The Urbana Free Library is celebrating its 150th birthday this year. In honor of this amazing occasion, the Archives blog will feature newspaper ads from 1874, the same year the library was founded. Each of these ads comes from an 1874 edition of The Illini, the monthly precursor to The Daily Illini. First on the docket, we have ads from January 1874 for Jo. E. Hunt, and WM. Sim.

Black and white newspaper advertisement from 1874 that reads, "Jo. E. Hunt, dealer in drugs, books, stationery, and a general assortment of fancy articles. Particular attention paid to prescriptions. Also periodical, sheet music and general news depot. Students cordially invited to call. No. 20 Main St., Urbana, ILL."Black and white newspaper advertisement from 1874 that reads, "Wm. Sim, Urbana, Illinois. Retail dealer in books and stationery, perfumery, soaps, combs and brushes. Trusses, supporters, and shoulder braces, fancy and toilet articles, drugs and medicines, chemicals, kerosene oil, lamps and chimneys grass and garden seeds, glass, putty, paints, oils, varnishes and dye-stuffs, patent medicines, etc., etc. Physicians' Prescriptions carefully compounded, and all orders correctly answered."

In today’s world, you can easily go to any supermarket and expect to find an abundance of different products. The interesting thing about these ads from 1874 is that many shops seemed to carry a wide variety of products. For example, the list in the Wm. Sim ad starts with perfumes and soaps, in the middle it has kerosene oil and glass, and ends with dye-stuffs and patent medicines. Of course, if you needed to buy paper and have your prescription filled, both stores would be able to accommodate you.

Black and white newspaper advertisement from 1874 newspaper reads, "A.M. Coffeen, Dealer in blank books, school supplies, sheet music, pictures, frames, fancy goods, musical instruments, &c., &c. All goods at lowest prices. No. 38 Main Street, Champaign.

Taken from the June 1874 edition of The Illini, we have ads for two separate stores on Main Street in Champaign. Like Jo. E. Hunt and Wm. Sim, these stores sell a wide variety of goods. However, if you’re frugal and want to make your dollar stretch further, try A. M. Coffeen’s shop. This shop claims to have “all goods at lowest prices.”

Black and white newspaper ad from 1874 that reads, "Absolutely the best protection against fire. The Babcock portable self-acting fire extinguishers."

From the October 1874 edition of The Illini, we have an advertisement that’s a bit different from the others shown so far. This ad features the Babcock fire extinguisher, described as “absolutely the best protection against fire.” If you think that sounds great, that wasn’t all it had to offer! It was also “portable” and “self-acting.”

That’s all for this edition of Old Ads! Remember to stop by the library for a variety of 150th birthday events and fun!

-Shalini Smith

Archives Librarian