles, scrapbooks, and more.
Booth/Grunendike
A collection of four photo albums containing photographs circa 1900 to the 1940's relating to the family, property and travels of the Booth/Gruendike family.
Bradish/Call/Smart Families Collection
The collection includes photos of Mary Bradish Call, S. Leigh Call, Mary Leigh Call Smart, Jack Scott Smart, Ethelwyn Coventry Bradish, William Hardin, and William Hardin’s parents. Also paintings and a “The Fat Man” performance on disc by Jack Scott Smart, correspondence from Mary Bradish Call to her daughter Mary Leigh Call Smart 1954-1955, a family history, and a small piece of wood from the Lincoln Home.
Buckley Family
The Buckley Family Photograph Collection consists of photographs reproduced from glass negatives and gives a pictorial essay on one family's lifestyle in Springfield during the early part of the 20th century.
Bunn Family Collection
This collection includes biographical information, photos, correspondence of Bunn family members as well as information about the houses they lived in and businesses they owned- Bunn Capitol and Marine Bank.
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Families & IndividualsCantrall Family
The collection contains documents primarily related to William G. Cantrall, his sons, and the Cantrall Cemetery Association.
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Families & IndividualsCarillon Belles/Rees Carillon Bell Society
Documents, newspaper clippings, carillon programs, memoranda and photographs from the collection of Mrs. Violet Touch.
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Arts & CultureCarl G. Hodges Collection
Materials related to the activities of author Carl G. Hodges
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Carroll Carman Hall
Collection contains Carroll C. Hall's genealogical work, historical articles, and humorous writings.
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Families & IndividualsCarson/Janssen Collection
Poems written and compiled by Helen Carson Janssen and poems and sermons by Rev. David Gibson Carson, DD
Catchpole’s Greenhouse Collection
The collection includes operational documents, gardening guides, plant lists, newsletters, correspondence, charitable donation material, newspaper ads, a magazine article, and photos.
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Businesses & IndustriesCharles C. Patton Military Collection
The collection includes letters written between Charles C. Patton and his parents, Charles L. and Alice Patton, greeting cards, an Oak Ridge Cemetery Deed, tax returns, stocks and bonds, and a postcard. It also includes documents, magazines, booklets, photos, film negatives, a name tag, a USNR Navy Pin, drawings, and notes relating to Charles C. Patton’s time serving in the Navy between 1942 to 1946.
Charles M. Parker Publications
Collections includes the publications of teacher and creator of an educational publishing company, Charles M. Parker.
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EducationChurch Women United
The collection contains materials from the Church Women United in Springfield, their projects, and earlier interdenominational groups.
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Citizens Tribune Newspaper v. John Hunter
This collection contains materials from the files of J.R. Fitzpatrick, owner of the Citizens Tribune, relating to the lawsuit the Tribune filed against the Commissioner of Public Property for the City of Springfield, John Hunter in 1950.
Coley C. Cowan Collection
The collection includes photos, programs, and a guest book from the April 16, 1978 Testimonial Luncheon honoring Coley C. Cowan.
Collection of Robert E. Fitzgerald: Items found in the Reisch Building
These items reflect the personal and professional life of Robert E. Fitzgerald and include correspondence, contracts, and photographs.
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Families & IndividualsCommission on International Visitors
The collection includes establishment materials, meeting minutes, workshop materials, newspaper articles, correspondence, oral histories, and a key to the city of Springfield presented to Commission Chair Annabelle Patton.
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Government & PoliticsDancing Improvement Assembly
The Dancing Improvement Assembly collection includes club histories, bylaws, financials, correspondence, invitations and programs, board meeting materials, membership lists, photos, and newspaper articles.
Dora Davis Armbruster
The collection is composed of items related to Dora Davis Armbruster’s (1880-1962) First Christian Church involvement.
Douglas Elementary School Parent Teacher Association
The items in this collection focus on the early years of the Douglas Elementary School Parent Teacher Association and are primarily from the 1940s and 1950s.
Elizabeth Weir, King’s Daughters Home Matron, 1973
Elizabeth Weir became the matron of the King’s Daughters Home in May 1973 and served for that year.
Family Service Center Collection
The collection includes bylaw, descriptions of services, statistics, board can committee meeting minutes, and board and personnel information for the Child and Family Service. It also includes executive reports, personnel and board of directors information, board and committee meeting minutes, and needs assessments for the Family Service Center. There are also interview transcripts with people associated with the organization. There is also information on legislation related to child welfare.
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Social & Service OrganizationsG.H. Schanbacher Collection
G.H. Schanbacher was born in German in 1860. He began G.H. Schanbacher and Son Church Decorating firm in 1889 and was quite successful in the Midwest.
Golden Gloves Tournament
The collection contains background information, correspondence, newspaper publicity, expense records, etc., relating to the Citizens Tribune newspaper's involvement with Golden Gloves Tournaments in Springfield from 1944 through 1956.
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Sports & HobbiesGovernor Samuel H. Shapiro Manuscript
This collection contains items from Governor Samuel Shapiro's private and public activities, including photographs and correspondence with state and national political figures.
Greater Springfield Interfaith Association
The collection include GSIA program documentation, bylaws, reports, position papers, board information, correspondence and more.
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Religious OrganizationsGreen Family
A group of 23 letters written to and from members of the William Green family of Orvil Township, Logan County, Illinois between the years 1864 and 1884.
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Families & IndividualsGrimm Family
This collection consists primarily of letters written to Mildred Jean Grimm by her father, Lester R. Grimm.
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Families & IndividualsHarvard Park Neighborhood Collection
The Harvard Park Neighborhood Association materials in the collection range in dates from 1989 to 2019.
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Architecture, Buildings & NeighborhoodsHenry B. House
The Henry B. House Collection contains letters to Henry House, an actor and director of local theater productions until his death in 1953.
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Families & IndividualsHerman and Emma Schlensack Collection
The items in this collection were found at 1605 Lowell Avenue in Springfield, in a home previously owned by Herman and Emma Schlensack and occupied a various times by Herman and Emma as well as their sons Helmuth and Robert.
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Families & IndividualsHerndon Family
The Herndon Family Collection is mainly a photographic collection centered on Richard Fleetwood and Kate Herndon’s immediate and extended families.
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Families & IndividualsHomeless United for Change Collection
This collection contains seven binders of Homeless United for Change correspondence, meeting agendas and minutes, essays, newspaper articles, and grant applications covering 2007-2009. There is also an index for each year. The publication Homeless United for Change – HUC: Narrative of the first three years, 2007, 2008, 2009 with an overview of homeless services by Barbara Olson is included and is based on the material in the binders.
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Social & Service OrganizationsHorse Events at Illinois State Fairgrounds Collection
The Illinois State Fairgrounds has been the site of horse racing and horse shows since it was located in 1894 north of Sangamon Avenue and west of Peoria Road.
Howard C. Knotts Collection
The Howard C. Knotts collection primarily covers the period of Knotts' life from 1915 to 1921, including his WWI military experiences, his work in aviation law, and his death in 1942.
Humphrey Family Collection
The collection includes Humphrey family photo albums, journals, letters, photographs, daily planners, notebooks, play scripts by Maude, and a screen play by Maude.
Hutton Family
The Hutton Family Collection consists of a series of letters written by Dorothy Hutton as a young girl (1913-1924) from Auburn, Illinois to her mother in Denver, Colorado.
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Families & IndividualsIles Manuscript
The Iles Manuscript Collection contains the original, handwritten copy of Iles' autobiography and other Iles family genealogy materials.
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Families & IndividualsIllinois Association of Minorities in Government Collection
The collection includes Illinois Association of Minorities in Government newsletters, conference programs, and explanations about the organization from the 2000s.
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Government & PoliticsIllinois State Athletic Commission Collection
The collection contains materials from J.R. Fitzpatrick from his time on the Illinois Athletic Commission.
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Sports & HobbiesIllinois State University Research Collection
Illinois State University, Springfield’s first school of higher learning, was inappropriately named because it was actually a private school supported by the Lutheran Church and had no connection with the state of Illinois.
Irene and Mildred Garvey: Items Related to Their Lives and Travels, 1903 – 1992
The collection includes photos, real estate and financial documents, and travel memorabilia kept by the two sisters.
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Families & IndividualsJohn R. Work Collection
The items in the collection come from a scrapbook compiled by John R. Work. It is a reorganization of photographs and memoirs mainly related to Mr. Work’s World War II work in the Office of Strategic Services, but also touching on his art and personal life.
John S. Loomis Papers
This collection consists primarily of letters written to Loomis from Governor Yates.
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Johnston Family Collection
This collection contains Johnston family photos of people, places, pets, and events, negatives, photocopies of a family scrapbook, a planner, and a letter.
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Families & IndividualsJohnston, Knox, Morgan Families
Correspondence, business documents, certificates, and obituaries spanning three generations of one family: Leonora Knox Morgan, her father, James Madison Knox and her grandfather, Levi Johnston.
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Families & IndividualsJunior League of Springfield Collection
Women founded the Service League of Springfield in 1939. It became the Junior League of Springfield in 1950. The collection includes organization yearbooks 1950s-2000s, board, financial, and committee materials from the 1960s and 1980s, newspaper clippings about the organization and their events and projects, programs, photos, and newspaper clippings related to their Follies event 1940s-1980s, New Salem Tour program materials 1960s, Lincoln sites tour program materials 1960s, newspaper clippings and correspondence related to the Lincoln Home area and the Survey and Plan.
LaBonte Family
Included in this collection are a few items from the LaBonte business, trade catalogs, legal documents and income tax reports.
Lard/Shepherd Manuscript Collection
John Lard and his family came and settled in Ball Township of Sangamon County in 1835. Among their children was Josiah who had a son Jacob. Jacob married Stella Leach and to them a daughter, Geneva, was born. Geneva married Louis Pitner Shepherd. Their son was Jacob “Jake” Lard Shepherd.
Lincoln Home Background Material Collection
Materials related to the development of the Lincoln Home Historic Site.
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Lincoln Library War Effort, 1917-1918 Collection
As part of the American Library Association’s (ALA) campaign for the Library War Fund, Lincoln Library headed the effort for Springfield to raise over $2300 for reading materials and library equipment for the camps from 1917 to 1918.
Lincoln Memorial Garden and Nature Center
The collection includes materials related to the operation of Lincoln Memorial Garden-correspondence, grounds notebook, committee reports, and maintenance plans, Administrators reports, Annual reports and meeting minutes, treasurers reports and financial records, photos, history and bylaws, newspaper clippings, event calendars, and items related Harriet Knudson and garden development.
Lippott Family Collection
This collection includes family photos and photo albums, correspondence, brochures, and newspaper clippings. The collection also has a greeting card, a funeral record book, and an envelope.
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Families & IndividualsLiterary Tea Club Collection
The collection consists of nine notebooks with member information, meeting minutes, and newspaper clippings dating from 1932-1979.
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Liturgical Arts Festival of Springfield Collection
The Liturgical Arts Festival of Springfield began as an idea of the Reverend Thom Dennis, then priest of Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, who envisioned an event that would showcase sacred art. Within two years, his original concept of an invitation-only art show, held in a church basement, had blossomed into the Liturgical Arts Festival, an exhibition of liturgical and sacred art, as well as a festival of performing arts.
M. Zwicky Sons Soap Company Collection
The M. Zwicky Sons Soap Company was brought to Springfield, Illinois from Madison, Wisconsin in 1890 by George Zwicky and his brothers Casper and Michael, Junior.
Mabel Sherman Johnston Collection
This collection is comprised of several types of items, including correspondence, flight school and pilot training materials, and flight log books for Mabel and C.R. Johnston.
Madeline Babcock Smith Collection
This collection includes materials related to Madeline Babcock Smith, her correspondence with her family in the 1940s talking about the Pearl Harbor attack and life in Decatur, and her writings including the book Lemon Jelly Cake in the 1950s and republishing it in the 1990s.
Mary Bradish Call
The collection consists mainly of letters, most of them written to Mary Bradish in her youth ca. 1895-1900 from friends and family.
Mary C. Martin Collection
The items in this collection come from a scrapbook personally compiled by Mary C. Martin, one of the prosecutors in the Criminal War Crimes Trials in Tokyo, Japan.
Masonic Temple Collection
The collection includes correspondence from the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry “Valley of Springfield” masonic organization to the members, newspaper articles from the 1950s-1970, and event advertisements. Also included are documents concerning King David’s Grand Lodge Charleston, Illinois 1862/1873 and the “Royal Architect” degree 1875.
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Memorial Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association Collection
Memorial's school of nursing began as part of Springfield Hospital and Training School, founded in 1897 under the auspices of the Lutheran Church. In 1943, the training school's name changed to Memorial Hospital of Springfield School of Nursing.
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Menard County Home Bureau / Homemakers Extension Collection
In 1921 home bureaus in 24 counties organized the Home Bureau Federation. The Menard County-Cass Home Bureau was organized in 1937. The Menard County Home Bureau organized in 1945 and the name was changed to The Menard County Homemakers Extension Association in 1962.
Myers Brothers Department Store
Included in this collection are many photographs, newspaper clippings, correspondence and many materials relating to sales promotions of various types.
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Businesses & IndustriesName the Urban Park Contest Collection
A new park was constructed at 6th and Jefferson Streets in Springfield in 1987. The Mayor held a "Name the Urban Park" contest. He appointed a committee to select a name from the public submissions. Union Square Park was dedicated on November 9, 1987.
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Oak Ridge Cemetery National Register Research Materials
Research materials for the National Register of Historic Places nomination application (1995) for Oak Ridge Cemetery written by Edward Russo.
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Social Life & CustomsOpera Houses- Rudolph, Bunn, Chatterton: Broadsides, Flyers and Programs Collection
Broadsides, Flyers and Programs from Rudolph, Bunn, Chatterton Opera Houses in Springfield, Illinois 1867-1902.
Palmer Sanatorium Collection
Dr. George Thomas Palmer specialized in treating tuberculosis patients. Dr. Palmer opened the Springfield Open Air Colony in 1913. It was located in a farm house on 20 acres at the end of Lawrence Avenue where Chatham Road intersects. Soon the name was changed to Palmer Sanatorium.
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Science, Health & Natural ResourcesPearl Irene Wheeler Collection
This collection consists of eight composition notebooks kept by Pearl Irene Wheeler as a student at Springfield High School and as a student at the Springfield Teacher's Training School between 1913-14.
Pondicherry Lodge of the Baker Street Irregulars Collection
The Pondicherry Lodge chapter of the Baker Street Irregulars was created in Springfield in 1947 and met for a few years then the club went dormant in 1949. Glen Milner revived the organization in Springfield in 1989. The group’s members are Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts.
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Poston Brick Company Collection
Materials for Springfield Brick Company, Springfield Paving Brick Company, Poston Brick Company, Poston Springfield Brick Company, Martinsville Brick Company, Moulding Brick Company, and Poston Brick and Concrete Products Company.
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Businesses & IndustriesPower Farmstead
Collection contains some of the last few remaining documents regarding the family and farmstead of George Power, one of Sangamon County's earliest settlers.
Prairie Arts Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America Collection
The collections includes the chapter’s history, correspondence, news articles, invoices, program materials, book and equipment inventory, membership information, photo scrapbook pages, EGA materials, Heartland Regional materials, and PCA monthly newsletter “Needle News” from 1985-2014.
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Sports & HobbiesPrehn
This collection contains correspondence, photographs, blueprints, business records, and newspaper clippings dealing with the personal and business life of Harold W. Prehn, a prominent Springfield businessman.
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Families & IndividualsProstitutes' Options, Referrals and Alternatives Inc. (PORA) Collection
Prostitutes' Options, Referrals and Alternatives Inc (PORA) was created by Dee Nelson in September 1993.
Retired Teachers Club
The collection includes club yearbooks 1950s-2014 (some missing), meeting minutes 1940-2014 (some missing), treasurer’s reports/finances 1960s-2015 (some missing), correspondence, program information, membership and retirement (potential membership) information, and necrology reports of obituaries, people in the news, and cards sent 2004-May 2015.
Robert Waldmire: Correspondence and Artwork 1991-2008 Collection
The collection includes information about his family, articles about him, Route 66 postcards, flyers, and publications, Arizona items, Mustang items, correspondence between Robert Waldmire and Marjorie Westphal 1992-1998, artwork by Bob, photos, and Cozy dog items.
Rotary Club of Springfield, Illinois Collection
The Springfield Rotary Club was established on June 24, 1913. The Rotary International motto is “Service above self.”
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Social & Service OrganizationsSaint Nicholas Hotel Bankruptcy
Collection includes the papers of J.R. Fitzpatrick and other documents relating to the bankruptcy of Springfield's St. Nicholas Hotel.
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Businesses & IndustriesSangamo Electric Company
Large collection of business documents, photographs, and memorabilia of the Sangamo Electric Company.
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Businesses & IndustriesSangamon Conservation Council Collection
In September 1963, the members of the Sangamon Conservation Council voted to incorporate and draw up new bylaws. The group was “dedicated to the purpose of promoting the public acquisition, preservation, and development of natural areas.”
Sangamon County Chapter Infantile Paralysis Foundation
Material in this collection consists primarily of correspondence between officers of the local Infantile Paralysis Foundation Chapter and Basil O'Connor, president of the National Foundation.
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Sangamon County Medical Society Alliance Collection
The collection includes Sangamon County Medical Society Auxiliary/Alliance scrapbooks, cassette tapes of programs, newsletters of the Sangamon County Medical Society Auxiliary and the Illinois State Medical Society Auxiliary, and presidents’ yearly binders and folders containing yearbooks, brochures, meeting minutes, news articles, financial reports, membership lists, and projects.
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Sangamon Lodge No. 6, International Order of Odd Fellows Collection
Meeting minutes of the Sangamon Lodge No. 6, Sangamon Lodge No. 6 receipt book, History and Roster of Sangamon Lodge No. 6 and other Springfield and Illinois Lodges, Program of Ceremony for Memorial Day 1895. Contents cover 1846-1895.
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Social & Service OrganizationsSkelton
Correspondence, literary manuscripts, photographs, and stamp collecting articles by Charles Leonard Skelton, Springfield author.
Soap Box Derby
The material in this collection consists primarily of photographs of the Springfield Soap Box Derby and the All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio.
Springfield Angel of Hope Collection
The collection includes newspaper articles, brochures, programs, and drawings related to the planning and development of the Angel of Hope statue, memorial wall, and surrounding space in Washington Park, the dedication of the statue, and events at the statue.
Springfield Area AIDS Task Force
The Springfield Area AIDS Task Force (SAATF) was a non-profit organization funded by grants, membership fees, and donations from individuals, groups and community organizations. The purpose of SAATF was to inform and educate members, as well as the community of Springfield and the surrounding area, in dealing with the threat posed by AIDS and AIDS related issues, and offered help in obtaining support services to those people with AIDS in the community.
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Social & Service OrganizationsSpringfield Audubon Society Collection
The Springfield chapter of the Illinois Audubon Society began in 1932 as the Springfield Nature League. In 1960, the Nature League voted to affiliate with the National Audubon Society and changed its name to the Springfield Audubon Society. In 1979, after more than a year of discussion and preparation, the Springfield Audubon Society adopted new by-laws and voted to seek chapter status in the Illinois Audubon Society. The collection includes materials from 1932-2004 from the Springfield Audubon Society and its predecessor the Springfield Nature League.
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Springfield Aviation Company
The Springfield Aviation Company Collection is a collection of photographs, newspaper clippings, various periodicals and other publications dating from the years 1927 to 1955.
Springfield Cardinals Collection
The Springfield Cardinals were a minor league baseball team in Springfield, Illinois from 1982 through 1993. They played in Robin Roberts Stadium, previously known as Lanphier Park.
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Sports & HobbiesSpringfield Civil War Round Table Collection
The Springfield Civil War Round Table, consisting of 11 men, first met at the home of Oliver J. Keller Jr. in June 1956.
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Springfield Community Concert Association Collection
A collection of documents, newspaper clippings and photographs donated by former association board member Charles Keating.
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Arts & CultureSpringfield Municipal Opera
Documents, newspaper clippings, reports, programs, and photographs from the Muni (Springfield Municipal Opera).
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Arts & CultureSpringfield Nature League
This collection consists of yearly programs, diaries, and newspaper clippings from the Springfield Nature League, formed in 1932.
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Science, Health & Natural ResourcesSpringfield Newcomers Club Collection
The Springfield Newcomers Club formed in October 1932. According to its by-laws “the objective of this organization shall be to develop friendship and social spirit among new residents and to promote their assimilation into their community”-1994/1996.
Springfield Philatelic Society Collection
The Springfield Philatelic Society was begun in 1952 in order to give area philatelists an opportunity to meet, exchange stamps and ideas, promote their hobby, and encourage newcomers to the hobby.
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Sports & HobbiesSpringfield Pleasure Driveway and Park District
The materials in this collection relate primarily to the first decade of the Park District's existence and include petitions, election results, minutes, and other reports.
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Springfield Rowing Collection
The collection is a combination of materials from the Springfield Rowing Club, the Springfield Rowing Development Association, and the Lake Springfield Rowing Club.
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Sports & HobbiesSpringfield Theatre Centre Collection
The Springfield Theatre Guild was created in 1946. The first performance at their own theater at 101 E. Lawrence was on November 8, 1951. The organization later changed its name to Springfield Theatre Centre.
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Arts & CultureSpringfield Theatre Guild Junior Theatre Collection
The collection contains photographs, programs, scripts, and articles from Junior Theatre productions in the 1950s.
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Arts & CultureSpringfield Transportation Company
The materials in this collection include photographs, newspaper clippings, employee records, newsletters and information from the founding of the SMTD from the 1930's to the 1970's.
Springfield/Illinois Symphony Orchestra Collection
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra had a casual beginning with a few community volunteers who enjoyed playing string instruments. In 1948 a formal organization was incorporated. The orchestra reorganized and changed its name to the Illinois Symphony Orchestra in 1993.
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Arts & CultureStout Family
The materials in this collection consist mainly of deeds for land purchased in Ball and Woodside Townships by members of the Stout Family.
Susan E. Wilcox Collection
Susan E. Wilcox was born in May of 1866 or 1867. She graduated from Springfield High School in 1884 and from Wellesley College in 1887. Her teaching career began at Springfield High School in 1888 and ended with her retirement in 1935.
The Cheerful Workers Circle of the International Order of King’s Daughters
This collection is a record of meetings, as well as individual members of the circle.
Third Presbyterian Church Springfield, Illinois
The collection includes church service programs from the 1930s-1960s (mostly 1960s) and “The Third Presbyterian Beacon” newsletter 1961-1971.
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Religious OrganizationsThomas Maurice Lawrence Jr. Collection
545 Thomas Maurice Lawrence Jr. was born in Springfield, Illinois on January 2, 1897, the son of Thomas M. Lawrence Sr. and Nettie (Barnstable) Lawrence. He went on to become an insurance and bond salesman, marrying when he was nearly 50 years old to Greta Wilkinson.
Town House Apartments Collection
The Town House Apartments at 718 S. 7th St. opened in 1958. The building was designed by the architectural firm of Shaw, Metz & Dolio, Chicago and built by general contractor Evans Construction, Springfield.
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Architecture, Buildings & NeighborhoodsTuesday Club Collection
The Tuesday Club started in 1925 in Springfield, Illinois. It was a women’s club that met monthly for a luncheon (later just dessert) and book review.
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United Way Collection
The collection includes meeting minutes of the Sangamon Council of Social Agencies, Associated Welfare Agencies, the Springfield Community Fund, the Springfield Community Chest, the War Fund Council, and the Welfare Council of Sangamon County. It also includes fund campaign materials from the 1940s-1950s and 1973, scrapbooks of general publicity news clippings from the 1900s-1950s, and annual reports from the 1940s-1990s. The audiovisual materials are United Fund slide show carousel, magnetic tape and cassette of WMAY spot, and cassette of Illinois Battle Hymn.
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Social & Service OrganizationsUnited World Federalists
The object of the United World Federalist chapter of Springfield, IL shall be to promote the acceptance of the beliefs and general understanding of the purpose of the United World Federalists, Inc. in strengthening social forces favorable to world-wide peace and justice through law and order.
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USS Abraham Lincoln Collection
The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), the Navy’s fifth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, was the largest military ship ever constructed at the time. It honors Lincoln’s commitment to the Navy.
USS Springfield Collection
Dr. Temple was the director of the Commissioning Committee for the USS Springfield Submarine. Springfield, Illinois and Springfield, Massachusetts are the namesakes for the USS Springfield submarine. The USS Springfield (SSN 761) was launched on January 4, 1992 at Groton, Connecticut. It was the fourth Navy ship to be named for Springfield. The Springfield is a Los Angeles class, a nuclear-powered attack submarine.
Vachel Lindsay
This collection is comprised largely of materials containing the published prose and poetry of Vachel Lindsay in formats such as posters, newspapers and magazine articles, booklets, pamphlets magazines and books.
Val-E-Vue Improvement Association Collection
The Val-E-Vue Improvement Association first met in October 1956.
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Vaughn DeLeath
Composed primarily of newspaper clippings, sheet music, correspondence, and manuscripts of singer and composer Vaughn DeLeath.
Virginia Prince and Family Collection
Materials related to Virginia Prince’s service with the YMCA and American Expeditionary Forces 1918-1919, course catalogs Lowthorpe School, Groton, MA, Christmas cards from Virginia Prince, and Virginia’s landscape design plans for properties.
Watt Brothers Pharmacy Collection
The Watts-Val, John Jr., Dave, and Bob- were a well-known family of druggists in Springfield, Illinois during the latter half of the twentieth century.
WCFN Public File Collection
WCFN’s Public File 1985-1998.
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Businesses & IndustriesWeaver Garage and Manufacturing Company
This collection consists of approximately 700 photographs, advertising and promotional literature, and photographs of wrecked automobiles from the years 1926-1927.
Who's New Club Collection
The Who’s New club organized in 1940 through the adult education committee of the YWCA with the intent of making newcomers to Springfield feel at home.
William Carpenter
The collection includes leases, receipts, and correspondence from the Carpenter family.
William Florville Family Collection
John Louis Florville Levonle later William Florville (Fleurville) (1807-1868) was Haitian-born. After his parents died, he moved from Haiti to Baltimore, Maryland where he attended Catholic school and was an apprentice in a barber shop. He moved to New Orleans to set up a barber shop and then St. Louis. He arrived in Springfield in 1831. In 1832 he married Phoebe Roundtree, a former slave. He was a barber and businessman whose shop on Adams Street between Fifth and Sixth streets became a regular meeting place for Springfieldians, including Abraham Lincoln. The surname has a variety of spellings Floriville, Fleurville, De Fleurville.
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Families & IndividualsWomen in Communications, Inc. Springfield Chapter Collection
Women in Communications, Inc. was founded in 1909 and the Springfield Chapter was founded in 1977.
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World War II Oral History Project
A collection consisting of 24 audio cassettes of 17 local individuals interviewed by Glenn Kniss regarding their experiences during the war.