Historical Society of Woodlawn Records

Dates: 1937-circa 1965
Size: 1 linear foot in 2 boxes, including 10 photographs
Repository: Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60605
Collection Number: spe.hsw
Immediate Source of Acquisition: Funded by the Scholl Foundation, the collection was transferred from the Historical Society of Woodlawn during the summer of 1984.
Conditions Governing Access: Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use: Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection.
Preferred Citation: When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Historical Society of Woodlawn Records [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library.
Finding Aid Author: Original author unknown. Processed, 1989. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Johanna Russ, 2021.

Abstract

The Records of the Historical Society of Woodlawn consist of financial records, minutes of meetings, membership rosters, printed materials and news clippings.

Biographical/Historical

Founded in 1937 and active until the mid-1960s, the Historical Society of Woodlawn (HSW) took as its mission the preservation of Woodlawn’s historical record. Staffed by volunteer community members, the HSW actively accessioned, cataloged and preserved Woodlawn’s neighborhood history. Over the years, HSW members have written numerous historical essays concerning Woodlawn’s development. In addition to collecting neighborhood history, the HSW sponsored annual dinners each May, guest lecturers throughout the year and held membership in both the Illinois Historical Society and the Associated Clubs of Woodlawn. The HSW disbanded sometime around 1965.

Scope and Contents

The Records of the HSW consist of financial records, minutes of meetings, membership rosters, printed materials and news clippings. The predominant years represented in the collection extend from the early 1940s to the late 1950s. Administrative files include correspondence, certificates, constitution and by-laws, financial records and minutes of meetings. One narrative history of Woodlawn’s early years appears. News clippings document some of HSW’s activities from 1935 to 1946, as well as provide biographical information about some HSW officers and members. Printed materials such as poems, programs and meeting announcements, and song books are included in the collection. Finally, photographs depicting HSW meetings and members appear.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged alphabetically by format and either alphabetically or chronologically within.

Separated Materials

The following materials have been removed to the locations given.

  • Rubber stamp by Progress Stamps Works, Chicago, reading “Historical Society of Woodlawn.” Moved to Special Collections Artifacts
  • Fifty-eight lantern slides of Chicago parks and Civil War images. Moved to Frank W. Smith Glass Plate Slide Collection, Supplement 8. (Slides #987-1044)
  • Twenty-four lantern slides, New Salem, Illinois, 1920s. Moved to Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site Petersburg, IL 62675
  • Two lantern slides, Bryant Cottage, Bement, Illinois (Lincoln-Douglas debates). Moved to Bryant Cottage State Historic Site, Bement, IL 61813

Subjects

  • Historical Society of Woodlawn (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Woodlawn (Chicago, Ill.)

Related Materials

Collection Inventory

Box 1 Folder 1 Administrative - Certificates, forms and stationery, undated
Box 1 Folder 2 Administrative - Constitution and by-laws, circa 1939
Box 1 Folder 3 Administrative - Correspondence, 1945-1967
Box 1 Folder 4 Administrative - Directories, 1940-1941; 1943-1944; 1946-1947; 1948-1949; 1950-1951
Box 1 Folder 5 Administrative - Financial Records, bank statements and canceled checks, 1952-1953
Box 1 Folder 6 Administrative - Financial records, treasurer’s reports, 1948-1957
Box 1 Folder 7 Administrative - Meeting announcements, 1938-1964
Box 1 Folder 8-9 Administrative - Meeting attendance lists, 1938-1944, 1944-1957
Box 1 Folder 10 Administrative - Minutes of meetings, 1950-1966
Box 1 Folder 11 Historical Essays - The Book of Woodlawn, by John C. Spray (see also: Woodlawn Community Collection Box 1, Folder), 1920
Box 1 Folder 12 News clippings, 1935-1938
Box 1 Folder 13 News clippings, 1935-1944
Box 1 Folder 14 News clippings, 1946 February 17
nhrc Shared Photo Box 4 Photograph 1.1 Photograph - Historical Society of Woodlawn, board members, 1938-1939, 1940
nhrc Shared Photo Box 4 Photograph 1.2 Photograph - Historical Society of Woodlawn, historical costumes meeting, 1940
nhrc Shared Photo Box 4 Photograph 1.3 Photograph - Historical Society of Woodlawn, meeting at Illinois Bell, undated
nhrc Shared Photo Box 4 Photograph 1.4 Photograph - Historical Society of Woodlawn, meeting at Illinois Bell, undated
nhrc Shared Photo Box 4 Photograph 1.5 Photograph - Historical Society of Woodlawn, meeting at Illinois Bell, undated
nhrc Shared Photo Box 4 Photograph 1.6 Photograph - Historical Society of Woodlawn, meeting at Illinois Bell, undated
nhrc Shared Photo Box 4 Photograph 1.7 Photograph - Historical Society of Woodlawn, meeting, 1944
nhrc Shared Photo Box 4 Photograph 1.8 Photograph - Historical Society of Woodlawn, meeting, 1944
nhrc Shared Photo Box 4 Photograph 1.9 Photograph - Historical Society of Woodlawn, meeting, 1944
nhrc Shared Photo Box 4 Photograph 1.10 Photograph - Historical Society of Woodlawn, meeting, 1944
Box 1 Folder 15 Printed materials - Instruction booklets, 1964-1964
Box 1 Folder 16 Printed materials - Poem, “Historical,” by Minnie Moreland Dow, undated
Box 1 Folder 17 Printed materials - Program, Presentation by Richard B. Truitt, 1961 May 14
Box 1 Folder 18 Printed materials - Programs, song books and meeting announcements, 1954-1959
Box 1 Folder 19 Printed materials - Song, “Woodlawn, Dear Old Woodlawn,” by John C. Spray (see also: Woodlawn Community Collection Box 1, Folder), 1929
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