Lake County History Archives

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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 Archives include:

• More than 1,400 postcard views of Lake County towns and resorts
• Large photographic collection of Lake County schools, farms, residences, and individuals
• More than 2,000 photographs and 200 postcard views of Fort Sheridan, the former U.S. Army base 
• 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 from the Illinois Digital Archives:

  21st Street School 30th Street School Archer School Avon Center Butterfield School Courtney School Davlin School Deerfield Grammar School Diamond Lake School Dickertown School #1 Emmons School East Fox Lake School Flint Creek School

  Fort Hill School Gilmer School Gould School Hainesville School Hickory School Honey Lake School Ivanhoe School Murray School Pomeroy School Rondout School Round Lake School Schultz School Stearns and Vose Schools Warrenton School

• Early Motion Picture Industry Collection featuring Edward Amet (1860-1948) of Waukegan, inventor of the Amet Magniscope, the first practical 35mm motion picture projector
• 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 am to 4:30 pm. An appointment will provide staff assistance and access to the Collections. Appointments are available weekdays from 9 am to noon and 1 to 4:30 pm. Phone, mail and email research requests are encouraged.

Museum Store

A number of publications and postcard gifts can be purchased at the Museum Store.

Membership

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 Image File magazine
• Invitations to exclusive Members-only events

Location

The Lake County History Archives is located in Lakewood Forest Preserve in southwest Lake County.
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The entrance and parking area are located on Route 176 west of Fairfield Road. Follow signs to the Archives Building.

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