Evergreen Park Local History Collection
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Evergreen Park Public Library Evergreen Park Local History Collection Descriptive Summary Level of Description: Item Repository: Evergreen Park Public Library, Reference Department Identifier: TO5 Title: Evergreen Park Local History Collection Dates of Material: 1917-2001 Extent: 7 boxes, 89 folders Creator: Members of the Evergreen Park Public Library staff Abstract: The Evergreen Park local history collection contains publications and newspaper sections celebrating the village‘s various anniversaries and various formats and items documenting Evergreen Park‘s prominent people and places. The collection also contains information on local communities, especially Chicago landmarks and Oak Lawn Formats: Publications, pamphlets, newspaper sections, newspaper clippings, surveys, financial reports, cassette recordings, video home system (VHS) recordings. Scope and Content: This collection includes items related to Evergreen Park and its surrounding communities. Its strength lays in the amount of historical information pertaining to the settlement and growth of Evergreen Park as well as prominent Chicago buildings and landmarks. The collection primarily consists of many publications and newspaper sections celebrating Evergreen Park‘s 75th and 100th anniversaries. Also included are numerous community guides that provide general and specific community information about Evergreen Park and its local communities. The majority of the newspaper sections are from the Evergreen Park Courier and the community awareness sections from the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. Also contained in this collection are items about prominent people and places in Evergreen Park, such as items from former E.P. mayor, Anthony Vacco, retirement party including a VHS tribute, a cassette recording of an interview with the matriarch of the E.P. Library, Aimee Martin, the Little Company of Mary Hospital, Most Holy Redeemer Church, the Christian Reformed Church, and numerous newspaper clippings documenting the accomplishments of Evergreen Park residents. Historical Note: On December 20th, 1893, Evergreen Park was incorporated as a village in Illinois. Forty people out of fifty-one voted in a referendum to ensure Evergreen independence rather than become annexed into the booming metropolis, Chicago. The early founders of Evergreen Park chose the name because of the numerous pine trees in the park at 97th and Homan. They had hoped to replicate the Arch of Triumph in Paris with the park as the village‘s center. The growth of the new village was largely due to Local History Collection, Evergreen Park Local History Page 1 Evergreen Park Public Library the land boom and entrepreneurial interest in Chicago during the 1830‘s. By 1875 early settlers had created the area‘s first school (95th and Spaulding) and the dirt intersection of 95th and Kedzie became the hub of the fledgling area. Since its inception, the village paralleled the experience of the nation as it sent 10 men to World War I, encountered organized crime during the Prohibition era, struggled through the Great Depression while benefitting from many of the New Deal programs, and patriotically supported the war effort during World War II. Following World War II, Evergreen‘s population nearly doubled from a little less than 5,000 inhabitants to more than 10,000 in 1950. With this population boom came improvements to water and sanitation conditions in order to provide a habitable environment suitable for a larger population. By 1967 the ―Village of Churches,‖ a nickname given to Evergreen because of its abundant number of churches, had grown to 26,280 residents. The 1970‘s brought a time of crisis and despair. Evergreen Park suffered the loss of eight residents during the Vietnam War and an oil embargo skyrocketed gas prices to a then unheard of dollar per gallon. During the 1980‘s, Evergreen experienced a decline of population to roughly 22,260 people. The population continued to decline during the 1990‘s to around 20,000 where it currently resides. Today, the Village of Evergreen Park boasts a renovated municipality building, police station, library, and many new commercial establishments. Despite the change, the village still maintains 95th and Kedzie as its central hub just as it did during its inception in 1893. Bibliography: Leeder, William and Stephanie. The Village of Evergreen Park 75th Anniversary Album 1893-1968. (Located in group ―Evergreen Park History‖, under series ―Publications‖) This book provides a very detailed account of the growth of Evergreen up to 1967. It is also an excellent source for genealogical and historical building research with names of the first settlers, first businesses, important landmarks, and village officials. Cherishing our Past, Nurturing our Future: Evergreen Park, Illinois 1893-1993. (Located in group ―Evergreen Park History‖, under series ―Publications‖) Presents historic information on Evergreen Park from 1967 to 1993 and provides information on establishments and churches. Arrangement and Access Arrangement: The collection has been divided into two main groups: Evergreen Park History and Local Community History. The Evergreen Park History group consists of three series: Publications, People, and Places. The Publication series has been further divided into multiple sub-series: Anniversary Editions (contains any publication commemorating a anniversary of Evergreen Park); Community Guides; Financial Reports; League of Local History Collection, Evergreen Park Local History Page 2 Evergreen Park Public Library Women Voters; Magazines/Newsletters; Maps/Street Guides; Surveys/Questionnaires; and Miscellaneous. Both the People and Places series have been arranged so that each individual person or place is a sub-series. The Local Community History group has been divided into multiple series: Chicago, Illinois, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Palos Heights, and Worth Township. Any item relating to one of the above local communities is arranged under that series name. Documents are arranged alphabetically according to title unless otherwise stated within the finding aid. Bullet points are used to identify individual items within a folder; for example, see Local Community History Collection, series Illinois, folder Historic Illinois. Access: The collection is open to all researchers within the physical library. Any person with a valid library card may check out material from the collection; please see reference librarian. Selected items have been digitized and are available online. Please also see reference librarian if you are interested in a digital copy that is not available online. Reproduction: All tapes and videos may be viewed but reproductions of said materials are prohibited without the expressed written permission by the Evergreen Park Library, and associations or individuals involved in the production. Reproductions of printed materials are subject to copyright laws. Language: English Administrative Information Custodial History: Prior to 2010 the collection was stored in a cabinet. Some items were housed in manila envelopes. As of February 2010, each item will be placed in an acid-free archival folder and stored in archival Hollinger boxes. Provenance: The material has been created and collected over the years by various members of the Evergreen Park Library staff. Accruals: The natural growth of the collection will involve any item that documents a prominent event, individual, place/landmark, or any other cultural or historic aspect pertaining to Evergreen Park or a neighboring community. Location: Reference office Processor: Frank Murray, 2010 Index: Anthony Vacco Aimee Martin History—Evergreen Park, Illinois—inception History—Evergreen Park, Illinois—landmarks Most Holy Redeemer Church The Lutheran Reformed Church Little Company of Mary Hospital Local History Collection, Evergreen Park Local History Page 3 Evergreen Park Public Library Evergreen Park Plaza History—Chicago, Illinois—landmarks See ―Chicago‖ series under sub-series ―Publications‖ (Commission on Chicago Historical and Architectural Landmarks Series) Box List: Item-Level Finding Aid: Note to researchers: Unless otherwise noted, only one copy exists. Collection Series/Sub-series Folder Title Item Description Item Location Number Evergreen Park Local History Publications-- Cherishing Our Past: Evergreen A compilation of authentic 2010.001.001 Box 1 Anniversary Editions Park’s Centennial Celebration Book of stories told and written by Memories, 1993, compiled by the the early residents of Offices of the Citizen‘s Services Evergreen Park. ―Cherishing Our Past, Nurturing Our The Evergreen Park 2010.001.002 Box 1 Future: Evergreen Park 100 years,‖ Courier‘s issue celebrating Evergreen Park Courier, June 1993 the Village‘s centennial (1,2/4 copies) anniversary. Includes stories, photographs, and a great source for E.P. history. ―Cherishing Our Past, Nurturing Our Please see item 2010.001.003 Box 1 of 7 Future: Evergreen Park 100 years,‖ 2010.001.002 for Evergreen Park Courier, June 1993 description. (3,4/4 copies) ―EP celebrate 90th Anniversary,‖ The Oak Lawn newspaper, 2010.001.004 Box 1 of 7 Village View, January 1, 1984 (vol. 11, Village View, documents no. 1); and ―Plan 90th Fete,‖ Evergreen E.P.‘s 90th anniversary with Park Courier, November 10, 1983 photographs and articles. ―Evergreen Park Chamber of Various articles discussing 2010.001.005 Box 1 of 7 Commerce 50th Anniversary Issue,‖ the history and impact of Evergreen Park Courier Section I and E.P.‘s Chamber of II January 23, 1997 Commerce. Most