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The Park Forest Local History Collection and Archive
The Park Forest Local History Collection and Archive was started by the reference staff of the Park Forest Public Library in the early 1980s. Due to flooding in the Library basement, the bulk of the Archive was moved to remote storage in January 2007, where it remains. Some materials, including oral history transcripts, over 200 subject files, scrapbooks, yearbooks, duplicate and originals of a number of news and magazine articles, videotapes of Society programs and DVD's of documentary films, and books containing information on Park Forest and city planning are still available to the public through the Park Forest Public Library. The bulk of the 5,000 image photograph collection is housed at the 1950s Park Forest House Museum. The Society archivist and volunteers provide access to this collection.
In 1998-99, the Library was awarded an IMLS grant through the Illinois State Library, of $39,500 to create a digital project, "Park Forest: An Illinois Planned Community. "Photographs, the original Plan of Town of 1946, documents, original sales brochures and news articles are available on the Illinois Digital Archives at www.idaillinois.org, or through the Society's website at www.parkforesthistory.org. Ownership and responsibility for the photograph collection and digital project have already been transferred to the Park Forest Historical Society. When the Society finds a suitable building and funding to support the Archive, the bulk of the Park Forest Local History Collection and Archive will come under their ownership, with some basic research materials retained at the Park Forest Public Library. Special note: Beginning in May 2009, the Park Forest Public Library will be doing interior renovation. The Park Forest Historical Society has foundsafe haven for some items in the collection. Hard copy of the Park Forest Reporter and the collection of historical videotapes of interviews and past programs will be temporarily available offsite, with the assistance of volunteers from the Park Forest Historical Society. |