Local History

Telling the Story of Park Ridge

The Local History Collection is a Reference collection containing books and documents that tell the story of Park Ridge and the Chicago area. All available books and directories are listed in the Library’s Catalog. To view any of the Local History books, or learn more about the local clipping file, ask at the second floor Reference Desk.

Highlights of the Collection

City Directories

1922-1923, 1930-1931, 1948, 1949

Phone Books

1923, 1929-1931, 1933 to present (Missing: 1954, 1957, 1959, and 1966)

The Spokesman City of Park Ridge Newsletter

June 1979 – Current

Sanborn Maps

1894, 1905, 1924, 1950 (available on a flash drive at the Reference Desk)

Yearbooks from Maine Township High Schools

(including the yearbooks of Hillary Clinton and Harrison Ford)

Maine Township High School: 1913-1914, 1915, 1919
Maine East (Lens): 1937-Current (1961 and 1968 yearbooks are only available digitally)
Maine West (Legend): 1964-Current
Maine South (Eyrie): 1965-1970, 1972-Current
Maine North (Saga): 1971-1981

Microfilm of the Park Ridge newspapers

Herald

1889-1923(misc.); 1929-1986

Times Herald

1987-1995

Advocate

1942-1995

Herald-Advocate

1995-Present

Through the Library’s website, you can search our local newspaper Obituaries Index. This index lists the dates and page numbers of obituaries from our local papers. The actual obituaries are available to scan or print from microfilm in the Library. If you have any questions, ask for assistance at the Reference desk!

Digitized Park Ridge Newspapers

Full text, including advertisements and classified ads, fully searchable Park Ridge newspapers. Coverage: full run from 1929-1935 and 1937-2022 of the Park Ridge Advocate, Park Ridge Herald, and Park Ridge Herald Advocate, including scraps of the Park Ridge Herald from 1889-1923. (Only available in the Library) Generously provided by the Harold E. Schefdore Gift Fund.

Online Park Ridge History

City of Park Ridge, History Information

Veterans History Project originated as part of 2011’s Park Ridge Reads program. The Reader Services Department interviewed local WWII veterans as well as collected artifacts and photographs from veterans and civilians who were involved in supporting the war effort. For more information, please call the Reader Services Department at 847-720-3280 or use this form.

The Illinois Digital Archives website run by the Illinois State Library includes three Park Ridge Public Library collections to search or browse:

Two history books of Park Ridge: The History of Park Ridge, 1841-1926 by the Park Ridge Community Church Circle & A History of Park Ridge by Orvis Jordan
Mel Tierney American Legion Post Collection includes a digitized collection of 1,467 index cards and newspaper articles about local residents who served during World War II.
Pieces of Park Ridge includes photographs and other items from community organizations, businesses, and citizens.