| Dates: | circa late 1800s-2002 |
| Size: | 2 linear feet in 2 boxes and 5 oversize folders, including 123 photographs |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Sulzer Regional Library, Northside Neighborhood History Collection, 4455 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625 |
| Collection number: | nnhc.00009 |
| Immediate source of acquisition: | Donated by Helen Zatterberg and by Beth Stafford on behalf of Margaret H. Stafford. |
| Conditions governing use: | Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection. |
| Conditions governing access: | Materials are open without restrictions. |
| Preferred citation: | When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Helen Zatterberg Collection, [Box #, Folder #] or [Oversize Folder #], Northside Neighborhood History Collection, Chicago Public Library |
| Finding aid author: | Allyson Smally, 2022. |
Abstract
Helen Zatterberg (1902-2002) worked for Chicago Public Library from 1921 until her retirement in 1967. She founded the Ravenswood-Lake View Historical Association in 1935 and spent many years at Hild Regional Library before becoming Regional Librarian of the North Side in 1957. This collection contains personal papers; professional papers, mostly awards and honors; and photographs.
Biographical/Historical
Helen Zatterberg was born on July 1, 1902 to Martin and Pauline Zatterberg. She graduated from Chicago’s Lake View High School in 1920 and began working for Chicago Public Library in 1921. She spent her early years with the library at branches such as Rogers Park and Lake View before joining Hild Regional Library when it opened in 1931. In 1935, after a suggestion from library commissioner Carl Roden, Zatterberg founded the Ravenswood-Lake View Historical Association, and in the following years she played an important role in collecting and preserving local history. She became Branch Librarian at Hild in 1953. In 1955 she was promoted to Regional Librarian for the West Side, but she spent just two years in this position before returning to the North Side as Regional Librarian in 1957. Zatterberg retired from Chicago Public Library in 1967. After her retirement, she continued to live in Chicago and stayed involved with the Ravenswood-Lake View Historical Association. In 1995, the historical room at Sulzer Regional Library was named in her honor. Helen Zatterberg died in Chicago on September 12, 2002.
Scope and Contents
This collection contains awards and honors presented to Helen Zatterberg in recognition of her career at Chicago Public Library and work with the Ravenswood-Lake View Historical Association; a small amount of personal and family papers, including her memories of Lake View High School; clippings and obituaries; a few journal articles documenting Zatterberg’s work as a librarian; and a journal chronicling her local history reference and outreach efforts. It also contains photographs, including images of her early life and family and of celebrations held in her honor later in her life.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in 3 series:
Series 1: Personal and Family Papers, 1893-2002
Series 2: Professional Papers, 1933-2002
Series 3: Photographs, circa late 1800s-2002
Related Collections
Chicago Public Library Archives. Hild Regional Library Archives.
Subject headings
- Public librarians
- History—societies, etc – Illinois – Chicago
- Ravenswood (Chicago, Ill.)
- Lakeview (Chicago, Ill.)
Collection Inventory
Series 1: Personal and Family Papers, 1893-2002
Scope and Contents
This series contains a small amount of personal papers that document Helen Zatterberg’s family history, early years, and personal interests.
Arrangement
Alphabetically.
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | Art by Helen Zatterberg | undated |
| Oversize Folder 1 | Art by Helen Zatterberg | 1983, undated | |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | Badges, Chicago Department of Public Works and Fire Department | undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | Business cards and calling card, Martin Zatterberg and Mrs. Martin Zatterberg | undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | Certificates for volunteer service; greeting card for birthday | 1994-1998, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | Lake View High School memories for 1916-1920, handwritten | circa 1990s |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | Lake View High School scrapbook and yearbook pages | 1920 |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | Marriage certificate, Martin Zatterberg and Pauline Wagener | 1901 |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | Memorial booklet, Pauline C. Zatterberg | 1942 |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | Memorial service program, in memoriam sign, obituaries, and press release for Helen Zatterberg’s death | 2002 September |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | World’s Columbian Exposition and Century of Progress souvenirs and ephemera | 1893, 1933-1934 |
Series 2: Professional Papers, 1933-2002
Scope and Contents
This series contains awards and tributes given to Helen Zatterberg to celebrate her accomplishments with Chicago Public Library (CPL) and the Ravenswood-Lake View Historical Association (RLVHA). It also contains a few documents related to her work with CPL and RLVHA.
Arrangement
Alphabetically by document type and chronologically therein when necessary.
| Box 1 | Folder10 | Articles: “Young Moderns,” from Chicago Public Library Staff News; “Young Moderns’ Alcove,” from Library Journal; and “Local History is Asset in Branch,” from Library Journal | 1940, 1942, 1949 |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Awards and honors – testimonial from Board of Directors and Library Administration on Helen Zatterberg’s retirement | 1967 |
| Oversize Folder 3 | Awards and honors – framed citation from Ravenswood-Lake View Historical Association | 1967 | |
| Oversize Folder 4 | Awards and honors – plaque, Conrad Sulzer Memorial Award | 1982 | |
| Oversize Folder 5 | Awards and honors – resolution in honor of Helen Zatterberg from Chicago Public Library Board of Directors; framed with portrait of Helen Zatterberg and photograph of Ravenswood-Lake View Historical Association officers | 1937, 1949, 2002 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 21 | Awards and honors – congratulatory letters from local and national politicians for Helen Zatterberg, Mr. and Mrs. John Hoellen, the Ravenswood-Lake View Historical Association, and Sulzer Library | 1995 |
| Box 1 | Folder 12 | Awards and honors – 100th birthday celebration, program, invitation, clipping, publicity | 2002 May-July |
| Oversize Folder 2 | Awards and honors – 100th birthday celebration, scrapbook with program, clipping, City of Chicago resolution, and letters acknowledging Helen Zatterberg’s 100th birthday. Includes letters from Alderman Mary Ann Smith, Mayor Richard M. Daley, Governor George Ryan, and President George W. Bush. | 2002 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 13 | Awards and honors – “Miss Helen Zatterberg’s Century,” note and photographs | 2002 |
| Box 1 | Folder 14 | Booklet, “An Historical Sketch of Ravenswood and Lake View,” by Helen Zatterberg | 1941 |
| Box 1 | Folder 15 | Brochures, Chicago Public Library and local history | 1985, 1995, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | Clippings and copies of photographs | 1937, 1999, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 17 | Commemorative library card and letter; sash with names of librarians | 1974, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 18 | Journal/diary chronicling local history reference and outreach | 1933-1937 |
| Box 1 | Folder 19 | Journal/diary chronicling local history reference and outreach [photocopies] | 1933-1937 |
| Box 1 | Folder 20 | Typescript on history of Ravenswood | undated |
Series 3: Photographs, circa late 1800s-2002
Scope and Contents
This series contains a small number of Helen Zatterberg’s family photographs, most of which are unlabeled and undated. It also includes photographs of various events held in Helen Zatterberg’s honor later in her life. There are also a few images of homes that appear to be from the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. No addresses or dates were given for the images of homes.
Arrangement
Chronologically.
| Box 2 | Folder 1 | Residences, including Spafford House, Parker House, Mayor Whittle House, J.H. Reese, Bowmanville Farm House, and unidentified | circa late 1800s-early 1900s |
| Box 2 | Folder 2 | Family photographs – baby and man holding a baby | circa early 1900s |
| Box 2 | Folder 3 | Family photographs, framed | 1906, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 4 | Family photographs – Helen Zatterberg at various ages, and others [1 of 2; removed from album] | circa 1910s-1990s |
| Box 2 | Folder 5 | Family photographs – Helen Zatterberg at various ages, and others [2 of 2; removed from album] | circa 1910s-1990s |
| Box 2 | Folder 6 | Portrait of Helen Zatterberg; photograph of two people sitting outside | 1949, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 7 | Portrait of Helen Zatterberg | 1987 |
| Box 2 | Folder 8 | Ravenswood-Lake View Historical Association events, photographs and ephemera [removed from album] | 1993-2002 |
| Box 2 | Folder 9 | Historical room dedication program and photographs | 1995 |
| Box 2 | Folder 10 | Helen Zatterberg speaking at podium; events in Sulzer Library auditorium | 1995, 1998 |
| Box 2 | Folder 11 | Helen Zatterberg at her 97th birthday party | 1999 |
| Box 2 | Folder 12 | Lake View High School alumni group | 2002 |
| Box 2 | Folder 13 | Framed portrait photograph, unlabeled | undated |
