Peoria History
From Library Reference
Peoria History Research Guide
As the oldest continuously settled site in the state of Illinois, Peoria and its environs have a rich past worthy of research. Although there is as yet no single comprehensive study, a number of useful books have been published within the past few years which can provide the beginning student with the necessary overview. Most are readily available in local libraries and bookstores.
Adams, Bill. Bill Adams' Yester Days. 3 vols. 1992-1994. REF. F549.P4 A32 & F549.P4 A32 & SPEC. F549.P4 A32 (Special Collections) Copies are available in the circulating collection in the basement, on the 1st floor in Reference, and on the 3rd floor in Special Collections.
Bobbitt, Charles. Peoria, Illinois Revisited In Vintage Postcards. 2000. SPEC. F549.P4 B635 2000
Brignall, Douglas. Peoria Firefighters: A Proud History. 1999. OVSIZE. TH9505 .P4 1999 & SPEC. TH9505 .P4 1999
Franke, Judith. French Peoria and the Illinois Country. 1995. OVSIZE. F549.P4 F731995 & SPEC. F549.P4 F731995
Klein, Jerry. Peoria Industry: A Pictorial History. 1997. REF. F549.P4 K57 1997 & SPEC F549.P4 K57 1997
- Century of Music: The Peoria Symphony Orchestra. 1997. SPEC. ML421.P4 .K51997
Ogg, Brian. Wish You Were Here: Peoria Edition. 1997. REF. F549.P4 O5 1997 & SPEC.F549.P4 O5 1997
- Peoria Spirits: The Story of Peoria's Brewing and Distilling Industries. 1997. OVSIZE. HD9357 .P4 & REF. HD9357 .P4 & SPEC. HD9357 .P4
Peoria Journal Star. Peoria: Impressions of 150 Years. 1995. REF. F549.P4 P42 & SPEC. F549.P4 P42
Smallwood, Arwin. Blacks At Bradley 1897-2000. 2001. LD571.B34 S54 2001 & SPEC. BPI. LD571.B34 S54 2001
Streight, Steven. Bicycle Fever: Peoria Bicycle Races from the 1890's to the 1990s. 1990. OVSIZE. GV1049 .S78 & SPEC. GV1049 .S78
Stuttle, Rosemary. Healing, Teaching, Caring: 100 Years with Methodist Medical Center of Illinois. 2000. (Special Collections)
Wheeler, Monica Vest. Peoria Business: A Pictorial History. 1998. REF. F549.P4 W6 1998 & SPEC. F549.P4 W6 1998
- Peoria Entertainment: A Pictorial History. 2000. REF F549. P4 W66 2000 & SPEC F549. P4 W66 2000
- Beyond the mountaintop : a history of the Itoo Society SPEC. F549.P4 W67 2004
- Reading,Writing, And Religion: A Pictorial History of Peoria Schools and Churches. 1999. REF. F549.P45 W65 1999 & REF. F549.P45 W65 1999
- The Grandest Views: A History of the Peoria Park District. 1994 REF. GV182 W54 1994 & SPEC. GV182 W54 1994
- With the greatest care and love : a 125th anniversary history of OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Illinois, and The Sisters of the Third Order of St.Francis. SPEC. F549.P4 W6 2002
Resources Not Widely Available
Where no call number is indicated, check with Special Collections
309-677-2822
Media
WCBU FM. Why Did They Come? 26 taped programs with scripts featuring professional and lay historians covering not only settlers and ethnic groups but also business, industry, religion, education, and culture. 1983.
WTVP and Peoria Journal Star. "Legacy Series" Televised interviews with 12 central Illinois residents who made a significant contribution to their community and /or country. Raw footage on Betacam and edited programs on VHS. 1999-2000.
Published Histories
Where no call number is indicated, check with Special Collections
American Institute of Architects. Central Illinois Chapter. Peoria One, Downtown, Pre-1920. 1980 SPEC. NA108.P4 P42
- Peoria Two, East/West Bluff, Pre-1940. 1981 SPEC. NA108.P4 P43
- Peoria Three, North Side, Pre-1940. n.d.
- Peoria Four, South Side, Pre-1940. n.d.
May, George. Student's History of Peoria County, Illinois. 1968. SPEC.F547.P4 M3
Balance, Charles. History of Peoria, Illinois. 1870. SPEC. F549.P4 B2
Bateman, Newton, Paul Selby, and David McCulloch. Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Peoria County. 1902. REF. F547.P4 B3 & SPEC. F547.P4 B3
Bess, Frederick. Eine Populare Geshichte der Stadt Peoria. 1906.
Johnson and Company. The History of Peoria County Illinois. 1880.
The history of Peoria County, Illinois : containing a history of the Northwest--history of Illinois--history of the county, its early settlement, growth,development, resources, etc., etc. ... REF. F547.P4 H61981
Rice, James. History of Peoria City and County. 1912 REF. F549.P4 R3 & SPEC. SPEC. F549.P4 R3
Slane, Odillon. Reminscences of Early Peoria. 1933.
Zotz, Alois. Achtzehn Jahre In Peoria. 1869 Microfilm, SPEC.F549.P4 Z6 1869
City Directories
Virtually complete run from 1844 to the present, is available in Special Collections. Most City Directories are cross-indexed by occupation, business, and address.
Recent editions are in the Reference & Circulating collections.
Peoria (Peoria County, Ill.) city directory. REF. F549.P4 A18
- Note: EARLIER EDITIONS SHELVED AT OVSIZE.F549.P4A18 IN BASEMENT
Special Collections Vertical Files
The University and the Peoria Historical Society have vertical files totaling over 125 combined linear feet. Arrangement is by subjects such as family, street, and building names, as well as business and organization type. Files may include newspaper clippings, original documents, letters, typescripts, images, trade catalogs and pamphlets.
WPA Newspaper Index
Cites and abstracts articles appearing in fifteen area newspapers between 1834 and 1864. Full text is on microfilm available at Peoria Public Library.
Special Collections Atlases & Maps
Early county atlases frequently include illustrations of homes and busineses. Collection also includes original Sanborn Fire Insurance maps from 1891 and 1928 atlases with pasted in updates extending through the 1940's as well as microfilm for 1902. Sanborn's are important sources of information on land ownership and usage, streets, utilities, commercial development, and residential structures.
Special Collections Photographic Images
Collection currently holds over 25,000 images both positive and negative on media ranging from glass plate and nitrate base negatives through metal plates, paper prints, slide film, and optical disc. Subjects include people, structures (including interiors), transportation, activities, events, and street scenes. Some images date back to the Civil War but most are from the first half of the twentieth century. Many images are unidentified or have only partial data. Inventories of selected groups of images are available but no master index exists as yet.
Special Collections-Manuscripts
CHASE COLLECTIONS
Approximately 2,500 letters by and to Episcopal Bishop Philander Chase, his family and persons associated with Jubilee College. Covers period from 1836 to 1870 and is indexed by name, date, and place.
Online Indexes & Databases
NOTE: These are subscription databases and require Bradley login and password for off-campus access.
Historical Abstracts. Indexes world history journals and some other publications. Maximum 6 simultaneous users. Please try later if busy.
JSTOR. Archive of scholarly journals
Project MUSE. Full Text. Mid or late 1990s to current. About 200 electronic journals, with emphasis on humanities and social sciences.
All Subjects/Multidisciplinary indexes and databases.
The Peoria Journal Star is included in both Factiva and Lexis-Nexis, selectively from 1990. Access to microfilm of the The Peoria Journal Star is available at the Peoria Public Library.
Don't See What You're Looking For?
If you didn't find the help you were looking for on this page, please call, e-mail, or append a comment to let us know what kind of research assistance you were seeking. We are here to help, and we want to know if our services could be made more useful. Thank you for helping us build a better Reference Service. == Don't See What You're Looking For? ==
If you didn't find the help you were looking for on this page, please call, e-mail, or append a comment to let us know what kind of research assistance you were seeking. We are here to help, and we want to know if our services could be made more useful. Thank you for helping us build a better Reference Service. For a list of who to contact, go to: http://library.bradley.edu/staff/liaison.shtml
You can access many of the Library's research resources from the Library's home page, at: http://library.bradley.edu/
--updated by Bryan Clark, baclark@bradley.edu, 9:32, 18 August 2009 (CDT)
You can access many of the Library's research resources from the Library's home page, at:
http://library.bradley.edu/
--updated by Bryan Clark, baclark@bradley.edu, 1:13, 19 August 2009 (CDT)
