The Lake County History Archives, part of the Lake County Discovery Museum, provides access to documents and photographs featuring the history of Lake County, Illinois. This special collection is available to the general public for research.
The Lake County History Archives include:
- More than 1,400 postcard views of Lake County towns and resorts; and over 200 postcard views of the former U.S. Army base at Fort Sheridan
- Large photographic collection of Lake County schools, farms, residences, and individuals; and over 2,000 photographs of Fort Sheridan
- Plat maps dating from 1861 showing land ownership in Lake County
- School Collection including 52 separate one-room school histories written in 1918, and township school records with finances and minutes of school board meetings from 1841-1962. Several school histories are available online at www.digitalpast.org:
- Early Motion Picture Industry Collection featuring Edward Amet (1860-1948) of Waukegan who was the inventor of the first practical 35mm motion picture projector the Amet Magniscope
- Civil War Collection including the history and records of the 96th Illinois Regimental Volunteers; letters of Orson Young (96th IL); letters of the Minto Family of Millburn (96th IL); and Adjutant General Reports of Illinois 1861-1865
Hours
The Archives Library is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. An appointment will provide staff assistance and access to the Collections. Appointments are available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Telephone, mail and e-mail research requests are encouraged.
Museum Publications
The Museum Store offers a number of publications for sale. For information on Lake County titles, click here. For postcard books and other postcard items, click here.
Membership: Friends of Lake County Discovery Museum
Support the museum and receive great benefits by becoming a member of the Friends of the Lake County Discovery Museum.
Members enjoy:
- Free admission
- Museum store and research discounts
- Free subscription to the Museum's Historian or Image File magazine
- Invitations to exclusive Members-only events
Learn more about membership.
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