History

"In 1874, Ezra Eggleston bought much of the land that is now downtown Mount Prospect and began to plan a village. He named the town after its position on the highest elevation in Cook County and in anticipation of the prospects awaiting future residents. However, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and the Panic on 1873 combined to makes sales of new land difficult. Ezra sold his interest in the town, but soon after, people began to build stores and houses. By the 1900s, the area was flourishing. In 1917, Mount Prospect was incorporated. The 20th century has continued to bring great changes and development to the area as it evolved from a modest village to a major suburban community."

"First Published in 1939, 'The WPA Guide to Illinois' captures more vividly than any other guide both Chicago's quick pulse and the richly varied character of the rest of the state. Thirties Chicago, birthplace of the skyscraper, had just played host to the dazzling Century of Progress Exposition; the Board of Trade was the city's tallest building; and State Street was said to be the most brilliantly lighted street in the world. The stunning residences of the Gold Coast along Lake Shore Drive offered the city's most concentrated display of wealth, while on the South Side hundreds of freight cars rattled into the stock yards each night with their noisy cargo of livestock."

A collection of photographs of Chicago landmarks and buildings, mostly dated 1904-1913 and all taken from the archives of the Chicago Historical Society.

As this pamphlet begins, "Police violence is unfortunately not new." Because of this, the series revolves around "The Mississippi Black Papers: Testimonials of Police Violence in the South" with images to accompany these testimonies from the mid 1960's.

"Following the signing of the treaty of 1833, which required that Potawatomi tribes relocate west of the Mississippi, European settlers began to arrive in the area now called Glenview. Primarily of English and German origin, they established farms trading posts. the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 had a profound effect on the hamlet. Lumber from the forests of Wisconsin used to rebuild the city moved from the north via rail. By 1872, the Chicago, Milwukee, St. Paiul and Pacific Railroad laid the first set of tracks from Wisconsin to Chicago; the line brought prosperity to local residents. In 1899, the village was incorporated. The first mayor, Hugh Burnham, a nephew of Chicago architect Daniel Burnham is credited with its name - Glenview."

"The Treaty of Prairie du Chein, which relocated the Potawatomi Indians and other local tribes west of the Mississippi River, created opportunities for settlement along the Des Plaines River. Several families began to farm on land that they purchased from Claude La Framboise, Alexander Robinson, and the State of Illinois. The totality of this land extended from Irving Park Road to Grand Avenue and the west to Mannheim Road. The confluence of the first two railroads constructed in this area after the Civil War attracted a developer named Lesser Franklin. The German immigrant purchased and subdivided four farms and subsequently began the configuration of a village. Franklin Park was incorporated in 1892. The succeeding 50 years, showcased by two world wars and the Great Depression, shaped this town into the fourth-largest industrial community in Illinois, a title it holds to this day."

"Elgin has always been full of pride and creativity, with a willingness to reinvent itself when called upon to do so. This spirit and commitment is still alive today. With over 200 historioc photographs from the Elgin Area Historical Society, authors Jim and Wynette Edwards invite you to join them on a fascinating journey into Elgin's past."

"In 1893, Haj Mirrza Mohammad Ali Moen-Ol Saltaneh journeyed to Chicago from Iran to visit the World Columbian Exposition. According to his memoirs, the Exhibition's Ferris Wheel was one of the first things he saw. He visited the Persian Palace, Iran's exhibit at the Exposition, where he met Iranian women. These Iranians were likely the earliest group of Iranians who came to Chicago. They little imagined that by 2004, at least 10,000 Iranians would live in the city."

"Long Grove is a unique village. Nestled between stands of oak and hickory trees nand slow-moving creeks, and surrounded by quiet farmland, it is an escape from the suburban sprawl that can be found a short drive in any direction. First settled in the 18302 by German immigrants, Long Grove served as a crossroads between Chicago and Milwukee, and many city dwellers pass through its signature covered bridge and into the village's charming early-1900s shopping districts to revisit that bygone era of American history. Old churches, barns, and businesses - along with the people whose hard work helped the village prosper - are captured in over 200 vintage photographs within the pages of 'Long Grove.'"

"The historic village along the upper Des Plaines River, originally called Vardin's Grove after the area's first settler, George Vardin, adopted the name of Libertyville in the early 1840s after serving two years as the county seat of newly established Lake County. In the 1870s, businessman and state legislator Ansel Brainerd Cook built a porticoed mansion, the Cook House, in beautiful Libertyville. Other monuments to be seen in the pages of 'Libertyville' are the estates built throughout the community, including those once owned by railroad and utility tycoon Samuel Insull. At one time, Insull owned 6,000 acres of land in the town. Scenes from business, industry, schools, and community fun through the decades complement historic images of the Lake County Fair and even a great train robbery from 1924, one of the largest ever in U.S. history."