Explore the evolution and development McLean County, Illinois through digitized materials stewarded by Illinois State University. Looking to dive deeper? Head on over to the McLean County Museum of History’s digital resources page to consult their extensive research collections.
Local History Collections
Explore Digitized Collections
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Anna Ropp Diaries
Between 1933 and 2002, Anna Ropp, a 1931 graduate of the Mennonite Hospital School of Nursing (now Illinois State University’s Mennonite College of Nursing), recorded short daily entries detailing her farm, family, and work life in personal diaries.
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Books and Periodicals
A repository for digitized published works held by Milner Library, including rare volumes, periodicals from the War Publications Collection, and a full run of the Post Amerikan (1971-2003), Bloomington-Normal’s underground newspaper.
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Ewing Family Collection
Archival documents and photographs pertaining to Bloomington, Illinois philanthropist Hazle Buck Ewing (1880-1969) and her extended family, including seven photo-illustrated volumes recording their 1924-25 world tour.
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Jesse Fell Civil War Paymaster Records
Jesse W. Fell (1808-1887) is credited as a founder of Illinois State (Normal) University. During the Civil War he spent 18 months serving as a paymaster in the Union Army.
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Ken-Way Studio Collection
University High School alum Kenneth Berglund (1917-2003) founded Ken-Way Studio with his brother Robert upon his return from Navy service at the end of World War II. For the next 56 years his photography business documented the minutia of life and work in Central Illinois, from polished photoshoots with prominent local businesses to candid snaps of celebrations and performances.