Historical Collections

Historical Collections

Throughout the Art, Anthropology, and Natural History collections there are objects and archival materials which shed light on the history of Illinois and the Midwestern U.S.

ISM Collections Online: History

Amish Quilt Gallery

You can learn about the history of quilts created by Illinois Amish women of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The images and information are from the Museum publication Illinois Amish Quilts: Sharing Threads of Tradition, which can be purchased from the Museum by consulting the Publications Web page or telephoning the Museum.

Frank Sadorus Photograph Collection Introduction

Introductory and educational text for the Frank Sadorus Photograph Collection

Frost Trade Bead Collection

A collection of 71 trade bead sample cards from the Stephen A. Frost and Son Company.

Harvesting the River Archives

Multimedia archives pertaining to the life and natural history of the Illinois River in the early 20th Century

Morton D. Barker Paperweight Collection Gallery

View the Barker Collection of Classical French, British, American, and other Paperweights. The prestigious Morton D. Barker Paperweight Collection of 252 glass objects, including more than 200 outstanding examples of antique French paperweights of the Classic Period (1845 - 1860) manufactured by the glass companies Baccarat, Saint Louis, Clichy, and Pantin.

WPA Art Collection Introduction

Introductory and educational text to the Illinois WPA Art Collection