Preserving Williamson County History – A 501(C)3 Organization
Posts related to the WCHS
The Index to the book “Carterville, Cambria & Crainville, A Look Back At Our Towns” put together by Jennifer Spence & Sheri Hunter and published in 2011 has been added to our Master Local History Index.
The book contains references to 3,390 people, places, churches, schools, businesses and events.
The book “The Magic City of Egypt” published in 1991 by William N. Macfarlane has been re-indexed to contain 1,089 references to people, schools, churches, places, businesses, organizations and events. Primarily a reference about Johnston City’s history the book also contains a wealth of information about the coal mine industry and operational mines throughout the area. It itemizes a list of miners who lost their lives between 1897 and 1951, how they died and in which mines they worked in addition to how most miners lived and what wages they earned.
The title of the book was derived from Johnston City’s growth explosion due to coal mining from 1900 to 1920 with a population jumping from 787 to 7,137 in 20 years. The book was edited and photos secured by Pearl Roberts. The index has been added to our local history book master index.
The indexes to the Herrin Storme Funeral Home records Volume 2, Books 1 & 2, covering 1920 to 1959 containing 9,700 references have been added to the Master Funeral Home Index.
Our society recently published Volume 2 of Storme Funeral Home records from Herrin in two books covering the dates from October 1920 to January 1959. The references are available for viewing at the historical society and the indexes are currently being prepared for online access. Volunteers Colleen Norman, Ursula Richey, Ann Gammon and Sharon Vansaghi spent countless hours prepping these books for publication.
The index to Homer Butler’s, “Glances at Life” book has been added to the Master Newspaper Index. Butler created articles related to local history throughout most of the 1970’s.
The indexes to eight local reference books have been added as follows:
Two book indexes added to the Master Newspaper Index:
Obituaries Book One, 1879-1945, Williamson County Illinois, transcribe by Mary Jo Moore.
Obituaries Book Two, 1927-1945, Williamson County Illinois, transcribed by Mary Jo Moore.
Contains obits taken from funeral cards and misc. newspapers.
Six book indexes added to the Master Misc. County Records Index:
Williamson County Illinois Death Records, Volume 1, 1877-1886, by Charla Murphy & Helen Lind
Williamson County Illinois Death Records, Volume 2, 1885-1903, by Charla Murphy & Helen Lind
Taken form County Clerk’s office. (Supposedly required on Aug. 30,1877)
Williamson County Coroner’s Inquest Vol 1, 1900-1904, by Mary Jo Moore
Williamson County Coroner’s Inquest Vol 2, 1889-99, Mary Jo Moore
Williamson County Guardian Book A 1860-73, by Mary Jo Moore
Taken from County Clerk records
Williamson County Commissioners Order Book A, 1839-48, by Charla Murphy & Helen S. Lind
A membership meeting of the Williamson County Historical Society was held on January 21st, 2018 at the Williamson County Museum located at 105 S. Van Buren St in Marion. President, Sam Lattuca, spoke to the membership about projects that are in progress and recently completed. The society is in the process of publishing the funeral home records of the Ozment Funeral Home in Marion that cover the years 1914-1945, the Storme Funeral Home from Herrin covering the 1920’s and a transcription of the Lakeview Cemetery Interment records from Johnston City covering the years 1917-1963.
In addition, Lattuca, announced that two room renovation projects are in progress at the museum. One is the county jail display cellblock that housed local criminals and gangsters from 1913 to 1971 and the other is the Native American room. When completed, the museum will be displaying Native American points, projectiles and primitive tools all found in the county with some dating back 10,000 years.
A program was conducted by George Mavigliano, retired emeritus professor of Art History at SIUC. His books and articles follow his life-long research into the workings of FDR’s New Deal programs, the WPA, and specifically, the Federal Art Project conducted through the 1930’s and into the early 1940’s.
The museum is under its winter hours of operation and is currently open on Saturday only from 9:30 till 3 Pm until March 1st when it will resume its Monday through Saturday schedule.
The indexes to the following books have been added to our Master Local History Index:
The Herrin Massacre. A fair and impartial statement of all facts. The Trial, Evidence, Verdict. by Chatland Parker, published in 1923
In Bloody Williamson, My Four Year Fight with the Ku Klux Klan by former Sheriff George Galligan in collaboration with Jack Wilkinson, published in 1927
Neither of these books had ever been indexed. Both are available for sale at the Williamson County Historical Society for $10 each.
The index to the book, “Bloody Williamson, a Chapter in American Lawlessness” published by Paul Angle in 1952 has been added to the Local History Master Index. The book covers violent events that occurred in the county from the 1870’s through the 1920’s.
We will be holding a membership meeting here at the museum on Sunday, January 21st, 2018, at 2:00 P.M. We will be discussing society business and projects. The guest speaker will be presented by our own board director Dr. George Mavigliano, retired emeritus professor of Art History at SIUC. His books and articles follow his life-long research into the workings of FDR’s New Deal programs, the WPA, and specifically, the Federal Art Project. His presentation will touch briefly on all three.
I would also like to remind members that the 2018 membership dues are due. If you are not sure whether you are paid up or not, check the mailing label on your next mailing. If you are paid up the number 2018 or higher will be notated. We hope that all of our members have a productive new year.