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Austin Community Collection

 Collection
Identifier: spe-nhrc-acc

Scope and Contents

The Austin Community Collection contains historical sources related to the demographic, economic, cultural, social, political, and religious development of Chicago’s Austin community. The collection contains biographical information on some of Austin’s residents, as well as information on business establishments, religious institutions, clubs and organizations, hospitals, municipal agencies, parks, residences, schools, streets, transportation, and wartime activities.

Dates

  • 1839 - 1981

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open without restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection.

Biographical / Historical

The Austin neighborhood is seven miles west of Chicago’s Loop. Community number 25 of Chicago's 77 official communities, it is on the western edge of the city bordering Cicero, Oak Park and Elmwood Park. Austin was annexed into Chicago in 1889.

Extent

14 Linear Feet (in 19 boxes includes 300 photographs and 19 oversize folders)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection contains manuscript, print and photographic documentation on demographic, economic, cultural, social, political, and religious development of the Austin neighborhood. The collection contains biographical information on Austin residents, as well as information on businesses, religious institutions clubs and organizations, hospitals, municipal agencies, parks, residences, schools, streets, transportation, and wartime activities.

Arrangement

The Austin Community Collection is organized into 13 Series:

Series 1: Biographical Data, circa 1844-1965

Series 2: Business Establishments, 1875-1973

Series 3: Religious Institutions, circa 1890s-1974

Series 4: Clubs and Organizations, 1874-1972, undated

Series 5: Historical Sketches, 1839-1976, undated

Series 6: Hospitals, circa 1905-1981

Series 7: Municipal Agencies, Photographs, circa 1880s-circa 1930, undated

Series 8: Parks, circa 1890s-1940, undated

Series 9: Residences, circa 1860s-1964, undated

Series 10: Schools, 1873-1979, undated

Series 11: Street Scenes, 1888-1967, undated

Series 12: Transportation, circa 1880s-1962, undated

Series 13: Wartime Activities, circa 1917-1919

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The original accession (Boxes 1-9, 14-16) was amassed by the Austin Historical Society and was deposited in the Austin Branch of Chicago Public Library. Photographs associated with this accession use the prefix “1.” The collection was transferred in the 1980s as part of a Dr. Scholl Foundation grant.

Supplement 1 (Boxes 10-12, 17-19) was assembled by the West Side Historical Society and housed at Chicago Public Library Legler Branch. Photographs associated with this accession use the prefix “2.”

Supplement 3 (Box 13) contains an incomplete copy of Picturesque Austin, by W.H. Baker published in 1888, that was originally part of the West Side Historical Society collection. There are two copies of the narrative and of “Central Avenue from Depot Looking South.” These copies are marked as having been the gift of Nellie Bond.

Supplement 4 is housed in Box 13, Folders 3-5.

Related Materials

Austin Daughters of the American Revolution Records

Austin High School Records

Austin Newspapers Collection

Austin Women’s Club Records

Goldwin E. Anderson Notebooks

David Gremp Photographs

Slack Family Photograph Album

West Side Historical Society Records

Title
Guide to the Austin Community Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Original author unknown, 1985. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Michelle McCoy, 2021
Date
1985
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Unit at Harold Washington Library Center Repository

Contact:
Harold Washington Library Center, 9th Floor
Chicago Public Library
400 S. State Street
Chicago IL 60605 United States
(312) 747-4875