Photograph of a Greek Revival Cottage being moved down University Avenue. Taken May 19, 1977, part of the Greek Revival Collection. 

Interior of A.P. Cunningham and Sons Drugstore, Champaign circa 1890

Back of photograph reads: "Outdoor market -- Champaign around 1910." From the "Farmers market--Champaign" photograph envelope.

Summer time is farmers' market season in Central Illinois and it has been for at least the last century. Check out the above photograph of an early 1900s outdoor market in Champaign! 

The Champaign County Historical Archives has over one million photographs of local people and locations, dating from the mid-19th century to the present. Here is great example from our collection.

Know what would make this photograph better? Metadata!

Carl Bontemps (kneeling on stand) addresses some of the 171 boys who registered for swimming instruction on the first day of lessons at the Crystal Lake Park pool. This was the original round pool; it has been remodeled twice since this photo was taken.

Come into the cool Archives this summer and dive into our vast photo collection!

Archives staff and the staff and volunteers at the former Chanute Air Museum spent months evaluating and packing items that would become the Chanute Collection at The Urbana Free Library. Finally, on May 19th the collection officially made its way from Rantoul to Urbana.  

Above, left, the collection packed and ready for travel. Right, our efficient moving crew.

The Champaign County Historical Archives has recently processed the papers of Jean F. Burkholder, a former Urbana School Board president, active community member, and social rights activist.

Storage boxes housing the Jean F. Burkholder papers

Anyone seen an alligator? Back in 1898, L.A. Wahl's 6 foot pet alligator went on a walkabout. (And you thought urban chickens were a neighborhood nuisance).

Champaign Daily News, June 10, 1898

“In Front of Atlanta Ga. July 31^st./64”

“It is with pleasure I take my pen in hand to pen you a fiew lines to let you know that I am still in the land of the living an able to eat my rations and fight the rebels terrable hard when we have it to do.” From the “Civil War letters of Pvt. Jacob Haynes Rhoads” by Jacob Haynes Rhoads

Call Number: A B RHOADS WAH

Later this week is Commencement at both Parkland College and the University of Illinois. To celebrate this great archievement, we want to share a picture from our Parkland College Photographs Collection. 

Parkland Graduates at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Commencement May 23, 1985