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