Naperville Heritage Digital Collection

Annotated List

Following is an annotated list of the local history sources that are included in the Naperville Heritage Collection. The sources are listed in the same sequence as they are displayed in the Illinois Digital Archives.

95th Street Library: Grand Opening September 13-20, 2003 Commemorative Program. [Naperville, Illinois: Naperville Public Library, 2003]. (NPL document) This commemorative program covers the extensive calendar of activities for the grand opening of Naperville Public Library’s 95th Street Library. The guide contains floor plans of the new building and a brief history of the Naperville Public Library.

Autobiography of James L. Nichols. Story of the life of J.L. Nichols. History of Nichols Library. Apparently dictated to Elizabeth Barnard Nichols, undated. (copyright permission granted) Dictated shortly before his death in 1895, this is the autobiography of a prominent Naperville self-made man who rose from penniless orphan to North-Western (now North Central) College professor, publisher, businessman and benefactor to the Nichols Library and North Central College. Also included is the speech made by Elizabeth Barnard Nichols-Simpson at the dedication of Merner Gymnasium and Field House, January 23, 1931. Lastly is a brief history of Nichols Library given by Library Director Miriam B. Fry in 1969 at the opening of the new children’s room in the lower level of the library.

Black Acre: A Remembrance. 36 min. [Naperville, Illinois, 1993]. DVD. Produced by Herb Nadelhoffer and Mary Lou Wehrli. (copyright permission granted) This film shows how the 100-year-old Lisle, Illinois Nadelhoffer farm gave way to suburban sprawl. Includes interviews.

Nichols, J.L. The Business Guide: an Outline of Business. 19th ed. Naperville, Illinois: J.L. Nichols & Co., 1935. (copyright permission granted) Originally published in 1886 with over three million copies sold by 1917, this handbook of legal and business forms was also a legal adviser and guide to business success. The author and publisher, J.L. Nichols, was a professor at North Central College and a Naperville and Library benefactor.

Village records of Naperville, Illinois, February 7, 1857 thru April 26, 1870. Book A. [Naperville, Illinois], 1981. Transcribed and indexed by Patricia S. Miller. (public domain) City of Naperville: Council Minutes February 1857 through April 1898.

City of Naperville, Illinois, Council Minutes. February 7, 1857-April 26, 1870. May 6, 1898 through September 9, 1935. [Naperville, Illinois], Text-film. (public domain) Naperville incorporated as a village in 1857 and began to govern itself by passing ordinances for the good of the community.

Combination Atlas Map of DuPage County, Illinois: Compiled, Drawn and Published from Personal Examinations and Surveys. Elgin, Illinois: Thompson Bro’s & Burr, 1874. (public domain) This early atlas contains city and township plat maps within DuPage County, sketches of prominent homes, census information on landowners and biographies of county pioneers.

Blanchard, Rufus. History of DuPage County, Illinois. Chicago: O.L. Baskin & Co., 1882. (public domain) The history of DuPage County is covered through the exploration period, Indian life, pioneer settlement, the Black Hawk War, the Civil War and the development of governing bodies, schools, churches and businesses. There are histories of each township and biographies, with some portraits, of notable citizens in each township. This work sketches the role of Joseph Naper and his associates in carving out DuPage County from Cook County in 1839 and establishing Naperville as its first county seat.

Holland’s Business Directory of Naperville, ILL. for 1886, in Three Parts, Containing respectively, Historical, Editorial and Business Departments. Chicago: Holland Publishing Company, 1886. (public domain) The first work of its kind for the village of Naperville describes its economic vitality through advertisements and portraits of its leading businesses. The introduction provides valuable information about churches, schools, village government and community organizations.

Naperville Area Farm Families History. [Naperville, Illinois]: Naperville Farmers’ Riverwalk Committee, 1983. (copyright permission granted) Collected for Naperville’s Sesquicentennial are 150 farm family histories and 70 photographs of farms dating from the early 1800s. These hearty men and women worked tirelessly to bring Naperville from a prairie wilderness to a thriving city.

Naperville Centennial 1831-1931 June Fifth and Sixth 1931. Naperville, Illinois: Fort Payne Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, 1931. (copyright permission granted) This timeline of important events in Naperville’s history from 1831-1931 also describes the Centennial Memorial’s recreational facilities and includes letters and interviews with early pioneers.

Teague, Jane. The Naperville Public Libraries: Celebrating One Hundred Years of Community Service. [Naperville, Illinois: Naperville Public Libraries, 1998]. (NPL document) The Naperville Public Libraries continued to grow with two modern facilities and celebrated its 100 years of service to the community. Included in this souvenir program for September 18-20, 1998 are a history of the library and a profile of its benefactor, James Lawrence Nichols I.

The Naperville Riverwalk: flowing through the heart of Naperville. 10 min. [Naperville, Illinois, 2000]. Videocassette. Produced for Riverwalk 2000 by Mary Lou Wehrli. (copyright permission granted) Begun in 1981 by volunteers for Naperville’s Sesquicentennial celebration, the finished Riverwalk construction project along the winding DuPage River in the heart of downtown is the pride of the community.

November 1909 Naperville Illinois Telephone Directory. Chicago: Chicago Telephone Company, 1909. Naperville Telephone Directory. Chicago: Reuben H. Donnelley Corporation, 1910, 1911.
Naperville Telephone Directory. Issued by Illinois Bell Telephone, 1924, 1926. Naperville Telephone Directory. Chicago: Reuben H. Donnelley Corporation, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957. Naperville Community Directory 1959-1960. Oak Park, Illinois: Community Guide and Directory, [1960]. (copyright permission granted) These directories provide residential and classified listings for Naperville through the early years of telephone service.

Naperville’s 150th Birthday: a Sesquicentennial Commemorative Celebration. 35 min. [Naperville, Illinois], 1981. Videocassette. Produced by Mary Lou Wehrli. (copyright permission granted) This film captures the main events and leaders of the Naperville Sesquicentennial celebration.

[Stoos, Mrs. Joseph]. Nichols Library Celebrates 75 Years of Progress. [Naperville, Illinois, 1973]. (NPL document) Naperville Public Library began with the original Nichols Library on Washington Street. This anniversary pamphlet details the construction, staffing and growing usage of the building from 1898 to 1973.

Naperville Sesquicentennial Highlights: a set of 137 selected slides of the Naperville Sesquicentennial Celebration October 1980 through December 1981 and preceded by a catalog of the same. Naperville, Illinois: City of Naperville, a Municipal Corporation of DuPage and Will Counties, Illinois, 1984, slides. (copyright permission granted) Representing the most significant pictures of the Naperville Sesquicentennial are 137 slides of events during the celebration, October 1980 through December 1981. The catalog and slides are arranged chronologically by event.

Souvenir of the Naperville Home Coming, Naperville, ILL. May 29th to June 1st 1917. [Naperville, Illinois: The General Committee, 1917]. (public domain) Civic pride in Naperville’s progressive transformation and improvements inspired a homecoming invitation to past residents and the general public from May 29-June 1, 1917. Showcased are photographs and histories of local homes, churches, schools, businesses, community organizations and government departments. City statistics are included.

Index to Souvenir of the Naperville Home Coming Naperville, ILL. May 29th to June 1st 1917. Naperville, Illinois: Fox Valley Genealogical Society, 1996. (copyright permission granted) This is a personal name index to the 1917 Naperville Home Coming narration.

“Thank You for Your Cooperation”: a History of Centennial Beach”: A History of Centennial Beach, Naperville Illinois. 57 minutes. [Naperville Illinois, 1992]. DVD. Produced by Mary Lou Wehrli. (copyright permission granted) This film shows how Centennial Beach has evolved from a limestone quarry. Includes interviews.

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