Month: July 2025

Posted on

New IDHH Collections of Local Histories

The IDHH has continued to grow, with new collections added each quarterly harvest!

This month we’re featuring four new collections from four Illinois public libraries: Galesburg Public Library, Hayner Public Library, Sparta Public Library, and Williamsville Public Library & Museum. All four collections were digitized by the Illinois Heartland Library System’s Mobile Memory Lab, which works with Illinois Libraries to digitize local history and genealogy materials.

Here are a few of our favorite items from these four new collections:

black and white picture of three men, two wearing wading boots, standing in shallow flood waters on a street.
Flood of 1903, Chester, Ill. June 1903. Sparta Public Library. Mobile Memory Lab: Sparta Public Library. Courtesy of Sparta Public Library.
color picture of ceramic containers for storing hair
Container for storing hair. [n. d.] Williamsville Public Library & Museum. Mobile Memory Lab: Williamsville Public Library & Museum. Courtesy of
Williamsville Public Library & Museum.
image of patent right for E. b. main to make and sell american bee hives
Right to make and sell American Bee Hives, E. B. Main. November 24, 1863. Galesburg Public Library. Mobile Memory Lab: Galesburg Public Library. Courtesy of Galesburg Public Library.
color image of certificate of proficiency of typing awarded to betty young
Betty Young Typewriting Certificate. November 23, 1948. Hayner Public Library. Mobile Memory Lab: Hayner Public Library. Courtesy of
Hayner Public Library.

Want to see more?

Visit the IDHH to view the collections featuring items from the Galesburg Public Library, the Hayner Public Library, the Sparta Public Library, and the Williamsville Public Library & Museum.