Nonfiction

"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."

"Arlington, Illinois began as a hodgepodge of mercantile and service ventures straddling the tracks of the Illinois and Wisconsin Railroad. Today the village center has become a model for explosive growth and redevelopment studied by other towns across the United States. Through the medium of historic photographs, this book captures the evolution of Arlington Heights, from the mid-1800s to the present day."

This book contains the work of 15 different poets from Chicago along with brief biographical information about each poet.

Each issue of the zine is created by 7th and 8th grade middle school students in the Chicago area and features both prose and poetry. This issue (and its two predecessors) was a collaborative class project and includes pieces on memories, dreams, goals, and friendship.

"Glen Ellyn took its name from a Victorian real estate development whose massive promotional campaigns brought this unusually beautiful village to the attention of city dwellers eager to move their families away from the grimy, coal-fired environs of Chicago. Its story begins with hardy New Englanders who felled trees to build log cabins, broke the virgin prairie sod, and trapped wild game in the marshlands that would become greater Chicago, continuing through the radical changes that came with the railroad and the Civil War. From Potawatomi Indians and pioneers to an important Underground Railway station; from a luxurious lakeside health resort with a fabulous grand hotel to one of Chicago's premier suburban communities, 'Glen Ellyn' presents the village's rich history with evocative photographs from the collection of the Glen Ellyn Historical Society."

"The first Lake Forest Day in 1908 included a hot air balloon ascension, a cutest baby contest, a mind-reading dog, and a vaudeville show. Proceed from the event, organized by the Lake Forest Woman's Club, funded the Contagious Hospital, which eventually merged with the Lake Forest Hospital. American Legion Post 264 took over in 1921 and has maintained this extraordinary tradition ever since. The annual celebration has changed over the years to reflect local interests, national events and even cultural shifts. With the advent of World War II, the themes became patriotic, such as 'Home Defense,' 'Prelude to Victory,' and 'On to Tokyo.' Lake Forest Day, Lake Forest Day, held on the First Wednesday of August, continues to inspire civic pride. This book represents a fascinating look at Lake Forest in 1908 and the century thereafter, as parades, carnivals, and contests energized the community spirit."

Danse Macabre Chicago is a book of photography around the topic of cemeteries in Chicagoland

"The remarkable city of Naperville, Illinois, Illinois began as an agrarian community in the mid-1800s. The rich prairie filled the grain elevators and cattle were shipped to the Chicago "Yards." Through the medium of historic photographs, this book captures the evolution of the people of Naperville, from the mid-1800s to the present day."

"Schaumberg has come a long way over the years. Through a collection of over 200 vintage images, author Betsy Armistead highlights the remarkable contrasts between the community's rural past and dynamic present. Featuring images of of the village's founding fathers, land, and landmarks, "Schaumburg" chronicles the evolution and transformation of this unique community."

From Lumber Hookers to the Hooligan Fleet: A Treasury of Chicago Maritime History is a book retelling the history of Chicago through maritime actions.