David McMahon and Barbara Keeling Collection, 1910-2013 | Northern Illinois University

Collection Overview

Title: David McMahon and Barbara Keeling Collection, 1910-2013

Predominant Dates:1950-2011

ID: RHC/RC/329

Extent: 7.0 Linear Feet

Arrangement: The collection is divided into four series: (I) Rockford History, Companies, and Organizations; (II) Newspaper Clippings; (III) Audio Visual Material; and (IV) Oversize Material. The Audio Visual and Oversize series are further divided with Audio Visual divided into (A) Slides; (B) Tapes;( C) Buttons, Passes, and Artifacts; and (D) Photographs. Oversize (IV) is divided into (A) Newspapers and (B) Various Oversize material. The donor originally organized material in Series I roughly by decade. It has been further divided by topic and chronologically within. This means that information for an organization like Tinker Swiss Cottage, will appear numerous times throughout Series I. Series II is arranged chronologically and consists primarily of 1950s Rockford newspaper reprints of turn of the century Rockford photos. Series III, Audio Visual, is organized by subject and type, and then chronologically. Subseries D, Photographs, consist of photographs taken by David McMahon. Series IV is organized chronologically. For additional information on the Rockford Institute/ Howard Center, see the Howard Center for the Family, Religion, and Society/Rockford Institute (RC 238) For information on the Rockford Historical Society see RC 268. For additional information on Rockford, Illinois please consult the Regional History Center guides for further collections.

Date Acquired: 01/30/2013

Subjects: AmCore Bank, Beattie Park, Box, Charles, Burpee Museum of Natural History, Churchill Grove, Rockford, Coronado Theater, Discovery Center Museum, First Night, Greenwich Village Art Fair, Howard, John, Howard Center for the Family, Religion and Society, Junior League of Rockford, Keeling, Barbara W., Keeling, Virgil C., Keeling-Puri Peace Plaza, Keith Country Day School (Rockford, Ill.), Klehm Arboretum and Botanical Garden, McMahon, David W., Midway Village and Museum Center, Natural Land Institute, New American Theater, Newspapers, Northern Illinois Botanical Society, On the Waterfront, Puri, Sunil, Rockford (Ill.), Rockford Area Convention and Visitor Bureau, Rockford Art Museum, Rockford College, Rockford Community Foundation, Rockford Historical Society, Rockford Institute, Rockford Memorial Hospital, Rockford Morning Star, Rockford Park District, Rockford Pro/Am, Rockford Register, Rockford Register Star, Rockford Symphony Orchestra, Rock Valley College, Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum, United States--Politics and government

Forms of Material: Newsletters.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The David McMahon and Barbara Keeling Collection consists of material on Rockford, Illinois collected by David McMahon and Barbara Keeling from the 1910s to 2011. The materials document the various religious, social, political, medical, and entertainment organizations, businesses, and events of Rockford, Illinois primarily in the later half of the twentieth century. The collection also reflects McMahon and Keeling’s interest in Rockford history as they saved images and material related to Rockford’s early history while also saving material on important events and organizations in Rockford during the late twentieth century. The collection consists of museum invitations and programs, political material, material on local educational institutions, newspaper clippings, newspapers, audiovisual material, and material from various organizations and events. Of particular note are the photos of President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura Bush, that were mailed to voters in 2004 located in box 4, folder 39. Also of note is a high school scrapbook of Elizabeth “Ellis” Raffl given to David McMahon by Ellis’ granddaughter, Lynn Boreen of Rockford, Illinois, located in Series IV. Though the collection documents the history of Rockford, it also reflects the professional and social organizations of interest to Keeling and McMahon. The collection has little personal correspondence and material related to McMahon and Keeling’s daily lives.

Collection Historical Note

David W. McMahon

David W. McMahon was born in Rockford, Illinois and lives in Rockford with his wife Marcie. He graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1973 with a Graphics/ Communications BFA degree. After graduation, McMahon worked in marketing and management until his retirement in 2007. He has been a board member for several Rockford area organizations including: The Rockford Art Museum, Winnebago County Health Department Advisory, and Rockford College Social Work Advisory Committee.

In 1975 he met Barbara W. Keeling who shared an interest in Rockford and Winnebago County history. In 1995, Barbara Keeling gave McMahon an “early inheritance.” The inheritance was Keeling’s historical files which were then added to McMahon’s files.

Barbara W. Keeling

Barbara W. Keeling was born March 15, 1918 in Bemidji, Minnesota, the daughter of Arthur Guiteau Wedge and Margaret Wilford (Ford). She married Dr. Virgil Craig Keeling on November 24, 1945. They shared 53 years together before his death on April 30, 1999. They had 5 children together: Michael, James, Katherine, Timothy, and Thomas. Barbara Keeling was a devoted volunteer during the sixty years she lived in Rockford and her legacy includes the Keeling-Puri Peace Plaza. She died February 12, 2008.

Subject/Index Terms

AmCore Bank
Beattie Park
Box, Charles
Burpee Museum of Natural History
Churchill Grove, Rockford
Coronado Theater
Discovery Center Museum
First Night
Greenwich Village Art Fair
Howard, John
Howard Center for the Family, Religion and Society
Junior League of Rockford
Keeling, Barbara W.
Keeling, Virgil C.
Keeling-Puri Peace Plaza
Keith Country Day School (Rockford, Ill.)
Klehm Arboretum and Botanical Garden
McMahon, David W.
Midway Village and Museum Center
Natural Land Institute
New American Theater
Newspapers
Northern Illinois Botanical Society
On the Waterfront
Puri, Sunil
Rockford (Ill.)
Rockford Area Convention and Visitor Bureau
Rockford Art Museum
Rockford College
Rockford Community Foundation
Rockford Historical Society
Rockford Institute
Rockford Memorial Hospital
Rockford Morning Star
Rockford Park District
Rockford Pro/Am
Rockford Register
Rockford Register Star
Rockford Symphony Orchestra
Rock Valley College
Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum
United States--Politics and government

Administrative Information

Repository: Northern Illinois University

Access Restrictions: There are no restrictions on access to the collection.

Use Restrictions: Property rights in the collection belong to the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.

Acquisition Source: David McMahon

Acquisition Method: David McMahon of Rockford, Illinois received material from Barbara Keeling, also of Rockford, Illinois, in 1995 which was combined with his material and donated to the Regional History Center as the David McMahon and Barbara Keeling Collection on January 30, 2013. Additional records were donated at a later time.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series I.: Rockford history, companies, and organizations],
[Series II.: Newspaper clippings],
[Series III.: Audio Visual],
[Series IV: Oversize],
[All]

Series I.: Rockford history, companies, and organizations

Box 1

Folder 1: Keeling pharmacy, circa 1863, circa 1911
Folder 2: Peterson's Ladies National Magazine, 1874
Folder 3: Tinker Swiss Cottage image, circa 1887
Folder 4: Air Adventures of Jimmie Allen, 1934
Folder 5: Rockford History pre-1950 notes and printed material, 1857- 1898, 1914-1955, 1968, no date
Folder 6: The Lawn Place Spectaculars newspaper by Keeling children, April- July 1956
Folder 7: First Presbyterian Church membership information and booklets, circa 1957
Folder 8: Rockford Hospital, 1958, 1958-1977
Folder 9: Rockford history- 1950s, circa 1950s
Folder 10: Rockford homes and buildings, 1950, 1959, 1969-1973, 1977-1984
Folder 11: Rockford history 1960s-First Presbyterian Church, May 1960, December 1969
Folder 12: Rockford history 1960s, 1960-1969, 1977, no date
Folder 13: Newspaper clippings- calendar scrapbook, 1962-1963
Folder 14: Rockford history- Civil War research, 1962-1965
Folder 15: Rockford art history, 1965, 1969
Folder 16: Nuggets of History, 1968, 1973, 1975, 1979
Folder 17: Rock River Farms, 1969, 1978, 1985
Folder 18: Rockford music, 1969, 1983-1992, no date
Folder 19: Theater, 1969, 1986-1987, 1990-1992
Folder 20: Rockford College, circa 1960s, 1971-1977, 1984, 1989, no date
Folder 21: Rockford and national history 1970s, 1969-1978
Folder 22: Presbyterian Church information-Stronghold and First Presbyterian, 1970s, 1979
Folder 23: Rockford and national history, 1970s, 1979
Folder 24: The Little Travelers, circa 1970s
Folder 25-26: Rockford music history, 1971-1989
Folder 27: The Black News Star, May 19 and 26, 1972
Folder 28: National Avenue history and Heritage Home Walking Tour, September 23, 1973, no date
Folder 29: Beattie Park Riverbank Festival, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1984- 1987, 1989, no date
Folder 30: Wretched Mess Calendar, 1974
Folder 31: Tinker Swiss Cottage, 1976-1986, 1989-1992, no date
Folder 32: Holiday cards-Winnebago Couny Medical Auxiliary Holiday Share Card, 1977-1979, 1982, no date
Folder 33: Landmark Preservation, Energy Conservation, 1978, no date
Folder 34: Time Clock and Burpee Museum, 1978, circa 1970, 1999
Folder 35: Churchill Grove, May 1978-March 1980, March 1983-1987, 1989, no date

Box 2

Folder 1: Midway Village, 1974, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986-1988, no date
Folder 2: Rockford Historical Society "Nuggets of History", 1980-1981, 1986-1987, 1989
Folder 3: Rockford Institute, 1980, 1982-1983, 1985-1989
Folder 4: Church, 1980, 1985, 1988-1989, no date
Folder 5: Rockford social assistance programs, 1980-1989
Folder 6: Rockford area museums and historical programs, 1980-1989,no date
Folder 7: Rockford history, 1980-1989
Folder 8: Seth Burton Atwood, February 15-17, 1980, May 1989
Folder 9: Rockford Memorial (1 photo), 1980-1992, no date
Folder 10: Rockford Pro/Am, 1981, 1983, 1993
Folder 11: Rockford Goodwill, 1981, 1986
Folder 12: Rockford marathons, 1982-1983, 1986, 1989
Folder 13: Rockford city development and home rule debate, 1982-1984, 1986-1989
Folder 14: Rockford Memorial Hospital Centennial booklet, 1983
Folder 15: Taste of Rockford, April-May 1983, no date
Folder 16: Rockford Symbol and Rockmen Guardians, 1983-1984, 1988
Folder 17: Rockford events and programs, 1983-1986, 1988-1989
Folder 18: Rockford Art history, 1983, 1986-1989
Folder 19: Rockford politics, 1983, April-June 1989, no date
Folder 20: Swedish American Spring Festival, April-May 1985
Folder 21: Rockford homes and buildings, history and city development, 1985-1988
Folder 22: Lincoln Academy of Illinois, 1985, 1996-1997, 2001-2002
Folder 23: Personal Foul Rockford movie, April 1986-June 1987, 1991
Folder 24: AmCore Bank, 1986-1987, 1996-1997, 2000-2003, no date
Folder 25: New American Theater, 1986, 1990-1993, 1995-1996
Folder 26: Barbara Taggart music, "Summer Wonderland" and "Rockford You're My Home Town", 1987-1988, no date
Folder 27: Rosecrance, 1987, 1996-1997, 1999-2000
Folder 28: Rockford history, 1988-1989
Folder 29: Snow Sculpting Competition, 1988-1989, 1994, 1999, 2003
Folder 30: Waterfront, 1988-1989, 1991-2002
Folder 31: Waterfront, 2003-2007
Folder 32: Waterfront, 2008-2011
Folder 33: Rockford homes and buildings-historic and city development, 1989-1990, no date
Folder 34: Rockford Park District, 1989-1990, 1995, 1998
Folder 35: Nuggets of History, 1989, 1992-1993, 1996-1997
Folder 36: Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau guides, 1989, 1995-1996

Box 6

Folder 1: Waterfront, 2009-2010

Box 3

Folder 1: Churchill Grove, 1990-1991, 1993, 1996
Folder 2: Discovery Center, 1990-1992, 1996-1997, 1999, no date
Folder 3: Various Rockford museums and historical organizations and books, 1990-1993, 1996, no date
Folder 4: Tinker Swiss Cottage, 1990, 1993, 1996-2000, no date
Folder 5: Rockford community services and programs, 1990, 1995-1999, no date
Folder 6: Rockford politics, 1990, 1996-1997, no date
Folder 7: Rockford and national history, 1990-1999, no date
Folder 8: Rockford Memorial-Rockford Health System, 1991-1992, 1995-1996, 1998-1999, no date
Folder 9: Personal, 1991-1992, 1995, 1997-1999, 2001-2002
Folder 10: Perryville Path Project, 1991-1993
Folder 11: Rockford businesses, 1991-1993, 1995-1996, 1998-1999
Folder 12: Northern Illinois Botantical Society-Klehm Arboretum, 1991- 1993, 1995-1998, 2000, no date
Folder 13: Rockford Arts, 1991-1993, 1995-1999
Folder 14: Rockford College, 1991-1993, 1996-1997, 1999, no date
Folder 15: Golf, 1991-1993, 1996, 1998-1999, no date
Folder 16: Rockford events, 1991-1994, 1997-1998
Folder 17: First Night, 1991-1995, 1997-2000, 2003-2004
Folder 18: Rockford history-city development, 1991-1995, 1998, no date
Folder 19: First Presbyterian Church, 1991, 1994, 1996-1999, no date
Folder 20: Rockford Art Museum, 1991-1996
Folder 21: Rockford Symphony Orchestra, 1991, 1999-2000
Folder 22: Guides to Rockford, 1991, 2000, 2002
Folder 23: Midway Village and Museum Center, 1992-1993, 1996-1998, no date
Folder 24: Rockford Institute and Howard Center, 1992, 1994, 1996-1998
Folder 25: Rock Valley College, 1992, 1995, 1998-1999
Folder 26: Barbara Olsen Center of Hope, 1992, 1996-1997, 2001
Folder 27: Rockford Community history, 1993-1995, 1998-1999
Folder 28: Keith School, 1994-1997, 1999-2000
Folder 29: Winnebago Couny Medical Society Alliance, 1995-1999
Folder 30: Burpee Museum of Natural History, 1995-1999
Folder 31: Carrie Lynn Children's Center, 1996-1997
Folder 32: Rockford Community Foundation & Northern Illinois Community Foundation, 1996-1997, 1999-2003
Folder 33: Children's Development Center, 1996-1998, no date
Folder 34: BVRH Therapeutic Riding Program, Incorporated, 1996, 1998, 2000-2003
Folder 35: New American Theater, 1997-1999
Folder 36: Rockford Winnebago County forest and recreational facilities, 1997, 1999-2002, no date

Box 4

Folder 1: Rockford Art Museum, 1997-2000
Folder 2: Stronghold, 1998-1999, no date
Folder 3: Rockford Symbol, November 1999
Folder 4: Big Town, Little City newspaper articles, October-December 1999
Folder 5: Friends of the Coronado, 1999-2000, no date
Folder 6: Howard Center, November 1999-February 2001, no date
Folder 7: Discovery Center Museum, 1999, 2001, 2004
Folder 8: National articles and news clippings, 1999-2002, no date
Folder 9: Rockford community services and programs, 1999-2003, 2006
Folder 10: Rockford community history, October 1999-2005, no date
Folder 11: Jazz in the Night, June 24, 2000
Folder 12: YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association), September 2000-Fall 2001
Folder 13: Northern Illinois Botanical Society and Klehm Arboretum, 2000-2002, no date
Folder 14: Golf, 2000-2002, no date
Folder 15: Midway Village and Museum Center, June 2000-June 2002, 2004
Folder 16: Coronado, November 2000-June 2002
Folder 17: Tinker Swiss Cottage, 2000-August 2002, no date
Folder 18: Rockford College, 2000, 2002-2004, no date
Folder 19: Rock Valley College, 2000, 2002-2004, no date
Folder 20: Burpee Museum, 2000-2003
Folder 21: Broadway at the Coronado, circa 2000-2003
Folder 22: Rockford calendars, 2000-2003
Folder 23: YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association), 2000-2003
Folder 24: New American Theater, 2000-February 2003
Folder 25: Rockford area Development, June 2000-October 2003, 2006, no date
Folder 26: Various Rockford and national museums, 2000-2004, 2006, no date
Folder 27: Northern Illinois art programs, August 2000-April 2004
Folder 28: Rockford Memorial, 2001-2002
Folder 29: Barb Keeling personal correspondence, March, December 2001, January 2002, 2003, no date
Folder 30: Winnebago County Medical Society Alliance, April 2001, April-May 2002, April 2003
Folder 31: Rockford and Winnebago County medical history and programs, April 2001, April 2002, no date
Folder 32: Mendelssohn Club, 2001-September 2003, no date
Folder 33: Back Chamber Choir, 2001-2003
Folder 34: Zion Development Corporation, 2001-2003
Folder 35: Rockford Symphony Orchestra, 2001-2003
Folder 36: Natural Land Institute, 2001-2003
Folder 37: Keith School, 2001-2003
Folder 38: Rockford Art Museum, March-Winter 2001, February, October 2003, no date
Folder 39: Rockford and national politics, 2001-2003
Folder 40: Rockford events, February 2001-June 2004, no date
Folder 41: Junior League of Rockford, May 2003, May 2004
Folder 42: The Rockford Plan and correspondence, 1918, 2006

Box 5

Folder 1: Personal correspondence to McMahon, no date
Folder 2: Rockford buildings-Rockford Resort and Girl Scouts buildings, no date

Series II.: Newspaper clippings

Box 5

Folder 3: Rockford Commerce-West Side-newspaper clippings, 1952, January 12, 1979
Folder 4: Rockford Commerce-East-newspaper clipping and note, circa 1952, June 1952
Folder 5: Buildings-newspaper clippings, February, April 1936, 1952, July 1967
Folder 6: Rockford Historical buildings, 1887, 1912, 1918, no date
Folder 7: Residential Rockford-West-newspaper clippings and notes, circa 1952
Folder 8: Residential Rockford-East-newspaper clippings and notes, circa 1952
Folder 9: Transportation-steamship, streetcar-newspaper clippings, circa 1952
Folder 10: Transportation-newspaper clippings, February 23, 1936; circa 1952, June 7, 1961
Folder 11: Rockford individuals-newspaper clippings and note, circa 1952
Folder 12: Rockford people and groups-newspaper clippings, November 1936, 1952
Folder 13: People of Rockford-newspaper clipping and letter, circa 1952, 1957, 1965, 1967
Folder 14: Rockford general interest-East and West, Churches, customs, history, government-newspaper clippings, circa 1952
Folder 15: Rock River-newspaper clippings, April 28, May 30, 1976
Folder 16: Newspaper articles on Rockford history, June 1952, December 1959, February 1979

Series III.: Audio Visual

Sub-Series A.: Slides

Box 5

Folder 17: Doctor William K. Ford's slides (24 slides), 1948-1950
Folder 18: Doctor Keeling-picnic at Doctor Rogers (41 slides), 1950, 1954, no date
Folder 19: Doctor outing-Bill Ford slides (9 slides), 1964

Sub-Series B: Tapes

Box 5

Item 20: VHS: Rockford Register Star Premier video insert-Gruno's Holiday sale and coupon, 1999
Item 21: Cassette tape: Rockford music, plays, and radio, 1973-1974

Sub-Series C: Objects

Box 5

Item 1-28: Waterfront: Waterfront buttons and backstage passes, 1988-2011
Item 29-39: First Night: First Night buttons, 1991-2001, 2003-2004
Item 40-43: Jazz in the Night: Jazz in the Night buttons, 1997, 1999-2001
Item 44: Various buttons: "Second City, Rockford, Illinois", no date
Item 45: Various buttons: "Jackson School, 1904-2004", 2004
Item 46: Objects: Delbert E. Peterson-Rockford Police Department medal, 1985
Item 47: Objects: Doubles Cards for Rockford Monopoly game, no date
Item 48: Objects: Admirals Club-map research technologies chop sticks, 2002
Item 49-52: Objects: Rock River clamshells-from extended beach when Commonwealth Edison worked on Fordham Dam, June 1, 1976

Sub-Series D: Photographs

Folder 22: Photos taken by David McMahon, Shumway Farmer's Market, Rockford, Illinois (4 photos), circa 1970-1972
Folder 23: Photos taken by David McMahon, Marshall Fields & Co., including Walnut Room, Chicago, Illinois (6 photos), circa 1970-1972
Folder 24: Photos taken by David McMahon, DeKalb, Illinois (14 photos), circa 1970-1972
Folder 25: Photos taken by David McMahon, Downtown Chicago, Illinois (28 photos, 6 proof sheets), circa 1972

Series IV: Oversize

Sub-Series A: Newspapers

Box 6

Folder 2: Rockford city and company developments-newspaper specials, 1954, 1963, 1965-1966, 1968

Folder 3: Remarkable Rockford: Century Plus 10 special, March 1962

Folder 4

Item 1: National Headlines (11): Rockford Register-Republic, Rockford Morning (Shepard in space), May 5-6, 1961
Item 2: National Headlines (11): National Observer (1st edition), February 4, 1962
Item 3: National Headlines (11): Chicago Tribune (Kennedy Assassination), November 23, 1963
Item 4: National Headlines (11): Rockford Register Star (Watergate-Nixon staff), October 21, 1973
Item 5: National Headlines (11): Chicago Tribune (Watergate Transcriptions), May 1, 1974

Folder 5

Item 1: National Headlines (11): Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Rockford Morning Star (Nixon Resignation), August 9, 1974
Item 2: National Headlines (11): Rockford Register Star, Chicago Tribune (Chicago Bulls 6th title), June 15-16, 1998

Folder 6: Rockford headlines, 1965, 1972, 1979-1981, 1989, 1994, 2001

Folder 7: Illinois Sesquicentennial special, February 15-16, 1968

Folder 8: The Energy Crisis; "Salute to Veterans" Specials, July 1973; December 2001

Folder 9: Preview '76 newspaper special, August 8, 1975

Folder 10: Rock River Valley Preview 1980 special, February 19, 1980

Box 7

Folder 1: The Way We Are special, February 24, 1981
Folder 2: Pride of Rockford and "Pride of Rock River Valley" specials, June 15, 1998 and June 2000
Folder 3: Rockford Register Star Millenium Specials, October 24, December 30-31, 1999
Folder 4: Rockford Sesquicentennial special, June 9-16, 2002
Folder 5: Important Newspaper Issues: Notable Issues of Rockford Register, Rockford Morning Star, and Rockford Register Star, 1955, 1971, 1978-1979
Folder 6: Important Newspaper Issues: National historic headlines reprinted in Rockford Register Star and New York Times, 1966, 1999, no date
Folder 7: Newspaper inserts: Fourth Fest and Rockford Pro/Am, July 1, 1977; July 11-12, 1982
Folder 8: Newspaper inserts: Rockford Register Star Welcome Guide, 1981, 1992, 1994

Sub-Series B: Various Oversize material

Box 7

Folder 9

Item 1: A Sociologist Looks at an American Community LIFE, October 1949
Item 2: Annual Report City of Rockford, 1955

Folder 10: LIFE Special Report: 1973, The Year in Pictures, 1974

Folder 11: Spirit of '76-Rockford photo reprints and painting, 1976

Folder 12: Time Special Issue: Beyond the Year 2000: What to Expect in The New Millennium, Fall 1992

Folder 13: YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association) newsletter, Burpee Museum flyer, 1999, 2001

Box 8

Item 1: David McMahon's East High School Art Project Book: Victorian house, 1204 North Church Street, Rockford, Illinois, drawings; newspaper clippings; notes (includes 2 photos), 1963; 1995; 2013

Volume 1: Elizabeth "Ellis" Raffl's Sparta Township High School Scrapbook, Red Bud, Illinois, 1920

Oversize Drawer 28

Folder 22

Item 1: AmCore Bank calendar, 1985
Item 2: Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum, 1986
Item 3: Rockford Landmarks: A Guide to Historic Rockford, 1989
Item 4: Perspective Map of the City Rockford, 1891, reprint by Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum, circa 2000

Browse by Series:

[Series I.: Rockford history, companies, and organizations],
[Series II.: Newspaper clippings],
[Series III.: Audio Visual],
[Series IV: Oversize],
[All]