Browse Items (306 total)
- Tags: Rockford Illinois - History
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Three Young People and Sled
Three adolescents sit on and stand behind a sled. Houses are visible in the back right of the photo.
Two Women Outdoors
Two women, dressed warmly for the winter season, pose outdoors with snow in the background next to a front porch. The location and the women's names are unknown.
Indoor Meeting/Social Gathering of Men
This large group of men appears to be gathering for a dinner and meeting in an indoor conference room. The dress is formal tuxedos of the day.
Young Man on a Bunk Bed
A young man lies on a bunk bed in this photograph. The young man's name and his location are unknown. The glass plate negative is broken.
Family Photograph of Young Ladies and a Young Man
A family photograph of three young ladies and one young man seen standing in front of a large brick building. A swing and a pergola, a garden archway for trained climbing plants, appear to the left.
Family Photograph
A family - father, mother, and two daughters - poses under a pergola (an archway framework covered with trained climbing plants). The location and family are unknown.
Music Room Ladies
Three women in a music room. The middle lady is seated, and the one on the right is holding a violin.
Two Women by a River Bank
Two young ladies pose for this photograph apparently on a river bank. Both are seated on a fallen tree trunk, and the one on the left is holding an instrument, perhaps a ukelele. The location and the names of the women are unknown. For a similar…
Three Women by a River Bank
Three young ladies pose for this photograph apparently on a river bank. One is seated on a fallen tree trunk while the woman standing in front of another seems to be holding an instrument, perhaps a ukelele. The location and names of the women are…
Family of Adults and Children
A family of seven adults and two children pose in what may be their front yard. This appears to be the same family as in photo 88.122.578b.
Family of Adults and Children
A family of seven adults and two children pose in what may be their front yard. This appears to be the same family as in photo 88.122.578a.
Two Young Ladies with a Doll
A young lady sits with a doll on her lap while another young girl stands by her side.
Two Young Ladies with a Doll
Two young ladies are pictured with a doll propped between them on a stool or chair.
Rockford College Campus
Rockford College was chartered as the Rockford Female Seminary in 1847. In 1881 it occupied a campus bordered by Morgan (aka Bluff St.), Seminary, and Division Streets on the Rock River. This photograph looks northwest showing Sill Hall on the right…
Horse-drawn Steam Fire Engine
This may be a Silsby horse-drawn steam fire engine being demonstrated. The need for high-volume water pumps to extinguish urban and industrial fires was the impetus for this innovation. The steam boiler drove a turbine which in turn drove a water…
Horse-drawn Steam Fire Engine
This may be a Silsby horse-drawn steam fire engine being demonstrated. The need for high-volume water pumps to extinguish urban and industrial fires was the impetus for this innovation. The steam boiler drove a turbine which in turn drove a water…
First Lutheran Church
First Lutheran Church was the first Swedish and the first Lutheran Church founded in Rockford in 1854. This photograph shows the third church building constructed by the congregation, built in 1884 and dedicated on December 7, 1884. The church still…
Children at Recess
A large group of children, perhaps at recess, stand outside what appears to be a school. The children are warmly dressed. The location is unknown.
Children Posing Downtown
A group of children pose in a line with the Rockford Courthouse in the background. The courthouse in the photo was completed in 1878 after the dome collapsed during construction in 1877.
Teacher and Class Pose for a Photo
A group of middle school age children pose with their teacher outside a school in front of a large flag. It is interesting to note that a student is standing behind the flag on the right holding it up. It is unclear where this photo was taken. For a…
Teacher and Class in front of Flag
A group of middle school age children pose with their teacher outside a school in front of a large flag. It is interesting to note that a student is standing behind the flag on the right holding it up. It is unclear where this photograph was taken.…
West State and Main Street Intersection
An arched, lighted "Welcome" sign hangs over Main Street where it intersects West State Street. Several businesses are visible in the photograph that looks north: the Golden Eagle Clothing Co. and Holland, Gilruth & King Loan Co. The Rockford Railway…
Rockford Parade on State Street
A large horse-drawn carriage proceeds west on East State street across the State and Madison Street intersection. The YMCA Building stands in the background of this photograph. The YMCA Building was occupied in late 1889.
Rockford Parade on State Street
Horse-drawn circus wagons proceed east passing the 400 block of West State Street at the intersection of Church Street toward downtown Rockford. The Rockford Railway rails are clearly present. Note businesses along the route: T. N. Miller, MD at 401…
Rockford Parade on State Street
Horse-drawn circus wagons proceed east passing the 400 block of West State street at the intersection with Church Street toward downtown Rockford. The Rockford Railway rails are clearly present. Note businesses along the route: T. N. Miller, MD at…
Camels Standing in a Parade Staging Area
Multiple camels stand in what looks like a parade staging area in a Rockford business district. The camels appear to be Arabian or dromedary camels (one hump).
Rockford Parade on State Street
A camel-drawn circus wagon proceeds east passing the 400 block of West State street at the intersection of Church Street toward downtown Rockford. Several elephants follow in the parade line-up. The Rockford Railway rails are clearly present. Note…
Rockford Parade
A large crowd watches as members of the parade pass by on this Rockford street. It appears to be a boulevard with the Rockford Railway rails in the street. Carriages and surreys line the street on the far right. Numerous people including parade…
Rockford Parade
A large crowd watches as members of a parade pass by on this Rockford street. It appears to be a boulevard with the Rockford Railway rails in the street. Carriages and surreys line the street on the far right. Numerous people including parade…
Rockford Parade
A large crowd watches as members of a parade pass by on this Rockford street. It appears to be a boulevard with the Rockford Railway rails in the street. Carriages and surreys line the street on the far right. Numerous people including parade…
Rockford Parade
A large crowd watches as members of a parade pass by on this Rockford street. It appears to be a boulevard with the Rockford Railway rails in the street. Carriages and surreys line the street on the far right. Numerous people including parade…
Winnebago County Courthouse
This photograph of the Winnebago County Courthouse looks south. The courthouse collapsed during construction in 1877 and was rebuilt according to the original design. The courthouse was bordered by West State Street, S. Church Street, Chestnut…
Winnebago County Courthouse
This photograph of the Winnebago County Courthouse looks southwest. The jailhouse building is visible to the left. The courthouse collapsed during construction in 1877 and was rebuilt according to the original design. The courthouse was bordered by…
Winnebago County Courthouse
This photograph of the Winnebago County Courthouse looks southeast from West State Street. The courthouse collapsed during construction in 1877 and was rebuilt according to the original design. The courthouse was bordered by West State Street, S.…
Arrow Steamboat on the Rock River
This photograph was taken shortly after the Arrow launch looking north from the east side of the Rock River just north of the State Street bridge. This was the ship's maiden voyage. The Arrow would serve until she sank in 1900. Note the large crowd…
First Congregational Church
The First Congregational Church building is at the corner of S. 3rd and Kishwaukee Streets. It was one of the first churches founded in Rockford.
Men and Boys
A large group of boys and adolescents with several adult males pose for this outdoor photograph next to a large building. A priest or pastor appears in the middle (wearing a white collar). The location, the occasion, and the names of individuals are…
Rockford Factory
A large brick, two-story factory building is the central feature of this photograph. It appears to be in an open expanse with perhaps a silo-type structure and a windmill to the right in the background. There is a sign above the door, but in this…
Rockford Factory
A large brick, four-story building with a small one-story "office" structure adjacent to it appears to be surrounded by tall grass fields. The name of the building and its location are unknown.
Rockford Factory
A large brick, four-story building with a small one-story "office" adjacent to it appears to be surrounded by tall grass fields. The name of the building and its location are unknown. Similar views can be seen in photos 88.122.594a, 88.122.594c, and…
Rockford Factory (After Fire)
This photograph shows the ruins of a large brick building destroyed by fire with only the smokestack remaining. Several people mill about, looking at the site. The name of the building and its location are unknown. For similar depictions, see photos…
Rockford Factory After Fire
A brick factory building is in ruins after being destroyed by fire. Only the smokestack remains largely intact. A Rockford Railway trolley is off to the side with several people viewing the damage. The name of the structure and its location are…
Two-Story Multi-Apartment Residence
This rear view of a large two-story multi-apartment residence and courtyard garden may be part of a larger complex. The location is unclear.
Large Smokestack
This photograph shows a large smokestack set in a wooded clearing. There appear to be some buildings in the background but they are unidentifiable. This seems to symbolize the height of Industrial Age progress in Rockford Illinois. It is unclear…
Burial Tumulus Honoring Confederate Dead
This large tumulus (a burial mound) can be found in the Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans, Louisiana. The large statue of horse and rider honors General Albert Sidney Johnston who was killed at the battle of Shiloh. The entrance to the tumulus is…
Foundation/Cornerstone Ceremony
A large crowd gathers in horse-drawn buggies for a foundation/cornerstone laying ceremony and dedication. The crowd on the dais is arrayed in vestments denoting a choir and church officials. It is unclear which church cornerstone this group is…
Sarmatian Passenger Ship
The Sarmatian was built in Scotland in 1871. She had accommodations for 100 first-class and 850 3rd-class passengers. On July 20, 1907, she left Boston on her last voyage to Glasgow and was scrapped in 1908. This photograph may have been taken in…
Skating on the Rock River
The State Street bridge frames the background of this wintry scene on the Rock River as skaters enjoy a winter afternoon.
Group of Actors/Performers
A large group of performers pose on stage for this photograph. They may be on the stage of the Grand Opera House on Wyman Street. However, there were several other performance venues at the time: the Bijou, the Mendelssohn Club, and the Sveas Soner,…
Group of Actors/Performers
A large group of performers pose on stage for this photograph. They may be on the stage of the Grand Opera House on Wyman Street. However, there were several other performance venues at the time: the Bijou, the Mendelssohn Club, and the Sveas Soner,…