| Dates: | 1929-1984 (Bulk dates: 1934-1953) |
| Size: | 3 linear feet in 6 boxes, including 31 photographs |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60605 |
| Collection Number: | spe-nhrc-lcha |
| Immediate Source of Acquisition: | Transferred from Chicago Public Library, Toman Branch in the 1980s as part of a Dr. Scholl Foundation grant. The photographs with the prefix “2” were transferred from Chicago Public Library, Toman Branch in 1991. |
| 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: Lawndale-Crawford Historical Association Records [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library. |
| Finding Aid Author: | Original author unknown, 1983. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Michelle McCoy, 2021 |
Abstract
The collection includes organization files, local history materials, photographs and a scrapbook of news clippings gathered and created by the Lawndale-Crawford Historical Association.
Biographical/Historical
In December 1934, librarians of the John Toman Branch Library of Chicago Public Library placed two 19th century neighborhood photographs on display and encouraged residents to work with the library on an historical association. On December 13, 30 people gathered at the library to hear Peter Ritzma, Charles Ebright, Arthur Bliss and others speak about their recollections of the development of the neighborhood. The Lawndale-Crawford Historical Association was incorporated by the state on September 16, 1935.
The Association and the Library worked on a number of community projects and activities, including two publications, The Old Families of Lawndale and Crawford (1935) and An Experiment in Friendship (1937). In addition, many local histories were written, including the History of Lawndale-Crawford (1952). The Association worked with the Library to collect photographs, manuscripts, printed items and memorabilia. Annual meetings were held traditionally on September 26, the birthday of Peter Crawford, who had an early farm in the area. The last annual meeting was held in 1984.
Scope and Contents
The collection includes correspondence, directories, essays, meeting materials, news clippings, photographs, questionnaires, research and other the organizational files gathered and created by The Lawndale-Crawford Historical Association (LCHA) to document the community’s history.
Local history materials (including photographs) that were collected by the Association have been cataloged as part of the Lawndale-Crawford Community Collection.
Arrangement
The Lawndale-Crawford Historical Association Records is arranged into 2 Series: Series 1: Documents, 1929-1984, undated and Series 2: Photographs, 1934-circa 1977, undated.
Separations
The Lawndale-Crawford Historical Association prepared a lantern slide show of historical community images for presentations. Their glass plate slides were numbered 1 to 68. Photographic prints (8″ x 10″) were made for most of these images and numbered in accordance with the slides. Only 30 glass plate negatives are still available.
The slides and prints were cataloged as part of the Lawndale-Crawford Community Collection (LCCC) in 1983. The slides were reprocessed in 1990 to align with their corresponding prints. The following list refernces the LCCC Photograph number for each LCHS slide in the original order. A glass plate negative is available for items with an asterisk (*).
- Slide 1 (LCCC Photograph 4.20a*), Farms in Lawndale-Crawford, map, (Box 4, Folder 20a)
- Slide 2 (LCCC Photograph 1.234), Crawford, Peter (1796-1876), undated
- Slide 3 (LCCC Photograph 1.235), Crawford, Sophronia, (wife of Peter) circa 1870
- Slide 4 (LCCC Photograph 1.229), Crawford, Peter, Mrs. John Crawford, and son John in carriage, circa 1850
- Slide 5 (LCCC Photograph 1.394*), Smith Farm, Ogden and Springfield Avenues, 1884
- Slide 6 (LCCC Photograph 3.2*), Ritzma, Peter, farm, 22nd Street and Crawford Avenue, 1863
- Slide 7 (LCCC Photograph 1.661*), Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, early engine, undated
- Slide 8 (LCCC Photograph 1.663*), Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Crawford Station, exterior, 1890
- Slide 9 (LCCC Photograph 1.664*), Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Crawford Station, interior, circa 1890
- Slide 10 (LCCC Photograph 1.662*), Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, train wreck at Hamlin Avenue, 1906
- Slide 11 (LCCC Photograph 1.2), Aggen's Greenhouse, 25th Street and Kolin Avenue, farm, circa 1910
- Slide 12 (LCCC Photograph 2.4*), John Crawford home, corner of Keeler and Ogden, undated
- Slide 13 (LCCC Photograph 1.430*), Broadway home, 25th and Keeler, circa 1890
- Slide 14 (LCCC Photograph 1.529), Lawndale School, Crawford Branch, exterior, 1876
- Slide 15 (LCCC Photograph 1.532*), Lawndale School, Crawford Branch, class photo, 1885
- Slide 16 (LCCC Photograph 1.533), Lawndale School, Crawford Branch, class photo, 1891
- Slide 17 (LCCC Photograph 1.6), Barth’s Post Office and Store, Keeler Avenue, 1893
- Slide 18 (LCCC Photograph 1.309), Rufus Norton, Crawford mailman, 1904
- Slide 19 (LCCC Photograph 1.676*), U.S. mail car (Chicago Union Traction), Crawford Avenue, circa 1909
- Slide 20 (LCCC Photograph 1.14*), Lloyd’s Drug Store, 26th Street and Karlov Avenue, undated
- Slide 21 (LCCC Photograph 1.29), Patsy Stoke’s Saloon, 26th Street and Crawford Avenue, undated
- Slide 22 (LCCC Photograph 1.15*), Nick Madge’s Barber Shop, 26th Street and Crawford Avenue, 1902
- Slide 23 (LCCC Photograph 1.7*), Charles Broadway, D.D.S., Ridgeway and Ogden Avenues, interior of dental office, undated
- Slide 24 (LCCC Photograph 1.294), The Crawford Trio, Lunn, Harry, One lung Crosby, Charlie Carlton, circa 1890
- Slide 25 (LCCC Photograph 1.101), Crawford Baptist Church, 25th and Kedvale, exterior, undated
- Slide 26 (LCCC Photograph 1.105*), Crawford Congregational Church, 26th Street and Keeler Avenue, 1895
- Slide 27 (LCCC Photograph 1.114), Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, exterior, 1885
- Slide 28 (LCCC Photograph 1.646), 25th Street, looking west from Keeler Avenue, circa 1900
- Slide 29 (LCCC Photograph 1.592), Funeral procession, Keeler between 25th Street and 25th Place, circa 1890
- Slide 30 (LCCC Photograph 4.20*), Shedd Park, 23rd Street and Lawndale Avenue, 1875
- Slide 31 (LCCC Photograph 3.3*), Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Millard Avenue Station, undated
- Slide 32 (LCCC Photograph 1.250*), Robert K. Gowenlock, first postman in Lawndale, circa 1890
- Slide 32b (LCCC Photograph 1.541), St. Ludmilla School, 1900 (originally Slide 67)
- Slide 33 (LCCC Photograph 1.443*), George Smith home, 18th Street and Central Park, 1885
- Slide 34 (LCCC Photograph 1.608*), Millard Avenue, north from Ogden, 1890
- Slide 35 (LCCC Photograph 1.608*), Millard Avenue, north from Ogden, 1905
- Slide 36 (LCCC Photograph 1.404*), Millard, A. C. home, 22nd Street and Lawndale Avenue, undated
- Slide 37 (LCCC Photograph 1.406), Smith, A. C. home, 23rd Street and Lawndale Avenue, circa 1890
- Slide 38 (LCCC Photograph 1.402), Albro, E. S. home, 22nd Street and Millard Avenue, undated
- Slide 39 (LCCC Photograph 1.389), Orvis, E. G. home, Ogden and Central Park Avenues, undated
- Slide 40 (LCCC Photograph 1.599) Double-decker street car, Lawndale Avenue, circa 1899
- Slide 41 (LCCC Photograph 1.127*) Millard Avenue Baptist Church, 24th Street and Millard Avenue, 1890
- Slide 42 (LCCC Photograph 1.121*) Millard Avenue Baptist, Larned Meacham’s Sunday school class, 1900
- Slide 43 (LCCC Photograph 1.138*) Millard Avenue Congregational Church, 23rd Street and Central Park Avenue, undated
- Slide 44 (LCCC Photograph 1.97*) Young Ladies’ Sodality of the Blessed Sacrament (missing), 1897
- Slide 45 (LCCC Photograph 1.110*) Fowler Methodist Episcopal Church, 1895
- Slide 46 (LCCC Photograph 1.509) Lawndale School, class picture, 1890
- Slide 47 (LCCC Photograph 1.510) Lawndale School, class picture, 1891
- Slide 48 (LCCC Photograph 1.417) Burns School picnic, 1905
- Slide 49 (LCCC Photograph 1.40) Tebbett’s Hall/Tennes Barber Shop, 22nd Street and Millard Avenue, circa 1890
- Slide 50 (LCCC Photograph 1.31) Tebbett's Coal Company, 2222 S. Millard Avenue, coal yard, 1885
- Slide 51 (LCCC Photograph 1.21) Millard Avenue Hotel, [Wells Hotel?], exterior, circa 1890
- Slide 52 (LCCC Photograph 3.1*) Wood, John, first grocer in Lawndale, circa 1900
- Slide 53 (LCCC Photograph 1.11) William Holmes Grocery and Market, Millard Avenue, exterior, circa 1900
- Slide 54 (LCCC Photograph 1.378) Bliss home, 2410 S. Millard Avenue, circa 1889
- Slide 55 (LCCC Photograph 1.216*), Baldwin, Charles and Florence Kinder, on a tandem, 1898
- Slide 56 (LCCC Photograph 1.261*), Hawkins, Alice and Arthur Hoskings, Millard Avenue, circa 1890
- Slide 57 (LCCC Photograph 1.168), Pest House and Isolation Hospital, 34th Street and Lawndale Avenue, 1890
- Slide 58 (LCCC Photograph 1.42*), Western Electric Company, Cicero Avenue and Cermak Road, construction, 1906
- Slide 59 (LCCC Photograph 1.219*), Belsky, John, organizer of first Lawndale Fire Department, undated
- Slide 60 (LCCC Photograph 1.671), Fire Department, Ridgeway Station, engine pumper, circa 1905
- Slide 61 (LCCC Photograph 1.670), Fire Department, horse drawn engine #7, 1905
- Slide 62 (LCCC Photograph 3.4), [West Chicago Street Railroad], Horse car pulling out of Ogden Avenue barn, undated
- Slide 63 (LCCC Photograph 1.656), 26th Street and Keeler Avenue, streetcar, 1906
- Slide 64 (LCCC Photograph 1.652), 26th Street, looking east from Cicero, 1890
- Slide 67 (no photograph), Original number of 32b
- Slide 68, (LCCC Photograph 1.447*), Blessed Agnes School, exterior, 1906
Subject Headings
- History--societies, etc -- Illinois -- Chicago
- Lawndale-Crawford Historical Association (Chicago, Ill.) -- Archives
- North Lawndale (Chicago, Ill.)
- South Lawndale (Chicago, Ill.)
Related Materials
- Girl Scouts of America #427 Records
- Lawndale-Crawford Community Collection
- Lawndale-Crawford Historical Association Records
- North Lawndale Community Collection
- O’Quinn Family Papers
- Faith Rich Papers
- South Lawndale Community Collection
- Toman Branch Library Collection (Chicago Public Library Archives)
Collection Inventory
Series 1: Documents, 1929-1984, undated
Scope and Contents
Series 1 documents the Association’s meetings, historical research gathering and programs. The files include correspondence to and from Association and Board members, principally with Chicago Public Library Toman Branch librarian Helen Hamel. The correspondence with John A. Ouska highlights the history of the community and its early settlers. Other resources of note include the alphabetical 5”x7” card files (Boxes 3-4) contain historical notes that were compiled from questionnaire returns and the research of librarian Marie Stampen and the Association’s scrapbook (Box 5) that contains news clippings, meeting notices and event ephemera from 1929 to 1948.
Arrangement
Series 1 is arranged alphabetically by type of material.
| Box 1 | Folder 18 | 50th anniversary meeting, news clippings, 1984 |
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | Annual meetings, minutes, reports, speeches, 1936, 1952, 1953, 1968 |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | Certificate of Incorporation, 1935 September 16 |
| Box 3 | Community history card file - cards A-L, circa 1937-1939 | |
| Box 4 | Community history card file - cards M-Z, circa 1937-1939 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | Community questionnaire, circa 1937-1939 |
| Box 1 | Folder 19 | Correspondence - A, 1936-1937 |
| Box 1 | Folder 20 | Correspondence - B, 1934-1937, 1949 |
| Box 1 | Folder 21 | Correspondence - C, 1934-1937, 1942, 1949, 1957, 1972 |
| Box 1 | Folder 22 | Correspondence - D, 1935-1937 |
| Box 1 | Folder 23 | Correspondence - E, 1934-1936 |
| Box 1 | Folder 24 | Correspondence - F, 1935-1937, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 25 | Correspondence - G, 1936-1939 |
| Box 1 | Folder 26 | Correspondence - H, 1934-1938, 1945, 1950, 1952, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 27 | Correspondence - I-J, 1937, 1948, 1967, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 28 | Correspondence - K, 1935-1937, 1941, 1949-1950 |
| Box 1 | Folder 29 | Correspondence - L, 1934-1937 |
| Box 2 | Folder 1 | Correspondence - M, 1935-1938, 1941, 1949-1951, 1953 |
| Box 2 | Folder 2 | Correspondence - Meacham, Larned E., 1936-1953 |
| Box 2 | Folder 3 | Correspondence - N, 1935-1936, 1941, 1950 |
| Box 2 | Folder 4 | Correspondence - O, 1935-1938 |
| Box 2 | Folder 5 | Correspondence - Ouska, John A., 1937 |
| Box 2 | Folder 6 | Correspondence - Ouska, John A., 1938 |
| Box 2 | Folder 7 | Correspondence - Ouska, John A., 1939 |
| Box 2 | Folder 8 | Correspondence - P, 1934-1938, 1945, 1950, 1952 |
| Box 2 | Folder 9 | Correspondence - R, 1935-1938, 1952-1953 |
| Box 2 | Folder 10 | Correspondence - S, 1934-1937, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 11 | Correspondence - T, 1936, 1954, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 12 | Correspondence - U, 1937, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 13 | Correspondence - V, 1935-1937, 1949 |
| Box 2 | Folder 14 | Correspondence - W, 1935-1938 |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | Directory, “Old Families of Lawndale & Crawford,” 1935 |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | Directory, “An Experiment in Friendship,” circa 1937 |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | Directory, typescript, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | Directory, typescript, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | Historical essays, notes, sketches, 1935-1940 |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | History of Lawndale-Crawford, 1952 |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 | Local historical societies, report on meetings, 1939, 1941 |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Membership questionnaire - A-C, 1949 |
| Box 1 | Folder 12 | Membership questionnaire - D-L, 1949 |
| Box 1 | Folder 13 | Membership questionnaire - M-R, 1949 |
| Box 1 | Folder 14 | Membership questionnaire - S-Z, 1949 |
| Box 1 | Folder 15 | [See Oversize Folder 1, news clippings, 1935-1962] |
| Oversize Folder 1 | News clippings, 1935-1962 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | Programs, announcements and flyers, 1934-1978 |
| Box 5 | Scrapbook, 1929-1948 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 17 | Song sheets, undated |
Series 2: Photographs, 1934-circa 1977, undated
Scope and Contents
Series 2 contains photographs that document members, meetings and exhibits. The photographs with the prefix “2” were likely used for a meeting associated with the 75th anniversary of Blessed [St.] Agnes Catholic Church at 2651 S. Central Park. The meeting was held in the Toman Branch Library. These images were transferred from Chicago Public Library, Toman Branch in 1991.
Arrangement
Series 2 is arranged alphabetically by event or location.
| Box 6 | Photograph 1.1 | First meeting, 1934 December 13 [3 copies; Copy 3 is from collections of West Side Historical Society] |
| Box 6 | Photograph 1.2 | Annual meeting, group photo, 1939 September 25 |
| Box 6 | Photograph 1.3 | Annual meeting, group photo, 1939 September 25 |
| Box 6 | Photograph 1.4 | Annual meeting, group photo, 1940 September 26 |
| Box 6 | Photograph 1.5 | Annual meeting, officers, 1940 September 26 |
| Box 6 | Photograph 1.6 | Annual meeting, 1944 September 30 |
| Box 6 | Photograph 1.7 | Annual meeting, officers, 1947 October 8 |
| Box 6 | Photograph 1.8 | Annual meeting, members, 1948 October 21 |
| Box 6 | Photograph 1.9 | Annual meeting, Larend Meacham, President, 1949 October 27 |
| Box 6 | Photograph 1.10 | Annual meeting, officers, 1949 October 27 |
| Box 6 | Photograph 1.11 | Annual meeting, members, 1949 October 27 |
| Box 6 | Photograph 1.12 | Annual meeting, Shedd Park Square Dance Group, 1949 October 27 |
| Box 6 | Photograph 1.13 | Annual meeting, 1951 September 26 |
| Box 6 | Photograph 1.14 | Annual meeting, guest speakers, 1957 October 10 |
| Box 6 | Photograph 2.1 | Blessed Agnes Church, exterior, front and tower, circa 1977 |
| Box 6 | Photograph 2.2 | Blessed Agnes Church, exterior, side and tower, circa 1977 |
| Box 6 | Photograph 2.3 | Blessed Agnes Church, exterior, front, circa 1977 |
| Box 6 | Photograph 2.4 | Blessed Agnes Church, exterior, front, circa 1977 |
| Box 6 | Photograph 2.5 | Meeting at Toman Branch Library, circa 1970s |
| Box 6 | Photograph 2.6 | Meeting at Toman Branch Library, meeting attendees, right side of room, circa 1970s |
| Box 6 | Photograph 2.7 | Meeting at Toman Branch Library, meeting attendees, left side of room, circa 1970s |
| Box 6 | Photograph 2.8 | Meeting at Toman Branch Library, introduction of unidentified speaker, circa 1970s |
| Box 6 | Photograph 2.9 | Meeting at Toman Branch Library, unidentified speaker, circa 1970s |
| Box 6 | Photograph 2.10 | Meeting at Toman Branch Library, speaker giving Blessed Agnes Church lecture, circa 1970s |
| Box 6 | Photograph 2.11 | Meeting at Toman Branch Library, speaker giving Blessed Agnes Church lecture, circa 1970s |
| Box 6 | Photograph 2.12 | Meeting at Toman Branch Library, speaker giving Blessed Agnes Church lecture, circa 1970s |
| Box 6 | Photograph 2.13 | Meeting at Toman Branch Library, speaker giving Blessed Agnes Church lecture, circa 1970s |
| Box 6 | Photograph 2.14 | Meeting at Toman Branch Library, reception after Blessed Agnes Church lecture, circa 1970s |
| Box 6 | Photograph 2.15 | Meeting at Toman Branch Library, reception after Blessed Agnes Church lecture, circa 1970s |
| Box 6 | Photograph 1.15 | Second Federal Savings Bank exhibit, “Historical Old Lawndale-Crawford,” 1934 |
| Box 6 | Photograph 1.16 | Second Federal Savings Bank exhibit, “Historical Old Lawndale-Crawford,” 1934 |
