| Dates: | 1879-1987 |
| Size: | 6.25 linear feet, 15 photographs |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60605 |
| Collection Number: | Archives_AUHS |
| Provenance: | The collection was housed in Chicago Public Library’s Legler Branch Library. In the 1980s Special Collections, working with a Dr. Scholl Foundation grant, transferred and processed the collection to make it fully available to the public. Supplements have been donated by various donors. |
| Access: | No restrictions |
| Citation: | When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Austin High School Records [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library. |
Historical Note
Austin High School has been the focal point of the Austin neighborhood’s educational activities since the last quarter of the 19th century. Residents of Austin have always expressed pride in their high school.
Delos Buzzell was Austin High School’s first principal from 1876 to 1879. During that time, the school occupied one room of the North School on Ohio Street. In the late 1870s, Austin High School’s library consisted of some 700 books, which led to the hiring of the school’s first librarian.
After Austin’s annexation to the City of Chicago in 1889, Austin High School’s student population began to grow dramatically. From 400 students in 1900, the school’s population increased to 2,298 in 1920. By 1931 6,815 students were enrolled.
Austin High School, like the community it served, experienced turmoil during the 1960s and 1970s. Racial tensions were brought to the surface by federally mandated desegregation attempts and demographic changes in Austin’s population. In addition to reporting other activities and achievements associated with Austin High School, newspaper clippings in this collection document this critical time in Austin’s history.
Scope and Content
The majority of the Austin High School Records are comprised of the Maroon and White yearbook. Also appearing in the collection are newspaper clippings, event programs, historic sketches and photographs.
The initial accession is held in boxes 1-2. Supplement 1 is held in boxes 3-4. Supplement 2 is held in boxes 5-13. During the processing of Supplement 3, the entire collection was checked for duplicates, and several duplicates were discarded. As such, the added yearbooks in Supplement 3 were able to fit into existing boxes.
Arrangement/Series Descriptions
The collection is divided into 6 series.
Series 1: General Records, 1895-1950s
This series consists of bulletins, newspaper clippings, programs, and school correspondence, documenting Austin High School’s activities and students over a period of 55 years. The documents in this series are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Series 2: Historical Essays and Sketches, 1879-1931
This small series contains written histories of Austin High School, its teachers and students. A history of the high school’s Parent-Teacher Association is also included. This collection, consisting primarily of original typescripts, is arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Series 3: Newspaper Clippings, 1900-1970s
Newspaper clippings from local newspapers provide invaluable insights to the activities and people associated with Austin High School. This clipping series is divided chronologically into three folders: 1900-1929, 1930-1949 and 1950-1970.
Series 4: Parent/Teacher Association, 1909-1969 (predominantly 1950s)
Since the early part of the 20th century, the Austin PTA has been active in the affairs of Austin High School. The PTA’s activities are chronicled by bulletins, fliers, newspaper clippings, and programs. The series is arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Series 5: Programs, 1916-1965
Numerous Austin High School activities are documented in this series, including class and commencement exercises, Austin High’s Diamond Jubilee, field day, programs from recitals, and music announcements. The material is arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Series 6: Publications, 1888-1987 (predominately 1910-1970)
This series contains student newspapers and yearbooks. The materials are arranged alphabetically by title and chronologically within each publication run.
Container List
Series 1: General Records
| Box 12 | Folder 5 | Austin High School North Central Association Visitation, April 7-10, 1975 |
| Box 13 | Folder 1 | Austin High School North Central Association Self-Evaluation, March 16- 18, l982 |
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | Bulletins and postings, 1950 |
| Box 3 | Folder 1 | Class list: Identification of students in an 1890 class photograph |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | Class song (typescript), 1916 |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | Dean of Girls, Elva Weston Deaton: Newspaper clipping, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | Ephemera: Daily program card, undated; school letters, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | Football Team: Newspaper clipping, 1895 |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | Graduating students: Newspaper clipping, 1916 |
| Box 3 | Folder 2 | Newspaper clippings, 1931-1953 |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | Poem: "Golden Jubilee" (typescript), by Mrs. Stanley E. Young, 1965 |
Series 2: Historical Essays and Sketches
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | Austin High School (typescript), 1931 |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | Austin High School PTA History (typescript), 1906-1915 |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 | Community Background: Austin High School, 1950 |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Chronology: Principals and Assistant Principals, former students and faculty, (typescript), 1879-1965 |
Series 3: Newspaper clippings
| Box 1 | Folder 12 | Newspaper clippings, 1900-1929 |
| Box 1 | Folder 13 | Newspaper clippings, 1930-1949 |
| Box 1 | Folder 14 | Newspaper clippings, 1950-1970s |
Series 4: Parent-Teacher Association
| Box 1 | Folder 15 | Bulletins and fliers, 1950s |
| Box 4 | Folder 8 | Handbook; 1938-39 |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | Newspaper clippings, 1911-1956 |
| Box 1 | Folder 17 | Program announcements, 1909, 1955, 1956 |
| Box 1 | Folder 18 | Program yearbooks, 1954-1957, 1964-1969 |
| Box 4 | Folder 9 | Reunion of graduates; 1954 |
Series 5: Programs
| Box 1 | Folder 19 | Class Night Exercises, 1916-1924 |
| Box 3 | Folder 3 | Programs: Commencement, 1883, 1890, 1938, 1944, 1945 |
| Box 1 | Folder 20 | Commencement Exercises, 1917-1927 |
| Box 1 | Folder 21 | Diamond Jubilee, 1965: List of former students; program script |
| Box 1 | Folder 22 | Field Day, 1916, 1917 |
| Box 1 | Folder 23 | General announcements, 1913-1925 |
| Box 13 | Folder 2 | New Austin High School building dedication, 1931 May 12 |
| Box 1 | Folder 24 | Recitals and music announcements, 1916-1934; 1954 |
Series 6: Publications
| Box 1 | Folder 25 | Austin Times (bimonthly), vol. LXVII, nos. 4-5, 8, 1955 |
| Box 1 | Folder 26 | Austin Times (bimonthly), vol. LXVIII, nos. 1-2, 1956 |
| Box 1 | Folder 27 | Austin Times (bimonthly), vol. LXXIV, no. 8, 1959 |
| Box 3 | Folder 4 | The High School Voice (newspaper), March 1898. |
| Box 5 | Folder 1 | Maroon and White, 1908, 1909, l910 |
| Box 1 | Folder 28 | Maroon and White (monthly), vol. X, nos. 1-2, 1915 |
| Box 1 | Folder 29 | Maroon and White (monthly), vol. XI, nos. 2-4, 1915 |
| Box 1 | Folder 30 | Maroon and White (monthly), vol. XII, nos. 1, 3, 1916 |
| Box 1 | Folder 31 | Maroon and White (monthly), vol. XIII, nos. 1, 3-4, 1916 |
| Box 5 | Folder 2 | Maroon and White, vol. 13, no. 5, 1917 |
| Box 1 | Folder 32 | Maroon and White (monthly), vol. XIV, no. 2, 1917 |
| Box 1 | Folder 33 | Maroon and White (monthly), vol. XVI, nos. 3-4, 1918 |
| Box 5 | Folder 3 | Maroon and White, vol. 16, no. 1-5, vol. 17, no. 1-4, 1918 |
| Box 1 | Folder 34 | Maroon and White (monthly), vol. XVIII, no. 4, 1919 |
| Box 6 | Folder 1 | Maroon and White, vol 17, no. 5; vol. 18, no. 1-4; vol. 19, no. 1-4, 1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 5 | Maroon and White, April, June, 1919 |
| Box 1 | Folder 35 | Maroon and White (monthly), vol. XX, 3-4, 1920 |
| Box 1 | Folder 36 | Maroon and White (monthly), February, September-December, 1920 |
| Box 3 | Folder 6 | Maroon and White, 1920 January |
| Box 6 | Folder 2 | Maroon and White, 1920 1/2, 1921 |
| Box 1 | Folder 37 | Maroon and White (monthly), vol. XV (volume change), nos. 6-9, 1921 |
| Box 2 | Folder 1 | Maroon and White (monthly), vol. XVI, nos. 1-4, 1921 |
| Box 3 | Folder 7 | Maroon and White, 1921 January |
| Box 3 | Folder 8 | Maroon and White (semi-annual): 1921½ Jan. (vol. 16, no. 5) |
| Box 3 | Folder 9 | Maroon and White, June 1921 |
| Box 6 | Folder 3 | Maroon and White, 1921 1/2 |
| Box 2 | Folder 2 | Maroon and White (monthly), April, June, 1922 |
| Box 3 | Folder 10 | Maroon and White, June 1922 |
| Box 3 | Folder 11 | Maroon and White, 1922 |
| Box 2 | Folder 3 | Maroon and White (monthly), vol. III, no. 7, November 1923 |
| Box 3 | Folder 12 | Maroon and White, June 1923 |
| Box 7 | Folder 1 | Maroon and White, 1923 |
| Box 13 | Folder 3 | Maroon and White, 1923 1/2 |
| Box 4 | Folder 1 | Maroon and White, June 1924 |
| Box 7 | Folder 2 | Maroon and White, 1924 1/2 |
| Box 4 | Folder 2 | Maroon and White, January 1925 |
| Box 4 | Folder 3 | Maroon and White, June 1925 |
| Box 4 | Folder 4 | Maroon and White, 1926 January |
| Box 7 | Folder 3 | Maroon and White, 1926 June |
| Box 7 | Folder 4 | Maroon and White, 1926 1/2, 1927 |
| Box 7 | Folder 5 | Maroon and White, 1927 1/2 |
| Box 7 | Folder 6 | Maroon and White, 1928 |
| Box 7 | Folder 7 | Maroon and White, 1928 1/2 |
| Box 8 | Folder 1 | Maroon and White, 1929 June |
| Box 2 | Folder 5 | Maroon and White, 1929 1/2 |
| Box 2 | Folder 6 | Maroon and White, 1930 |
| Box 2 | Folder 7 | Maroon and White, 1932 |
| Box 2 | Folder 8 | Maroon and White, 1932 1/2, 1933 |
| Box 2 | Folder 9 | Maroon and White, 1933 |
| Box 2 | Folder 10 | Maroon and White, 1934 |
| Box 8 | Folder 2 | Maroon and White, 1934 1/2, 1935 |
| Box 8 | Folder 3 | Maroon and White, 1935 1/2, 1936 |
| Box 4 | Folder 5 | Maroon and White, 1938 June |
| Box 8 | Folder 4 | Maroon and White, 1939 |
| Box 8 | Folder 5 | Maroon and White, 1940 |
| Box 8 | Folder 6 | Maroon and White, 1941 |
| Box 8 | Folder 7 | Maroon and White, 1943 |
| Box 4 | Folder 6 | Maroon and White, 1944 June |
| Box 4 | Folder 7 | Maroon and White, 1945 June |
| Box 8 | Folder 8 | Maroon and White, 1946 |
| Box 9 | Folder 1 | Maroon and White, 1946 1/2, 1947 |
| Box 9 | Folder 2 | Maroon and White, 1948 |
| Box 9 | Folder 3 | Maroon and White, 1949 |
| Box 9 | Folder 4 | Maroon and White, 1951 |
| Box 10 | Folder 1 | Maroon and White, 1954 |
| Box 10 | Folder 2 | Maroon and White, 1955 |
| Box 10 | Folder 3 | Maroon and White, 1956 |
| Box 10 | Folder 4 | Maroon and White, 1959 |
| Box 10 | Folder 5 | Maroon and White, 1960 |
| Box 11 | Folder 1 | Maroon and White, 1961 |
| Box 11 | Folder 2 | Maroon and White, 1962 |
| Box 11 | Folder 3 | Maroon and White, 1965 |
| Box 11 | Folder 4 | Maroon and White, 1966 |
| Box 11 | Folder 5 | Maroon and White, 1967 |
| Box 11 | Folder 6 | Maroon and White, 1968 |
| Box 12 | Folder 1 | Maroon and White, 1969 |
| Box 12 | Folder 2 | Maroon and White, 1979 |
| Box 12 | Folder 3 | Maroon and White, 1985 |
| Box 12 | Folder 4 | Maroon and White, 1987 |
| Box 2 | Folder 4 | The Pigmy Boomerang, vol. II, no. 5, 1888 |
PHOTOGRAPHS
Photographs with accession numbers 1.1-1.9 form the original accession. They were collected by various Austin Historical organizations and were housed at the Austin Branch of the Chicago Public Library. Photos with accession numbers 2.1-2.8 were received as part of the West Side Historical Society transfer. The photos are arranged alphabetically by subject.
| Photograph 2.6 | Austin High School, exterior, 1890s |
| Photograph 2.3 | Austin High School cadets at camp, Antioch, IL, 1890 |
| Photograph 2.4 | Austin High School cadets, mess and cook tents, Antioch, IL, 1890 |
| Photograph 1.8 (oversize) | Baseball Team, 1894 |
| Photograph 2.8 | Baseball Team, 1890s |
| Photograph 2.5 | Fred Bowes, Captain of the Austin High School Cadets |
| Photograph 1.4 | Calesthenics class, circa 1920s |
| Photograph 1.5 | Class, circa 1890 |
| Photograph 2.1 | Class, 1881 |
| Photograph 2.2 | Class, 1890 (2 copies) |
| Photograph 2.7 | Class, 1890s |
| Photograph 1.6 (oversize) | Field Day, undated |
| Photograph 1.7 (oversize) | Rugby Team, 1894 |
| Photograph 1.9 (oversize) | Rugby Team, 1896 |
| Photograph 1.3 | Staff of Austin High School, July 5, 1928 |
