Austin Community Collection

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Subject Headings

• Associations, institutions, etc -- Illinois -- Chicago – History
• Austin (Chicago, Ill.)
• Business enterprises -- Illinois -- Chicago -- History
• Cities and towns--Pictorial works
• Local transit -- Illinois – Chicago --- History
• Parks -- Illinois – Chicago --- History
• Portraits -- Illinois -- Chicago -- History
• Religious institutions -- Illinois -- Chicago -- History
• Schools -- Illinois -- Chicago -- History
• Societies and clubs -- Illinois -- Chicago -- History
• Transportation -- Illinois -- Chicago -- History

Related Collections

• 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 Newspaper Collection

Collection Inventory

Series 1: Biographical Data, circa 1844-1965

Scope and Contents

Series 1 contains news clippings, photographs, historical sketches and correspondence on hundreds of residents of Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. News clippings comprise most of the documents. Documents and photographs are available for many individuals. Researchers are encouraged to consult both subseries.

Arrangement

Series 1 is organized into 2 subseries: Subseries A: Documents, 1865-1965 and Subseries B: Photographs, circa 1844-1953.

Subseries A: Documents, 1865-1965, undated

Arrangement

Subseries A is arranged alphabetically by the subject’s last name.

Series 1: Biographical Data, circa 1844-1965, undated

Subseries B: Photographs, circa 1844-1953

Arrangement

Subseries B is arranged in alphabetically by the subject’s surname.

Series 2: Business Establishments, 1875-1973

Scope and Contents

The Business Establishments series consists of news clippings, photographs, historical sketches, and printed material and ephemera. The series includes a typescript history, company magazine issues (Box 10, Folder 12) and multiple views of the E.J. Brach & Company in circa 1947. Researchers should also consult the Austin Newspaper Collection for local business advertisements.

Arrangement

Series 2 is organized into 2 subseries: Subseries A: Documents, 1875-1973 and Subseries B: Photographs, 1888-1947.

Subseries A: Documents, 1875-1973

Arrangement

Subseries A is arranged alphabetically by business name.

Series 2: Business Establishments, 1875-1973

Subseries B: Photographs, 1888-1947

Arrangement

Subseries B is arranged in alphabetically by business name.

Series 3: Religious Institutions, circa 1890s-1974, undated

Scope and Contents

This series contains materials that reflect some of the religious activities in Austin and includes Baptist, Christian, Congregational, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic and Unitarian churches. The materials consist of church constitutions and by-laws, annual reports, membership rosters, reports, newspaper clippings, programs, historical sketches, photographs, pamphlets, brochures and other printed materials.

Arrangement

Series 3 is organized into 2 subseries: Subseries A: Documents, 1907-1974, undated and Subseries B: Photographs, circa 1890s-circa 1900.

Subseries A: Documents, 1907-1974, undated

Arrangement

Subseries A is arranged alphabetically by religious denomination or institution name.

Series 3: Religious Institutions, circa 1890s-1974, undated

Subseries B: Photographs, circa 1890s-circa 1900, undated

Arrangement

Subseries B is arranged in alphabetically by religious denomination or institution name.

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

Scope and Contents

The records documenting Austin’s many clubs and organizations consist of administrative materials, correspondence, news clippings, manuscripts, historical sketches, printed material, and photographs. Austinites were involved in a variety of social, cultural or civic organizations.

Arrangement

Series 4 is organized into 2 subseries: Subseries A: Documents, 1886-1976, undated and Subseries B: Photographs, 1874-1941, undated.

Subseries A: Documents, 1886-1976, undated

Arrangement

Subseries A is arranged alphabetically by club or organization's name and chronologically within as appropriate.

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

Subseries B: Photographs, 1874-1941, undated

Arrangement

Subseries B is arranged in alphabetically by club or organization's name.

Series 5: Historical Sketches, 1839-1976, undated

Scope and Contents

Series 5 contains historical essays and sketches of Austin in a variety of formats. Directories, news clippings, tax sale receipts, real estate transactions, scrapbooks, pamphlets, brochures and maps are all represented in this series. Land title abstracts and receipts from tax sales dating from the late 1800s show aspects of Austin’s development. Histories of Austin written by residents are also included.

Created by Austin residents, the scrapbooks in this series contain news clippings about Austin residents, places and events spanning circa 1890-1948.

Arrangement

Series 5 is arranged alphabetical title or subject. The original arrangement for the scrapbooks has been maintained.

Series 6: Hospitals, circa 1905-1981

Scope and Contents

This small series contains records from three of Austin's hospitals: St. Anne's, Austin Hospital and West Suburban Hospital. The materials include photographs, correspondence, news clippings and souvenir programs.

Arrangement

Series 6 is organized into 2 subseries: Subseries A: Documents, 1925-1981 and Subseries B: Photographs, circa 1905-1928.

Subseries A: Documents, 1925-1981

Arrangement

Subseries A is arranged alphabetically by hospital name.

Series 6: Hospitals, circa 1905-1981

Subseries B: Photographs, circa 1905-1928

Arrangement

Subseries B is arranged in alphabetically by hospital name.

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

Scope and Contents

This subseries contains a small selection of photographs that primarily depict Austin and Cicero Town Halls.

Arrangement

Series 7 is organized alphabetically by agency name.

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

Scope and Contents

This series contains a copy of the enabling ordinance for Holden Park and news clippings on other Austin parks. While Austin does not contain any of Chicago’s larger parks, the community has been served well by several smaller parks. Austin Town Hall, the area’s best-known landmark, stands today in Holden Park.

Arrangement

Series 8 is organized into 2 subseries: Subseries A: Documents, 1912-1940, undated and Subseries B: Photographs, circa 1890s-1918.

Subseries A: Documents, 1912-1940, undated

Arrangement

Subseries A is arranged alphabetically by park name.

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

Subseries B: Photographs, circa 1890s-1918

Arrangement

Subseries B is arranged alphabetically by park name.

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

Scope and Contents

This small series documents some of Austin's oldest homes. The items in this series consist of photographs, correspondence, historical sketches, and newspapers. Homes once owned by Seth P. Warner, Nelson Bassett and the Burkhart Family are represented in this series. Additional information for some of the original homeowners can be found in Series 1: Biographical Data.

Arrangement

Series 9 is organized into 2 subseries: Subseries A: Documents, 1912-1964 and Subseries B: Photographs, circa 1860s-1941, undated.

Subseries A: Documents, 1912-1964, undated

Arrangement

Subseries A is arranged alphabetically by original homeowner or residence name.

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

Subseries B: Photographs, circa 1860s-1941

Arrangement

Subseries B is arranged alphabetically by original homeowner or residence name.

Series 10: Schools, 1873-1979, undated

Scope and Contents

Series 10 contains brochures, fliers, historical sketches, audio-visual materials, news clippings and publications. School has been in session in Austin since 1872 when the North School was first erected on what today is the site of Francis Scott Key School. Documents from Austin High School have been separated into their own collection, Austin High School Collection.

Arrangement

Series 10 is organized into 2 subseries: Subseries A: Documents, 1873-1978, undated and Subseries B: Photographs, 1883-1979.

Subseries A: Documents, 1873-1978, undated

Arrangement

Subseries A is arranged alphabetically by school name.

Series 10: Schools, 1873-1979, undated

Subseries B: Photographs, 1883-1979, undated

Arrangement

Subseries B is arranged alphabetically by school name.

Series 11: Street Scenes, 1888-1967, undated

Scope and Contents

This small series of two folders consists primarily of newspaper clippings and photographs. The first folder contains newspaper clippings of Austin streets, arranged alphabetically from A to Z, by street name. The second folder documents the development of Austin's viaducts and bridges. Austin streets have come a long way since 1849, when Lake Street was planked as far west as Oak Park. Lake Street can probably be called the focal point of Austin's development. In 1850, Lake Street became a toll road, belonging to the Lake Street County Line Road Company. The toll road company sold stock to some of Austin's residents. Seth P. Warner and Henry W. Austin were among the company's earliest investors.

Arrangement

Series 11 is organized into 2 subseries: Subseries A: Documents, circa 1910-1967 and Subseries B: Photographs, 1888-circa 1900, undated.

Subseries A: Documents, circa 1910-1967

Arrangement

Subseries A is arranged alphabetically by street name or neighborhood.

Series 11: Street Scenes, 1888-1967, undated

Subseries B: Photographs, 1888-circa 1900, undated

Arrangement

Subseries B is arranged alphabetically by street name or neighborhood.

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

Scope and Contents

As in other Chicago neighborhoods, Austin's development was inextricably tied to the health and extent of its transportation services. The construction of Austin Town Hall near the railway station at the corner of Central Avenue and Lake Street underscores the significance of railroading to Austin's early development. In 1915, according to one source, over 48 million passengers rode the West Madison Street Surface Line between Austin Boulevard and Canal Street. This series contains news clippings and photographs documenting the relationship between Austin’s economic growth and the concurrent development of transportation to Chicago.

Arrangement

Series 12 is organized into 2 subseries: Subseries A: Documents, circa 1900-1962, undated and Subseries B: Photographs, 1890-1931, undated.

Subseries A: Documents, circa 1900-1962, undated

Arrangement

Subseries A is arranged alphabetically by transit type.

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

Subseries B: Photographs, circa 1880s-1931, undated

Arrangement

Subseries B is arranged alphabetically by transit type.

Series 13: Wartime Activities, circa 1917-1919

Scope and Contents

This series documents the home front during World War I. Arranged alphabetically by folder title, this series contains programs from memorial ceremonies and songs composed for Liberty Loan workers.

Arrangement

The items are listed alphabetically.