Historical Note

The Calumet Pioneer Historical Society held its first meeting on October 24, 1935 in the Pullman Branch Library.  The initial impetus for holding the meeting was the work of the branch librarian, Miss McLaughlin.  Her objectives in bringing the community together were twofold; first, she wanted to establish a closer relationship between the library and the neighborhood it served, and secondly, to begin building up an historical collection on the community that would preserve the history of the area.

After the first meeting, a special committee was formed to give the group a name, and draft a constitution.  The main purpose of the calumet Pioneer Society as stated in the constitution was to "perpetuate the memory of the early days in the Calumet region and to preserve memorials and exhibits of these days."  Membership was initially reserved for families and descendants of first settlers and community residents dating prior to 1895.

The society met quarterly and held its annual meeting in the fall.  The meetings consisted of historic speeches and biographical statements on the community and its residents.  The papers included in this small collection reflect the goals and activities of the society.  At one point the society had over 200 members but some time during the late 1960s and early 1970s, it faded out of existence.

Scope and Content

Series I:   Administrative Files, General, 1936 - 1962
The administrative files of the society include attendance records, correspondence, membership cards, newsclippings, press releases, the constitution and related items on the function of and events held by the society. The files are arranged alphabetically by subject.

Series II:  Executive Committee Files, 1935 - 1967
This small series of files on the Executive Committee consists of minutes of meetings and lists of committee officers. The files are arranged in alphabetical order by subject.

Series III:  Regular Minutes and Speeches of the Society, 1935 - 1960
The material in this series is comprised of minutes of regular society meetings, including the first one held on October 24, 1935, and speeches made by  members of the society and guest speakers on topics of local historic interest. The material is arranged in alphabetical order by subject, and chronological  order within the files.

Non-Manuscript Material:
The following artifacts are maintained by the Pullman Branch Library, 11001 S. Indiana Street:

Anniversary badges (2)
Antlers 
Arrowheads
Axe head
Butter knife
Cigar case
Coffee grinder
Doll
Eyeglasses and case
Fans (2)
Fossilized bones (2)
Ice skates
Indian rattle
Nails (9)
Ornamental vase
Plaque, memorial
Ruler
Salt shaker

Disposed Records:
Duplicates and xerox copies have been returned to the Pullman Branch Library.

Provenance

These materials constitute part of those which were gathered together by early members of the Calumet Pioneer Historical Society and deposited in the Pullman Branch Library. They were transferred to the Special Collections and Preservation Division and processed as part of a Dr. Scholl Foundation grant to preserve Neighborhood Historical Collections in the Branch Library System, and re-opened for research in the fall of 1982. 

Access

The Calumet Pioneer Historical Society Records are available to the public for research in the Special Collections and Preservation Division Reading Room on the 9th floor of the Chicago Public Library's Harold Washington Library Center, 400 South State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60605. The collection does not circulate, although photocopy and photoreproduction services are available depending upon the condition of the original materials. First time patrons to Special Collections must present photo identification and complete a Reader Registration Form. Telephone inquiries on this collection and other Special Collections holdings can be directed to 312-747-4875.

Box and Folder Inventory

BOX 1

Series I:  Administrative Files, General, 1936-1962

1. Attendance Records, 1935-1949
2. Constitutions, 1936-1945
3. Correspondence, 1935-1939
4. Correspondence, 1942-1949
5. Correspondence, 1950-1955
6. Correspondence, 1956-1962
7. Historical material, list of, 1936
8. Invitations, 1943-1965
9. Meeting roster, 1937-1966
10. Membership cards, n.d.
11. Newsclippings, 1935-1965
12. Press releases, 1935-1949
13. Press releases, 1954-1955
14. Press releases, 1956-1958
15. Theme song, "Calumet Pioneer," by Otto Mulder, n.d.

Series II: Executive Committee Files, 1935-1967

16. Minutes of meetings, November 1, 1935-May 1, 1939
17. Minutes of meetings, January 31, 1941-October 10, 1945
18. Minutes of meetings, May 22, 1946-October 13,1950
19. Minutes of meetings, May 17, 1951-September 1961 (includes minutes of Regular meetings of society; see Series III)
20.  Officers, list of, 1942-1958, 1966-1967

Series III:  Regular Meetings and Speeches of the Society, 1935-60

21. Minutes of Regular meetings, October 24, 1935-November 12, 1936
22. Minutes of Regular meetings, February 25, 1937-November 15, 1938
23. Minutes of Regular meetings, February 23, 1939-November 1, 1940
24. Minutes of Regular meetings, February 28, 1941-October 30, 1942
25. Minutes of Regular meetings, April 30, 1943-November 10, 1944
26. Minutes of Regular meetings, April 20, 1945-October 29, 1946
27. Minutes of Regular meetings, May 9, 1947-November 12, 1948
28. Minutes of Regular meetings, June 7, 197-November 16, 1950  (1951-1961, see Executive Committee, minutes of meetings,  Series II)
29. Speeches before regular meetings, February 20, 1936
30. Speeches before regular meetings, January 29, 1937
31. Speeches before regular meetings, March 17, 1938

BOX 2

1. Speeches-before regular meetings, May 26, 1938
2. Speeches-before regular meetings, February 16, 1940
3. Speeches-before regular meetings, May 24, 1940
4. Speeches-before regular meetings, November 1, 1940
5. Speeches-before regular meetings, February 28, 1941
6. Speeches-before regular meetings, November 2, 1945
7. Speeches-before regular meetings, November 16, 1950
8. Speeches-before regular meetings, November 7, 1952
9. Speeches-before regular meetings, Spring, 1954
10. Speeches-before regular meetings, May 20, 1955
11. Speeches-before regular meetings, January 20, 1956
12. Speeches-before regular meetings, April 27, 1956
13. Speeches-before regular meetings, January 25, 1957
14. Speeches-before regular meetings, October 11, 1957
15. Speeches-before regular meetings, May 2, 1958
16. Speeches-before regular meetings, May 1959
17. Speeches-before regular meetings, May 13, 1960
18. Speeches-before regular meetings, n.d.

PHOTOGRAPHS

1.1.  Calumet Pioneer Historical Society-Two men standing in front of filing cabinet containing CPS collections; 1953
1.2.  Calumet Pioneer Historical Society-Group of people gathered around and holding volume of Pullman Journal; [1953] SEE ALSO: Photographs of Pullman Branch Library, CPL Archives