Eli B. Gilbert Family Collection (DeKalb), 1844-1996

Collection Overview

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Administrative Information

Box and Folder Listing

Box 1

Folder 1: Orenda Needham Poetry, 1835

Folder 2: Copybook of Songs and Poems, from Needham Family, circa  1850's

Folder 3: Benjamin C. Needham Correspondence; Funeral Cards for Lois Huntly [Needham]  and Benjamin Needham, 1852, 1858, no date; 1857, 1880

Folder 4: Lyman H. Needham, Correspondence and Personal Affects, [He died in Andersonville Prison, 1864; 1853-1865

Folder 5: Civil War Correspondence, Eli and Lois Annie Gilbert, [mentions Merritt J. Simonds and Lyman Needham], November 1863

Folder 6: Eli B. Gilbert, Correspondence to Recover Money of Lyman H. Needham, 1867

Folder 7: Needham Family Related Papers, 1889, 1913, no date

Folder 8: Needham Family Genealogy Correspondence, 1935

Folder 9: Needham Cemetery, 1857-1906

Folder 10: Eli B. Gilbert, Obituaries, and other articles; Record of Gilbert Family Births and Deaths, 1895; 1907, no date; 1884

Folder 11: Eli B. Gilbert, Permission Letters to Teach Common School, 1844, 1847

Folder 12: Eli B. Gilbert, Licences to Practice Law, 1862-1866

Access Restriction: [See also  Box 9]

Folder 13: Eli B. Gilbert, Good Templar Membership, 1863, 1864

Folder 14: Eli B. Gilbert, Masonic Memberships, DeKalb and Freeport, 1867, 1889, 1894; 1881

Folder 15: Eli B. Gilbert, Political Correspondence to, 1868

Folder 16: Eli B. Gilbert, Correspondence, Miscellaneous, [mentions Chicago Fire], 1871-1880

Folder 17: Eli B. Gilbert, Accounts and Receipts, Miscellaneous, 1858- 1884

Folder 18: Eli B. Gilbert's Account Book [End of book also contains personal addresses and deaths 1880's-1902], 1850's-1880's

Folder 19: Dr. Chase's Recipes, book owned by L.A. and E.B. Gilbert, 1867

Folder 20: Transcript of Lois A. Gilbert's Will, not signed or dated

Folder 21: Lois A. Gilbert, Obituary and Memorial Booklet; Postcard from Lois A. Gilbert to Gilbert Blackman; Charges for preparing grave, 1909; 1910; 1910

Folder 22: Lois A. Gilbert vs. Josephine and John S. Orr, Legal Documents, July 1896

Folder 23: Abstracts of Title, Property at 210 North 1st Street, DeKalb, Illinois, 1844-1941

Folder 24: Mortgages for Property at 210 North 1st Street, DeKalb, Illinois, 1877-1940

Folder 25: 210 N. 1st Street, DeKalb, Promissory Note and Receipts for Electrical and Heating Work, 1901-1904

Box 2

Folder 1: Marriage Certificate, Josephine Gilbert and Austin B. Blackman; Story of her marriage and divorce from A.B. Blackman, April 23, 1873; 1877

Folder 2: Josephine L. Gilbert Blackman Divorce from Austin B. Blackman, October 1876

Folder 3: Austin B. Blackman, Business Cards, and Obituary  [Des Moines, Iowa], December 13, 1897

Folder 4: Josephine "Fena" Gilbert's Autograph Album, December 1877-1889

Folder 5: Josephine Gilbert Orr, Related Materials: Dance Program; Post Card; Article, December 1877; circa  1881; no date

Folder 6: John S. Orr, Agent for Haish & Company; Running for DeKalb Sheriff; Biographical Information, December 1887; 1890

Folder 7: John S. Orr Estate, Gilbert N. Blackman - Administrator, and Related Documents, 1916-1917, 1925

Folder 8: Quit Claim Deed to Josephine L. Orr from David, Harriet & Levi Orr, and Ellen & Charles Low, 1916

Folder 9: Gilbert N. Blackman, Correspondence to his Grandparents Eli B. and Lois A. Gilbert, 1887, 1908

Folder 10: The Busy Bee, Published by Clyde Jackson and Gilbert Blackman, July 19, 1890

Folder 11: Gilbert N. Blackman's Mandolin & Guitar Club Score Book, circa  1890's

Folder 12: Gilbert N. Blackman, Chicago College of Commerce papers, Business Card, and Photograph, 1898, no date

Folder 13: Gilbert N. Blackman and Myrtle Montgomery, Wedding Invitation and Certificate of Marriage, June 21, 1905

Folder 14: Gilbert N. Blackman and Myrtle Montgomery Wedding Book, June 21, 1905

Folder 15: Myrtle Miranda Montgomery, Affidavit of Birth, January 13,  1882

Folder 16: Gilbert N. Blackman, Articles and Newspaper Clippings, 1907-1914

Folder 17: Gilbert N. Blackman, Invitation to his Birthday Party;  DeKalb High School Report Card; Military Service Registration Cards, 1888; 1895; 1918 & 1942

Folder 18: Gilbert N. Blackman, Elks Resignation Certificate, October 12, 1914

Folder 19: Gilbert N. Blackman, LaSalle Extension University, Chicago, Accounting Lessons, circa  1917

Folder 20: Gilbert N. Blackman's Insurance Policy, 1920

Folder 21: Gilbert N. Blackman's Talk to the DeKalb League of Women Voters, on City Government and Taxes, February 1930

Folder 22: Gilbert N. Blackman's Patent Efforts for a Grain Door for Railroad Cars, 1954

Folder 23: Hospital Bills Paid by Gilbert Blackman  [DeKalb Hospital, Lincoln Hospital, Glidden Hospital, and  Copley Memorial Hospital], 1924-1959

Folder 24: Gilbert N. Blackman, Death Certificate; Myrtle M. Blackman Death Certificate, May 3, 1968; August 14, 1957

Folder 25: F.M. Blackman, Correspondence, Will, and Related Documents, 1898-1917

Folder 26: Wedding Announcement of Alice M. Blackman to Curtis E. Jackson, January 29, 1938

Folder 27: Clippings and Memorabilia from "Nice to Save" Binder, (mostly Alice and Curtis Jackson Family), 1940's to 1960's

Folder 28: Curtis E. Jackson's Will, and Power of Attorney, 1945

Folder 29: DeKalb Township High School, Class of 1933 List, circa  1974

Folder 30: Recollections of DeKalb, Illinois , Assembled by Edwin S. Hunt and Members of the McMurray Training School 1st Grade Class, including Alice Blackman  [Jackson] and Curtis Jackson  (draft copy), 1915-1937; 1921; 1996

Folder 31: DeKalb Memories, Articles, 1996

Folder 32: Jackson Family Genealogy, by David Jackson ; and a Letter [possibly by Luna Mae Jackson Atherton,], 1988, 1993; circa  1967

Folder 33: Gilbert N. Blackman and Myrtle M. Blackman, Social Security Correspondence, 1947-1957

Access Restriction: RESTRICTED

Box 3

Folder 1: Benjamin Cooley Family Descendants/Genealogy, [includes Needham's], no date

Folder 2: Montgomery Family Genealogy Correspondence, 1983

Folder 3: Annabelle Montgomery, Delayed Birth Record, January 10, 1884

Folder 4: Poem by Sylvia May Montgomery, circa  1910

Folder 5: Marriage Certificate, Casimer Jackson and Mary Lula Trowbridge, September 3, 1884

Folder 6: Palestine Company Wagon Train Journal [Council Bluffs, Iowa to Placerville, California], by Sabin Trowbridge, April 27 - August 29, 1850

Folder 7: Letter to Reuben Trowbridge from George Greenwood, June 12, 1879

Folder 8: DeKalb, DeKalb County, Illinois, booklet by Commercial Club, July 1913

Folder 9: Superior Steel Wire Clothes Pins, Patent by Henry F. Condon, Photographs, Brochures, and one Clothes Pin, 1914

Folder 10: Advertising Cards: "S Barb Steel Fence Wire,"; "Isaac L. Ellwood Hardware,"; "Root & Lewis Musical Merchandise, Chicago,"; "Braiden & Heefners' Dining Hall," [Des Moines, Iowa], circa  1888;  no date; no date; circa  1874

Folder 11: Post Cards: Main Street, DeKalb, Illinois; Black Hills, South Dakota Archer Avenue Bridge, Chicago, no date; no date; no date

Folder 12: Land Document for Church in Pierce Township, 1855

Folder 13: H.W. Hyde, Correspondence to, from Corydon Heath [relates to Civil War], 1862

Folder 14: Memorial Address on the Life and Character of Abraham Lincoln, by George Bancroft [owned by Eli B. Gilbert]; miniature Lincoln portrait, 1866

Folder 15: Revenue and Proprietary Stamps, and Related Items [photocopies, with added identifications from book]; Hopkins, Hunt & Company Checks written by Eli B. Gilbert; Hopkins & Company Check, circa  1873- 1901; 1864; 1867

Folder 16: Currency, Certificates, Tickets, [photocopies], 1853-1935

Folder 17: Odd Items, no date

Box 4

Folder 1: Photographs: Needham Family, (8), 1860's-1870's

Folder 2: Photographs: Eli B. Gilbert, (6), 1860's-1880's

Folder 3: Photographs: Eli B. Gilbert, engraving, circa  1890

Folder 4: Photographs: Lois Annie Needham Gilbert, (4), 1860's-1880's

Folder 5: Photographs: Eli B. And Lois Annie Gilbert's Portraits,(2), and "Mosher's Memorial Offering to Chicago,"; Letter of 1975, re: 1976 Centennial of this Exhibit, 1876; 1975; 1976

Folder 6: Photographs: Eli B. Gilbert's Home, 210 North 1st Street, DeKalb, Illinois,(7), circa  1900, no date

Folder 7: Photographs: Josephine "Fena" Lodica Gilbert Blackman Orr, (9), circa  1860's - 1920's

Folder 8: Photographs: Viola May Gilbert, (2), 1860's

Folder 9: Photographs: Ann Spooner, (2), and Obituary, no date, 1961

Folder 10: Photographs: Gilbert Family album page: Mrs. Abner [Betsy Balcolm] Gilbert, (2); Jessie Luella Elvira Gilbert; Josephine Gilbert; Lois Annie Gilbert and Josephine Gilbert Orr, circa  1860's; circa  1864; circa  1860's; circa  1900

Folder 11: Photographs: Austin B. and Josephine Blackman; Austin B. Blackman's Grandparents (7), 1870's; circa  1860's

Folder 12: Photographs: DeLand Relatives (4), and Related Correspondence and Information, circa  1860's, 1872, 1898, 1907

Folder 13: Photographs: John Orr and Orr Family, (2), 1870's

Folder 14: Photographs: Album Pages of Gilbert N. Blackman and Other Family Members including Myrtle Montgomery, Lydia Montgomery, Alice Blackman, and Curtis Jackson, (13) ..., 1889-1955

Folder 15: Photographs: DeKalb High School Class of 1895, (1), and Program, 1895

Folder 16: Photographs: Denver and Colorado Springs Photographs, (6) belonged to Gilbert Blackman and his mother Josephine Orr, no date

Folder 17: Photographs: M. Llewellyn and Caroline Jackson Photographs, (7), 1890's, 1940's

Folder 18: Photographs: Curtis and Alice Jackson and Family, (4), circa  1945, 1950, 1988

Folder 19: Photographs: Edward Livingston Jackson and Family, (5 photographs and 4 negatives), no date

Folder 20: Photographs: Lucile Jackson and Elmer A. Carlson, (4), 1942, no date

Folder 21: Photographs: Jackson Family Relatives, most unidentified, (12), 1942,  no date

Folder 22: Photographs: Northern Illinois State Normal School; and Dedication Invitation, 1895, 1898, 1901; 1899

Box 5

Item 1-24: Dry Glass Plate Negatives (24) - See Identification List at end of Inventory

Box 6

Item 1: Card Print album #1, Small carte-de-visite album, Ambrotype in case, circa 1890's

Access Restriction: [See Identification List at end of Inventory]; Fragile material

Box 7

Item 1: Card Print albums, #2 and #3, circa 1890's,

Access Restriction: [See Identification List at end of  Inventory]

Box 8

Item 1: Clipping books (3), [all contain clippings of  marriages, obituaries, poems, stories, recipes, etc.].  #1 [in phase box, fragile], includes Civil War related stories and articles, and women's issues, probably compiled by Lois Annie Needham Gilbert; #2, "Ledger" on front, "Mrs. Josephine L. Orr" written inside; #3, "Day Book" on the spine, probably by Josephine Orr, circas 1851-1867; 1881-1888; 1888-1889

Box 9

Item 1: Superior Wire Products Company, Record Book, [never used] Memorial Poster for Lyman H. Needham, 1864

Folder 1: Eli B. Gilbert documents: Admissions to the Bar, 1861

Folder 2: Eli B. Gilbert documents: Justice of the Peace, 1856-1893

Folder 3: Eli B. Gilbert documents: Notary Public, 1864-1893

Folder 4: Eli B. Gilbert documents: County Surveyor, 1892

Folder 5: Eli B. Gilbert documents: Trust Deeds, 1858, 1859, 1876

Folder 6: Eli B. Gilbert documents: Warranty Deeds, 1854, 1857

Folder 7: Eli B. Gilbert documents: Quit Claim Deed, 1858

Folder 8: Eli B. Gilbert documents: Indenture Deed between Charles Needham and Eli B. Gilbert, 1858

Folder 9: Eli B. Gilbert documents: Indenture between Obediah Mead and Eli B. Gilbert; and Release Deed, 1858;  August 3, 1861

Folder 10: Eli B. Gilbert documents: Release of Mortgage, J.V. Randall to Eli B. Gilbert, 1865

Folder 11: Eli B. Gilbert documents: Articles of Agreement between Eli B. Gilbert and Horace Parkhurst, 1872

Folder 12: Eli B. Gilbert documents: Tax Deed to Eli B. Gilbert, 1874

Folder 13: Eli B. Gilbert documents: Sale Mortgage, Eli B. Gilbert to J.F. Glidden; Release, 1879; 1881

Folder 14: Eli B. Gilbert documents: Lois Annie Gilbert, Warranty Deed, 1857

Folder 15: Eli B. Gilbert documents: Eviction Notice, J.F. Glidden to H.G. Newman, DeKalb, January 17, 1870

Folder 16: Eli B. Gilbert documents: DeKalb Hardware Company, Corporation Document, 1883

Folder 17: Eli B. Gilbert documents: Promissory Note, James W. Carroll to E.P. Young, 1858

Folder 18: Eli B. Gilbert documents: Internal Revenue Licence, V.D. Miller, 1866

Folder 19: Eli B. Gilbert documents: Land Grant Certificates to James Mason, Eleanor Austin,  Horace Austin, 1850-1851

Folder 20: Eli B. Gilbert documents: Quit-Claim Deeds, signed by E.B. Gilbert, Justice of the Peace, 1857, 1875

Folder 21: Eli B. Gilbert documents: Warranty Deeds, signed by E.B. Gilbert, 1864-1878

Folder 22: Eli B. Gilbert documents: Miscellaneous Warranty Deeds; Claim for Payment [Family connection not apparent], 1844-1884; 1867

Oversize Drawer 13

Folder 4

Item 1: Eli B. Gilbert Certificate, Appointed Captain in S.B.  [Spartan Band] Association, February 1863

Item 2: Union League of America, Charter for DeKalb, 1863

Item 3: DeKalb City Maps, 1910, 1949

Item 4: Group Photos, Great Lakes Naval Training Center, includes Curtis Jackson, 1945

Folder 5

Item 1: Nashville Weekly Union, October 5, 1863