Oswego Museum Observes Illinois Archives Month

Stephanie Just, a board member of the Oswegoland Heritage Association and archives volunteer at the Little White School Museum, works on cataloging a collection of family memorabilia. Submitted article, photo.

The Little White School Museum, 72 Polk St. (Jackson at Polk), Oswego, is joining with the Illinois State Archives to celebrate Illinois Archives Month throughout October.

The museum has an extensive collection of archival materials, from original deeds and other papers to photographs to microfilm copies of area newspapers, census records, and other materials in their collections.

“From materials of interest to genealogists researching their family histories to anyone working on professional or academic research projects concerning the Oswegoland area, we may have materials that will be of help to you,” said museum director Roger Matile.

In joint cooperation with the Illinois State Archives to commemorate Illinois Archives Month in October, area family historians and academic researchers are invited to visit the museum’s archives and research area Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon. Regular museum hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Illinois Archives Month is held throughout the state each October. According to the Illinois State Archives, the purpose of Illinois Archives Month is to celebrate and promote the rich documentary heritage of Illinois by:

• Increasing public awareness of archival materials and repositories.
• Focusing on materials in archival repositories that have broad appeal, and
• Strengthening ties with regular archives users, as well as introducing new and potential users to archival repositories and the documentary heritage there.

The Little White School Museum’s archival collections center around the area inside the boundaries of the 68 square miles comprising the Oswego School District.

The museum’s archives and research area is open Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. The museum’s volunteer archives staff can also accommodate researchers through special appointments.

For more information, call the museum at 630-554-2999, send an email to info@littlewhiteschoolmuseum.org, or check out the museum’s web site at www.littlewhiteschoolmuseum.org.