Champaign County on Film
“Saving our film heritage should not be limited only to commercially produced films. Home movies do not just capture the important private moments of our family’s lives, but they are historical and cultural documents as well.”– Martin Scorsese
On Wednesday, October 15, 2014, the Champaign County Historical Archives and Student Life and Culture Archives will present a mashup of archival films from the mid-1920s through the 21st century including aerials of Champaign-Urbana, college life, Orpheum Theatre, agricultural technology, the Flat Iron fire of the late 1940s, African-American CU Day Reunion, and the changing nature of transportation that includes trains, buses, and cars.
October is American Archives Month.
Archival Crush. It’s a real thing, look it up.
Actually, never mind, Google won’t return a hit, but all archivists have one. Society of American Archivists president Kathleen Roe talks about her crush (although she calls her an archival neighbor), Genevieve Hankins-Hawke, an African-American nurse, widow and mother during World War II, whose papers she processed more than 25 years ago but whose story still remains with her.
Try-It Illinois is now available! (October 1 through November 30, 2014)
Try-It! Illinois 2014, the fourteenth annual statewide database trial, sponsored by Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White and the Illinois State Library is now available. Come visit the Archives and get your password!
Joseph William Royer, Architect of Schools and Early Urbana
Urbana native, Joseph William Royer is well-known for being the architect of The Urbana Free Library (1917), the Champaign County Courthouse (1901), and Urbana High School (1913). But his designs extended beyond Urbana and Champaign County, and even Illinois reaching into Iowa and Indiana.
In Memoriam: Raymond Eugene Suggs, May 22, 1928 – September 19, 2014
Life-long Champaign County resident Raymond Eugene Suggs passed away Friday, September 19, 2014 at the age of 86.
Town & Gown Speaker Series: World War I in Champaign County, September 18, 2014
The Champaign County Historical Archives is partnering with the Student Life and Culture Archives at the University of the Illinois to present a Town & Gown Speaker Series. Our inaugural event takes place Thursday, September 18, 2014 and looks at the local impact of World War I. Come join us for an evening of period music, poems from a native solider, local headlines, and letters from the front lines.
Wonderful Wednesdays
For weekly Wednesday Evening Hours in the Archives!
Starting now join us every Wednesday from 9:00am - 9:00pm for all your research needs.
Coming Home: The J.O. Cunningham Journals Make Their Way Back to Urbana
You may have read the Tom Kacich article in the News-Gazette a few weeks ago about the miraculous discovery of early Urbana resident J.O. Cunningham’s journals in Kerrville, Texas. The journals describing Cunningham’s 1853 arrival in Urbana have now themselves returned to the community. The Champaign County Historical Archives is pleased to announce that The Board of Cunningham Children’s Home has approved a resolution to donate the journals to the Archives.
Virginia Turns 100!
Happy Birthday, Virginia!
Archives volunteer and longtime Champaign County resident Virginia Lovingfoss will celebrate her 100th birthday today! Virginia was born and raised in Philo, Illinois and now lives in Urbana. At 100 years old Virginia volunteers at both the Champaign County Historical Archives and Carle Hospital.
How a Railroad Company Helped Create a City
Railroads have been a large part of the Illinois landscape for nearly two centuries. They have reshaped the terrain, commerce and even towns and cities. One such location completely transformed by railroads was the city of Champaign.
Happy 140th Birthday Urbana Free Library!
In a few days the Urbana Free Library will be approaching a very important milestone. July 2, 2014 marks 140 years of community service. The library has a rich history, all starting with a group of men interested in creating a library.
Join the Archives for the Market at the Square!
The Champaign County Historical Archives will be at the Urbana Free Library's table at the Market at the Square on the third Saturday of each month, beginning tomorrow (June 21). Stop by to view historical documents and artifacts, grab a brochure, and take a look at some of the books that feature a variety of items from our collection. We hope to see you there!
Ancestry.com Adds New Puerto Rico Records and Research Guides
Ancestry.com recently launched a new collection with more than 5 million vital records from Puerto Rico. Civil registration began in Puerto Rico in 1885, and the records can contain rich details, sometimes even mentioningseveral generations.
Have you ever heard of PERSI?
PERSI, or the Periodical Source Index is the largest host of genealogical journals worldwide. Home to over 11,000 journals, many no longer in print, PERSI is a hidden gem for researchers and genealogist alike. Indexed are roughly 2.3 million articles concerning local history and genealogy spanning from 1800 to 2009.
Easily searchable, PERSI is extremely user friendly with multiple subject heading for simple website navigation.
· Under the PEOPLE heading, users can search for ancestor names across the 2.3 million articles