Jefferson Township Collection

Dates: 1874-1987
Size: .25 linear feet in 1 box
Repository: Chicago Public Library, Sulzer Regional Library, Northside Neighborhood History Collection, 4455 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625
Collection Number: nnhc.00035
Immediate source of acquisition: The material in this collection was originally part of the Ravenswood-Lake View Community Collection. It was removed to form a separate collection by archivist Becky Haglund Touhy in 1990.
Conditions governing use: Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from this collection
Conditions governing access: Materials are open without restrictions
Preferred citation: When quoting from this collection the preferred citation is: Jefferson Township Collection, [Box #, Folder #], Northside Neighborhood History Collection, Chicago Public Library
Finding aid author: Becky Haglund Touhy, 1990. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Julie Lynch, 2021
Revision history Edited by Julie Lynch for compliance with DACS

Abstract

Jefferson Township spans the area between Harlem Avenue on the west, and Western Avenue on the east, and the area between North Avenue on the south and Devon Avenue on the north. This small collection contains brief historical information about community areas in the section of the city known as Jefferson Township, including: Albany Park, Edgebrook, Forest Glen, Irving Park, Jefferson Park, Logan Square and North Park.
 

Biographical/Historical

Native Americans lived in this area of the northwest side of Chicago for many years before Europeans began to arrive in the 1830s. Jefferson Township was founded in 1850. In 1872, the northwest corner of Jefferson Township became part of Norwood Park Township, and it remains an independent township to this day. The remainder of Jefferson Township was annexed to Chicago in 1889.

Scope and Contents

The materials in this collection provide information about life what life was like in Jefferson Township. It consists mostly of biographical and historical sketches, with a small amount of news clippings and reports. The following community areas are represented in this collection: Albany Park; Forest Glen; Irving Park; Jefferson Park; Logan Square; and North Park.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into five series: biographical; business establishments; cemeteries; historical sketches; and parks. The material in each series is arranged alphabetically.

Series 1: Biographical, 1897, 1937, undated

This series contains biographical data and reminiscences from early settlers who lived in Jefferson Township before annexation.

Series 2: Business Establishments, 1891

This series contains a program and advertisement book from Irving Hall.

Series 3: Cemeteries, 1986, undated

This series contains a historical sketch and one news clipping about Mount Olive Cemetery.

Series 4: Historical Sketches, 1874-1987

This series contains historical sketches of the Albany Park, Edgebrook, Forest Glen, Irving Park, Jefferson Park, Logan Square and North Park neighborhoods.

Series 5: Parks, 1918

This series contains a news clipping from the Chicago Tribune that mentions Brands Park.

Related collections

Logan Square Community Collection

Nadig Newspaper Collection

Ravenswood – Lake View Community Collection

Ravenswood Manor Improvement Association Records

Subject headings

  • Neighborhoods — Illinois — Chicago.
  • Albany Park (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Edgebrook (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Forest Glen (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Irving Park (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Jefferson Park (Chicago, Ill.
  • Logan Square (Chicago, Ill.)
  • North Park (Chicago, Ill.)

Collection inventory

Series 1: Biographical, 1897, 1937, 1939, undated

Box 1 Folder 1 Argo, Sarah, biographical sketch about her life in Albany Park, undated
Box 1 Folder 1 Downing, Daniel (born 1816), biographical sketch of owner of Sunnyside Hotel, undated
Box 1 Folder 1 Dymond, Franklin P., biographical sketch of Dymond family, Waukegan News, 1937 July 24
Box 1 Folder 1 Erz, Reverend Mathias, biographical sketch of pastor of St. Matthias Catholic Church, undated
Box 1 Folder 2 Knappstein, John, biographical sketch of early Jefferson Park resident, undated
Box 1 Folder 2 Lavin, Mrs. H., biographical sketch of early Albany Park resident, undated
Box 1 Folder 2 Ostwald, Mr. & Mrs., biographical sketch of early Irving Park residents, undated
Box 1 Folder 3 Ristow, Julius (born 1845), biographical sketch of Bowmanville florist, Album of Genealogy and Biography Cook County, Illinois, 1897
Box 1 Folder 3 Rusk, Richard (born 1838), biographical sketch of early Albany Park resident and race track owner, undated
Box 1 Folder 4 Spikings, William H. (born 1848), biographical sketch of owner of a construction company in Albany Park, undated
Box 1 Folder 4 Tryon, L.C., biographical sketch of Albany Park real estate agent, 1939

Series 2: Business Establishments, 1891

Box 1 Folder 5 Irving Hall, Irving Park, Ill. program and advertisement book, 1891

Series 3: Cemeteries, 1986, undated

Box 1 Folder 6 Mount Olive Cemetery, historical sketch, undated
Box 1 Folder 6 Mount Olive Cemetery, news clipping, 1986 July 10

Series 4: Historical Sketches, 1874-1987, undated

Box 1 Folder 7 Albany Park, community history by Inez C. Ader, 1944 September
Box 1 Folder 8

Edgebrook, “Old Edgebrook District,” Committee On Chicago

Landmarks, 1987 October

Box 1 Folder 8 Edgebrook, news clipping, “Old Edgebrook moves closer to landmark status,” by K.O. Dawes, undated
Box 1 Folder 9 Jefferson, “Jefferson,” in Chicago and Its Suburbs, 1874
Box 1 Folder 9 Jefferson Park, news clippings, undated
Box 1 Folder 9 Jefferson Park, "Jefferson Park," in Chicago Tribune supplement, 1986 August 6
Box 1 Folder 9 Jefferson Township, “A Home in the Country: Suburbanization in Jefferson Township, 1870-1889,” Chicago History, volume VII number 3, 1978
Box 1 Folder 10 Irving Park, “Irving Park,” Chicago and Its Suburbs, 1874
Box 1 Folder 10 Logan Square, “History of the Early Greater Logan Square District,” by Marion Roberts, undated
Box 1 Folder 11 North Park, Historical sketch on North Park District featuring information about North Park, Forest Glen, and Albany Park, undated
Box 1 Folder 11 North Park, “North Park: A Study in Community,” by Anita R. Olson, 1985 June

Series 5: Parks, 1918

Box 1 Folder 12 Brands Park, news clipping “Pioneer Citizens Meet at Picnic Tomorrow,” Chicago Tribune, 1918 August 4
Print this page