Collections
The Evanston History Center’s collections document and detail the rich history and growth of the city of Evanston. Our exhibits and research are entirely dependent on these collections.
Evanston History Center welcomes scholars, students, genealogists, filmmakers, journalists, and the general public to our Archival Collections, which consist primarily of 2-D materials, such as prints and photographs, archives and manuscripts, architectural drawings and records, books, and other published materials.
The Artifact Collection, which consists of primarily 3-D materials such as architectural fragments and models, paintings, sculpture, costumes, textiles, decorative arts, and other artifacts and works of art, is also available to scholars and researchers on a more limited basis due to specialized storage and handling requirements. To learn more about visiting the Artifact Collection, email Kris Hartzell at khartzell@evanstonhistorycenter.org. To view costume items within the artifact collection, please see the Costume section below to learn more.
Some collections can be viewed on our digital resources site.
The artifact collection is a vast array of objects that tell many stories of life in Evanston.
From toys to typewriters, fine china to glass bottles, and sports equipment to furniture. The collection even includes building signs and packaging from local stores.
The Evanston History Center archives include many primary and secondary sources, such as city building records, Sanborn fire insurance maps, newspapers, city directories, photographs, VHS, oral histories, and many other materials documenting and detailing Evanston’s history.
EHC’s Costume Collection includes clothing worn by men, women, and children from throughout the community. In addition to garments, the collection includes accessories and other garment-related artifacts. The collection is the second most extensive costume collection in the state of Illinois.
Interested in donating an item to the Evanston History Center's collection?
The Evanston History Center’s collections are always growing!
The EHC maintains collections that interpret the rich history of the City of Evanston and all its people.
Before an item is accepted into the collection, it is reviewed by curators. Not everything is accepted. Please review our donation criteria. If you think that you have materials to donate to the collection, please contact the EHC about making a donation.
- The Evanston History Center collection is dedicated to Evanston-associated artifacts. Each item contributes to the multi-faceted story of our community and its people.
- We carefully screen and curate our incoming donations before accepting the responsibility of their care. Each of the three collection divisions has a distinct curator. Please contact the appropriate person directly.
- To offer a donation to the artifact collection, or for general questions, please contact Kris Hartzell, Director of Collections.
- To offer a donation to the archives, please contact Grace Lehner, Director of Archives.
- To offer a donation to the costume collection, please contact Rachel Jennens, Costume Curator.
Archival Collection
The Evanston History Center’s Archival Collection is extensive and offers a comprehensive view of Evanston over time.
The archives hold a significant amount of material related to people and houses in Evanston. In addition, our staff has years of experience interpreting the primary sources and assisting people with figuring out the stories of their families and their homes.
- Contact the archivist, Grace Lehner at glehner@evanstonhistorycenter.org, to learn about how they can help you with research.
- Visit the Evanston History Center between 1-4 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Saturday to conduct in-person research. In-person research is $10/visit.
- District 65 and District 202 educators receive free admission to the research room during regular hours.
- View the Evanston History Center’s digital collections.
- Registration is not required to visit the research room.
- Please make sure there hasn’t been a last-minute closure before visiting.
- Closures will be posted on our Calendar of Events.
- Educators can register in advance by clicking here or simply show up during regular hours and register onsite.
- All educators must show their school photo IDs at the door.
- Archival collections documenting many Evanston schools, churches, civic and social organizations, businesses, and residents, including correspondence and organizational records.
- Building records, including: house files with city records and real estate listings for every house in Evanston and some commercial structures; Sanborn fire insurance maps; blueprints and plat surveys for many structures; and documentation for historic districts and local landmarks.
- Records of the town, village, and city of Evanston, and Ridgeville and Evanston township, from the 1840s to the present
- Newspapers, and clipping files from local newspapers, including the Evanston Index, Evanston Press, Evanston News, Daily News, Evanston News-Index, Evanston Review, and Evanston Roundtable.
- Books and publications on various subjects, including:
- Evanston history and Evanston authors
- Evanston City Directories from 1879-1963 (some including Rogers Park and other North Shore communities)
- Evanston Telephone Directories from 1926 through the present
- Evanston Architecture
- Family history
- Maps of Evanston and vicinity
- Photographs (biographical and subject files), film, videotapes, and DVDs.
- Oral history interviews and other audio recordings
The History Center requires ongoing resources to maintain its collections of objects and documents. This work includes cataloging, storing, and preserving the artifacts, and the specialized activity necessary to make this unique resource available for use in exhibitions, publications, public programs, scholarly research, and loans to other institutions. We encourage you to consider making a financial contribution to help support this important work.
Costume Collection
With more than 20,000 garments, textiles, and accessories dating from the early nineteenth century to the present, the EHC’s Costume Collection is one of the largest in the state of Illinois. The Collection spans the breadth of Evanston’s history, including garments and accessories for men, women, and children. Collection materials focus on clothing and accessories worn by Evanston residents from all walks of life.
The Collection includes objects from significant designers, such as Dior, Callot Soeurs, Lucien Lelong, House of Worth, Jon Weston, Pucci, and Liberty’s of London. However, as befits the sensibilities of Evanstontians, the majority of the Collection includes objects from other sources. These include the works of lesser-known European designers, the works of American designers including Evanston designers, the products of local department stores and businesses, and clothing made at home by Evanston residents for themselves and their families.
EHC regularly displays objects from the Costume Collection in exhibitions and also makes loans to local institutions.
In-person access to the Costume Collection is available by appointment only.
Due to the extensive resources required to handle and retrieve Costume holdings, access to these materials is limited to researchers and designers who are able to demonstrate that in-person access is required to support substantive research. To request access, send an email with details of the request including specifics about the type of object, the date parameters, and the purpose of the research to the Costume Curator. Please also note that not all objects are available for researcher access due to condition, location, staff availability, and/or other factors. Scheduling an appointment to view available material requires 6 weeks advance notice due to staff availability and activities in the collection.
- Contact the Costume Curator at costumecurator@evanstonhistorycenter.org to learn more about viewing the costume collection.
- Families of past donors may also request a viewing of items donated by their families.
- To request access, send an email to the Costume Curator with the name of the donor, the name of the wearer, the approximate date of the object, and the type of garment or accessory. Please also note that not all objects are available for access due to condition, location, staff availability, and/or other factors.
- Scheduling an appointment to view available material requires 6 weeks advance notice due to staff availability and activities in the collection.
View the Evanston History Center’s digital collections.
The History Center requires ongoing resources to maintain its collections of objects and documents. This work includes cataloging, storing, and preserving the artifacts, and the specialized activity necessary to make this unique resource available for use in exhibitions, publications, public programs, scholarly research, and loans to other institutions. We encourage you to consider making a financial contribution to help support this important work.