Salute to Glenview: the Glenview Area History Collection

This August, we are highlighting another one of our earliest contributors at the IDHH. The Glenview Area History Collection from Glenview Public Library depicts scenes from Glenview, Illinois, with a focus on images of the library and its patrons. Glenview has had a variety of names over the years, originally known as South Northfield, and then, for a time, North Branch. Glenview as we know it today received its name on May 7, 1895. The Post Office demanded that an official name be selected, and Glenview won the majority of votes. Glenview was incorporated in 1899 and was mostly made of farmland until after World War II. Today, Glenview has nearly 50,000 residents and is located approximately 15 miles northwest of the Chicago Loop. 

Nearly 200 images make up the Glenview Area History Collection, spanning approximately a century of Glenview history. Of the images I’ve selected to highlight here, the oldest dates to 1893, and the newest is from 2008. 

Here are a few of our favorite images from the Glenview Area History Collection

black and white photo of a family posed outside, two men and women standing behind two women and one man sitting on chairs.
Glenview History Center portrait of Rachel Appleyard and Family. 1893. Glenview History Center. Glenview Area History. Courtesy of Glenview Public Library and the Glenview History Center. 
black and white photo of a building with a flag pole in front.
Glenview Public Library original building. October 1940. Glenview Public Library. Glenview Area History. Courtesy of Glenview Public Library. 
color photo of a young boy standing in front of a Star Wars storm trooper.
Star Wars at the Glenview Public Library. 2005. Glenview Public Library. Glenview Area History. Courtesy of Glenview Public Library. 
black and white photo of a woman in a bonnet and matching skirt making photographic copies on an old machine with shelves of large books in the background.
Bicentennial Celebration at Glenview Public Library. 1976. Glenview Public Library. Glenview Area History. Courtesy of Glenview Public Library. 
color photo of a standing woman looking at books on the top shelf of a book shelf with a red book cart behind her.
Shelving books at Glenview Public Library. March 10, 2008. Glenview Public Library. Glenview Area History. Courtesy of Glenview Public Library. 
black and white photo of a woman holding a paper in one hand and a pen in the other while referring to a phone book open on the desk.
Library referendum work. 1983. Glenview Public Library. Glenview Area History. Courtesy of Glenview Public Library. 
black and white photo of a man and a women working to shelve books on long library shelves.
Library bookshelves. 1967. Glenview Public Library. Glenview Area History. Courtesy of Glenview Public Library. 
black and white photo of two female librarians working behind a desk with a card catalogue cabinet and shelves of books behind them.
Circulation Desk at Glenview Public Library. 1968. Glenview Public Library. Glenview Area History. Courtesy of Glenview Public Library. 
color photo of a human doll with brown hair wearing a pink polka dot dress and a pendant necklace.
Glenview History Center Patti Playpal Doll. Circa 1959-1961. Glenview History Center. Glenview Area History. Courtesy of Glenview Public Library and the Glenview History Center. 

View the full Glenview Area History Collection on the IDHH.  

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