New Collection Highlights – Illinois Highlights

June 26, 2026

New IDHH Collection of Civil War Correspondence

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

This month we’re featuring a new collection that contains historic correspondence and relate materials during the US Civil War: George Durfee Correspondence and Papers (1861–1901) from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

Born in Michigan, George S. Durfee (1840–1907) was living in Decatur, Illinois, when he joined Company A, 8th Illinois Volunteer Infantry in 1861. Durfee’s correspondence describes his experience in camp life and campaigns and battles, including Fort Donelson, Vicksburg, and the occupation of Texas, as he rose through the ranks to captain while serving with the unit until 1866. Though most of the correspondence is between Durfee and his uncle, there are also letters from Durfee’s mother and sister. After the war, Durfee returned to Decatur and in 1867 married Sally Powers. In 1901, Illinois Governor Richard Yates (1860–1936) appointed Durfee a member of the Illinois-Vicksburg Military Park Commission, charged with marking the positions of Illinois troops at the Siege of Vicksburg. The Commission’s report, Illinois at Vicksburg, was published in 1907 after the dedication of the Illinois Memorial in 1906 at Vicksburg National Military Park, to commemorate the Illinois soldiers who fought and died there during the Vicksburg campaign.

Here are a few of our favorite items from this new collection that tell the story of different battles and campaigns during the American Civil War, as well as the age-old problem of “why haven’t you written me back yet?”:

color image of handwritten letter — Letter from Margaret Durfee [Mother] (Decatur) to George S. Durfee, June 7, 1861
[page 1]. June 7, 1861. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. Durfee, George. Correspondence and Papers, 1861-1901. Courtesy of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

color image of certificate from Illinois Vicksburg Commission to George S. Durfee — Letter from Illinois Vicksburg Commission to George S. Durfee, November 14, 1901 [page 1, certificate]. November 14, 1901. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. Durfee, George. Correspondence and Papers, 1861-1901. Courtesy of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

Want to see more?

Visit the IDHH to view more collections and items from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library and the entire George Durfee Correspondence and Papers (1861–1901), or to view more items related to the American Civil War and Illinois’ roles in the war. You can also read the Illinois at Vicksburg report through the Internet Archive and see George Durfee’s signature and picture on pages 11-12. Or, if you’re in Vicksburg, Mississippi, you can visit the Vicksburg National Military Park and view the Illinois Memorial (currently closed for restoration).

May 22, 2026

New IDHH Collection of Historic War Papers

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

This month, in honor of Memorial Day, we’re featuring a new collection full of materials related to university courses and activities during World War I: the Evarts B. Greene World War I Papers, from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. An American historian, Evarts B. Greene (1870–1947) was a professor and administrator at the University of Illinois from 1894 through 1923, when he was appointed the first De Witt Clinton professor of history at Columbia University until his retirement in 1939. During his tenure as head of the History Department at the University of Illinois, Greene served as chair of several committees related to campus activities during World War I. The items in this collection include correspondence and related materials to the “War Issues” course, an academic class required by the War Department for all university students enrolled in the Student Army Training Corps.

Here are a few of our favorite items from this new collection that tell the history of the “War Issues” course:

black ink typed letter on yellow-colored paper — Letter from Evarts B. Greene (Urbana, Illinois) to Louis Pelzer (Iowa City, Iowa), October 23, 1918 [front]. October 23, 1918. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. Evarts B. Greene, World War I papers, 1916-1920. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

black ink typed course description on paper yellowed with age — Preface of the University of Illinois’s Course on the Issues of the War, undated [page 1]. [n. d.] University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. Evarts B. Greene, World War I papers, 1916-1920. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

black ink typed letter with handwritten signature — Letter from W. Trelease to Evarts B. Greene, October 10, 1918 [front]. October 10, 1918. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. Evarts B. Greene, World War I papers, 1916-1920. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

Want to see more?

Visit the IDHH to view more collections and items from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library or to view more items related to war and military history.

April 29, 2026

New IDHH Collection of Illinois Fish Illustrations

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

In celebration of Earth Day, this month we’re featuring a new collection of watercolor illustrations: the Illustrations for The Fishes of Illinois, from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. The Fishes of Illinois (first edition 1908, second edition 1919) was the culmination of decades of work led by naturalist Stephen A. Forbes, chief of the Illinois State Laboratory of Natural History (now the Illinois Natural History Survey). Co-authored with ichthyologist Robert Earl Richardson, Forbes intended to create a reliable guide for the fish species present in Illinois, including color illustrations alongside descriptions of each species’ anatomy and appearance, habitat and distribution through Illinois, and lifecycle and taxonomy as known at the time. In the introduction, Forbes attributes the gorgeous illustrations to Lydia M. (Hart) Greene and Charlotte M. Pinkerton, whose signatures can be seen on some of the illustrations in the digital collection.

Here are a few of our favorite items from this new collection:

watercolor sketch of the fish Etheostoma coeruleum on cream paper. — Etheostoma coeruleum. [n. d.] Created by Charlotte M. Pinkerton. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. Illustrations for The Fishes of Illinois. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

watercolor sketch of the fish Notropis whipplii on black paper. — Charlotte M. Pinkerton’s Notropis whipplii. Created by Charlotte M. Pinkerton. 1903. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. Illustrations for The Fishes of Illinois. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

watercolor sketch of the fish Ameiurus nebulosus on cream paper. — Ameiurus nebulosus. [n. d.] University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. Illustrations for The Fishes of Illinois. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

watercolor illustration of the fish Ictiobus bubalus on cream paper. — Lydia M. Hart’s Ictiobus bubalus. Created by Lydia M. (Hart) Green. [n. d.] University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. Illustrations for The Fishes of Illinois. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

watercolor sketch of the fish Lampetra wilderi on cream paper. — Lampetra wilderi. [n. d.] Created by Charlotte M. Pinkerton. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. Illustrations for The Fishes of Illinois. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

Want to see more?

Visit the IDHH to view more collections and items from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library or to view more items related to Stephen A. Forbes (including his Civil War Diary), fish or Earth Day, or you can visit the IDHH previous blog post Unearthing the Roots of Earth Day. You can also visit the Illinois Natural History Survey to learn more about their history and current research.

March 24, 2026April 29, 2026

New IDHH Collection of Architectural Drawings

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

This month we’re featuring a new collection full of architectural drawings and related materials: the Frederick Wainwright Perkins Papers, from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. A Chicagoan architect, Frederick Wainwright Perkins (1866–1928) designed residences and buildings throughout the Midwest, including Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Among other drawings and photographs, this digital collection includes architectural drawings for the Charles H. Schweppe residence, commissioned in the early 20th Century by Marshall Field & Co. Chairman John G. Shedd (also known for gifting the funds to create the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago) as a wedding present for his daughter Laura and her husband Charles Schweppe.

Here are a few of our favorite items from this new collection:

color blueprint with white ink on blue paper — Charles H. Schweppe Residence – South Elevation, January 28, 1915. January 28, 1915. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. Frederick Wainwright Perkins Papers. Courtesy of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

color image of architectural drawing, blue and red ink on aged white paper with some bleed-through. — J. H. Barker Residence – Plan of Attic, Sections, and Entrance Porch, circa 1905 [front]. 1905. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. Frederick Wainwright Perkins Papers. Courtesy of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

color image of architectural drawing, black and red ink on aged white paper — A Group of Buildings for Charles H. Schweppe – First Floor Plan, January 7, 1914 [front]. January 7, 1914. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. Frederick Wainwright Perkins Papers. Courtesy of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

black and white photograph of three people standing in front of a house construction frame on a snowy day. — Photograph of three people outside of Cudahy residence, under construction, 1904. 1904. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. Frederick Wainwright Perkins Papers. Courtesy of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

Want to see more?

Visit the IDHH to view more collections and items from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library or to view more items related to architecture and architectural drawings.

August 29, 2025

New Circus Collections in the IDHH

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

This month we’re featuring two new collections from Illinois State University (ISU), both of which explore circus history in Illinois: the P. T. Barnum Letters and Ephemera collection and the Ward Family Postcards collection. American showman Phineas Taylor “P. T.” Barnum (1810–1891) is probably best known for co-founding the three-ring Barnum & Bailey Circus in the late nineteenth century. The documents in this collection, which includes letters from Barnum himself, relate to Barnum’s circuses, business ventures, and Barnum’s purchase and disposition of Villa Park, approximately 760 acres of land in what is now metropolitan Denver, Colorado. The Ward Family Postcards collection features postcards sent by the Flying Wards, an aerial act that played in circuses and other venues in the early twentieth century, to their family back home as they toured through North America and Europe, offering insight into the developing trapeze act as well as historic postcards of different American cities.

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

color back of postcard with hand written letter — Das Völkerschlachtdenkmal as der Vogelschau [back]. August 3, 1913. Published by Louis Glaser. Illinois State University. Ward Family Postcards. Courtesy of Illinois State University.

color front of postcard of Oregon lumber company's factory — Oregon Lumber Co., Baker City, Oregon [front]. circa 1906-1918. Published by W. A. Baird. Illinois State University. Ward Family Postcards. Courtesy of Illinois State University.

Hotel Tilden Hall, Bloomington, Illinois [front]. March 31, 1938. Published by Curt Teich & Co. Illinois State University. Ward Family Postcards. Courtesy of Illinois State University.

Want to see more?

Visit the IDHH to view more collections and items from Illinois State University, to view more items from the the P. T. Barnum Letters and Ephemera collection and the Ward Family Postcards collections, or to view more circus-related items and collections, include the rich circus collections from ISU.

July 31, 2025September 30, 2025

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.

January 31, 2025

New IDHH Collections Share the History of ISU

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

This month we’re featuring two new collections from Illinois State University (ISU), both of which explore the history of ISU: the Charles E. Hovey Presidential Papers collection and the Illinois State University Historical Photos collection. Charles Edward Hovey (1827–1897) was the first President of ISU, then known as Illinois State Normal University, a state teacher’s college and the first public university in Illinois; this collection features letters written by and about Hovey, as well as other foundational documents to the University and family photographs. The Historical Photos collection features digitized photographs that document the history of ISU, from its founding in 1857 to its modern activities in the 2020s.

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

Black and white photograph of eleven people, half standing and half sitting in chairs. — Class of 1860, Illinois State Normal University. 1860. Created by Staford Engraving Company. Illinois State University. Illinois State University Historical Photos. Courtesy of Illinois State University.

Black and white image of women using a card catalog in the library — Library card catalog, North Hall, Illinois State Normal University. c. 1914-1920. Illinois State University. Illinois State University Historical Photos. Courtesy of Illinois State University.

Black and white photograph of outside of campus building in gothic architecture style. — Gymnasium (Cook Hall), Illinois State Normal University. Created by Illinois State University Photographic Services. Illinois State University. Illinois State University Historical Photos. Courtesy of Illinois State University.

black and white handwritten letter — Photograph of Letter to Edwin C. Hewett, 1858. 1858. Created by Charles E. Hovey. Illinois State University. Charles E. Hovey Presidential Papers. Courtesy of Illinois State University.

Want to see more?

Visit the IDHH to view more collections and items from Illinois State University, or to view more items from the Charles E. Hovey Presidential Papers and the Illinois State University Historical collections.

December 19, 2024April 13, 2026

New IDHH Collections of Historic Maps

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

This month we’re featuring two new collections from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library, both of which feature historic maps: the Railroad Maps collection and the River Maps collection. These historic maps and accompanying materials demonstrate how railroads connected cities across the nation as well as how the geographical landscape of Illinois and the neighboring states has changed over the decades.

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

color map of hunting and fishing resources in northwestern wisconsin that can be reached through railway — Hunting and fishing resources of northwestern Wisconsin reached by the Chicago & North-Western Railway. Created by Poole Brothers. 1903. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. Railroad Maps. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

color map of railway terminals in Chicago — Railway terminal map of Chicago. Created by Rand McNally and Company. 1914. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. Railroad Maps. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

color map in German of the canals and railways in the United States east of the Mississippi river in 1842 — Karte der Canäle und Eisenbahnen in den Vereinigten Staaten von Nordamerica, 1842. 1842. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. Railroad Maps. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

Black and white map showing watershed of Des Plaines River above Joliet, Illinois. — Map showing watershed of Des Plaines River above Joliet, August 1914. Created by Chicago Sanitary District Board of Trustees. 1914. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. River Maps. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

color map of recreational areas along the mississippi river from Iowa through Missouri — Mississippi River recreation areas [front]. Created by United States Army Corps of Engineers. 1991. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. River Maps. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

color chart of the amenities available at the recreation areas along the mississippi river that are mapped on the front — Mississippi River recreation areas [back]. Created by United States Army Corps of Engineers. 1991. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. River Maps. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

Want to see more?

Visit the IDHH to view more collections and items from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library or to view more maps of Illinois and other areas.

September 30, 2024April 13, 2026

New IDHH Collections of Victorian Correspondence

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

This month we’re featuring two new collections from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library, both of which feature historic correspondence. These handwritten letters (as well as photographs in one collection) give us an intimate look into the personal and professional lives of the writers and the recipients, as well as the culture and period in which they lived.

Charles E. Mudie Papers: An English author and publisher, Charles Edward Mudie (1818–1890) founded “Mudie’s Select Library,” an innovative library that introduced the concept of lending books through a circulating system operated by subscription membership. The letters in this digital collection are not only between Mudie and his family (including his wife and son who helped the Library run smoothly), but also between Mudie and contemporary writers such as Harriet Beecher Stowe, Thomas Carlyle, Wilkie Collins, and Robert Browning.

William Allingham Papers: William Allingham (1824–1889) was an Irish poet and editor who, along with his wife Helen Allingham (née Patterson), a watercolorist and illustrator, were well-acquainted with the members of the Pre-Raphaelite movement and collaborated with some in the publication of Allingham’s poems. In addition to letters between Henry and Helen Allingham, the letters in this digital collection are also between Mudie and Pre-Raphaelites and contemporary writers such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, John Everett Millais, Anne Isabella Ritchie (née Thackeray), and William Michael Rossetti.

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

Image of handwritten letter from Harriet Beecher Stowe to Charles E. Mudie — Letter from Harriet Beecher Stowe to Charles E. Mudie, October 3, unknown year [page 1]. 18uu-10-03. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. Charles E. Mudie Papers. Courtesy of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

Image of handwritten Letter from Alfred Tennyson to Charles E. Mudie — Letter from Alfred Tennyson to Charles E. Mudie, undated. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. Charles E. Mudie Papers. Courtesy of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

Image of handwritten Letter from Wilkie Collins to Charles E. Mudie — Letter from Wilkie Collins to Charles E. Mudie, December 5, 1860. 1850-12-05. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. Charles E. Mudie Papers. Courtesy of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

Handwritten Letter from William Michael Rossetti to William Allingham — Letter from William Michael Rossetti to William Allingham, December 14, unknown year [sheet 1, pages 1 and 4]. 18uu-12-14. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. William Allingham Papers. Courtesy of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

Image of handwritten Letter from Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie to William Allingham — Letter from Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie to William Allingham, undated [sheet 1, pages 1 and 4]. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library. William Allingham Papers. Courtesy of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library.

Want to see more?

Visit the IDHH to view more collections and items from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library or to view more letters and correspondence.

June 28, 2024April 13, 2026

New IDHH Collections of Historic Photographs

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

Want to learn about the history of Aurora, Illinois, and its surrounding area? In addition to a previous collection, you can explore the new collection from the Aurora Public Library District, which includes over 200 images from photographs and postcards in their Community History Collection, including images of libraries, the downtown area, and historic buildings:

- Aurora Historic Photographs

Want to learn more about the history of Marshall, Illinois, and its surrounding area? In addition to two previous collections, you can explore the new collection from the Marshall Public Library, which includes over 350 historic photographs, letters, and maps contributed by library users and digitized by the Illinois Heartland Library System’s Mobile Memory Lab:

- Mobile Memory Lab: Marshall Public Library

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

image of Aurora Public Library Main Floor — Aurora Public Library Main Floor circa 1904. circa 1904. Aurora Public Library District. Aurora Historic Photographs. Courtesy of the Aurora Public Library District.

image of Vandalia rail road depot — Vandalia R.R. Depot. Marshall Public Library. Mobile Memory Lab: Marshall Public Library. Courtesy of the Marshall Public Library.

postcard of fox street in aurora Illinois — Fox Street Postcard 1910s. circa 1910. Aurora Public Library District. Aurora Historic Photographs. Courtesy of the Aurora Public Library District.

handwritten letter from P. F. Thornburgh to Daughter — Letter from P. F. May 22, 1864. Thornburgh to Daughter [page 1]. Marshall Public Library. Mobile Memory Lab: Marshall Public Library. Courtesy of the Marshall Public Library.

Want to see more?

Visit the IDHH to view the collections featuring items from the Marshall Public Library and from the Aurora Public Library.