In a House Divided, 1850-1890
Teachers Clues to the Past - Family Account Books
17 Account Book [7k]
Enlargement Available [64k] Picture

To learn more about family accounts in the late 19th century, see Making Ends Meet, Christopher Wheeler's farm account books .

What can family account books tell us about domestic life in Illinois?

Family account books offer information on the resources available to families and how they were spent. For many families, most resources went for necessities: food, clothing, shelter. Farm families also had to think about farm expenses that kept the farm producing; such as hired hands, equipment, and blacksmithing services. These records help us to understand the effects of the home economy on family choices.


Button Bar [8k]

© Illinois State Museum 24-Mar-98