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 Reference Desk on the second floor.
Join us for the kickoff event to
Park Ridge Portraits: Past & Present
Celebrate the work of renowned sculptor Eugene Romeo.
Sunday, May 17
Explore the rich history of art, architecture, and community in Park Ridge. View and learn about the work of renowned Park Ridge sculptor Eugene Romeo during a three-stop tour:
1:30 p.m. – Iannelli Studios, 255 N. Northwest Highway
2:30 p.m. – Park Ridge Library, 20 S. Prospect Avenue
3:30 p.m. – Park Ridge Community Church, 100 Courtland Avenue
About Eugene Romeo
Arriving in Chicago in the early 1920s, Eugene Romeo worked at McNulty Bros, a large plastering firm. For many years, he completed ornamental and sculptural work on McNulty projects. In 1943, Romeo and his wife Jane moved to Park Ridge where he opened his own studio. In the Chicago area, his work can be found at the Shedd Aquarium, the Palmer House Hotel, the Chicago Hilton & Towers, the Chicago Board of Trade, the Lyric Opera House, the Stevens Hotel, the Merchandise Mart, and Joliet’s Rialto Theater. In Park Ridge, his work can be found at the Park Ridge Library and Community Church.
This event series is a partnership between the Kalo Foundation, the Park Ridge Park District, the Park Ridge Public Library, and Park Ridge Community Church.
Questions about the event? Email or call Judy Bacon at jbacon730@gmail.com or 847-975-6776.
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
At the Library, 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 save, email, or print from microfilm in the Library or in our Digitized Park Ridge Newspapers database. Just ask about them at the Reference Desk on the 2nd floor. Can’t make it to the Library? Email us at prkref@parkridgelibrary.org and we will search the index for you.
Digitized Park Ridge Newspapers
Full text, including advertisements and classified ads, fully searchable Park Ridge newspapers. Coverage: full run from 1929-1935 and 1937-2023 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.
Please call 847-720-3230 in advance to make sure the item you would like to view is available.
