In the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, spiritualism, the belief that the dead could communicate with the living, especially through a medium, gained popularity and renown. It was a movement that garnered ardent enthusiasm from its followers, including author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and psychologist William James, among others; and was lambasted by its detractors, such as novelist Mark Twain and magician Harry Houdini.

The Everett C. Block Collection, donated to the Champaign County Historical Archives in 2014, contains 254 glass plate negatives that document the families, houses, and farms of southeast Champaign County circa 1900-1905. Everett Block was not the original photographer of these glass plate negatives; however, he was the person who had the foresight to save, research, and share these pieces of history with others.

The Champaign County Historical Archives loves its young visitors! A few weeks ago, Miss Tiffany brought Leal School fourth graders to the Archives to show them what kind of treasures we have.

Last Saturday, September 24, 2016, the Champaign-Urbana Immigration Forum held its 3rd Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards at The Urbana Free Library. There former Library board member Anh Ha Ho was honored with the 2016 Leadership Award.

Taken from the Champaign-Urbana Courier, October 31, 1977

Did you know? Though Illinois is well known for producing corn, wheat, and soybeans, the Land of Lincoln grows more pumpkins than any other state.

It is no secret that here in Champaign County, harvest season has begun. Just drive past The Andersons on North Staley Road at the end of your workday to marvel at the number of grain filled trucks waiting to unload their bounty. 

Don’t let the sepia tones fool you. Our ancestors were not all that different from ourselves.

They dressed their children in silly outfits and placed them on cute animals.

They took pictures of their food.