McKendree University Archives and Museum

Tune in to the National Archives YouTube channel on Wednesday, May 3, at 1 pm ET as Claire Kluskens, National Archives subject matter expert for genealogy and a digital projects archivist, discusses how civilians supported a war or were affected by it. She’ll focus on records spanning the American Revolution to World War I.
https://www.archives.gov/calendar/genealogy-series/2023

The Museum located in Bothwell Chapel will be open from Noon-4:00PM on Thursday, April 27th for AEC!

Academic Excellence Celebration | McKendree University This page provides information about the McKendree University Academic Excellence Celebration.

Thanks to the St. Clair County Historical Society for hosting a social networking event on Wednesday evening! We had fun playing games, eating pizza, and talking with others from museums all around the area.

Here are our Museum Hours for the Spring 2023 semester. We are located on the first floor of Bothwell Chapel. Hope to see you soon!

May 5, 2022 As SCCGS turns 45, please join us for “From Seminary to University: 194 Years of History in the McKendree Archives“

Register in advance for this free virtual presentation: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIlfumqrD8tGdD_Je1xvbf72yai_13TgkSP

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

McKendree Holman Library Director Deborah Houk and University of Illinois-Springfield public history graduate program student Justin Smock provide a brief history of McKendree University, and the difference between an archivist versus an historian. They cover what types of materials can be found in the Archives and how to access them; their digitized materials and how to request information from the Archives.

Deborah was born and raised in Belleville. She attended Belleville Area College (now Southwestern Illinois College) and transferred to McKendree College, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in History. She then attended the University of Missouri – Columbia, where she earned a master’s degree in Library Science. After working as the librarian at the Belleville News-Democrat, she started at McKendree in 1996. In 2010, she took over as the university’s Archivist in addition to her other job duties. In 2020, she became Director of the Holman Library at McKendree.

Justin is a Belleville transplant, originally from Harrisburg, Ill. His passion for history began with his undergraduate years when he served as a student worker for Deborah Houk at McKendree’s Archives and Museum. He also worked as a spring intern for the Cahokia Mounds Museum Society in Collinsville, Ill. After earning his bachelor’s degree in history from McKendree in 2019, he began his graduate program in Public History at the University of Illinois-Springfield, he’s worked as an intern with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Historic Preservation Office, specifically with the National Register of Historic Places. He’ll complete his master’s degree requirements this spring.

After 72 years of confidentiality, the will be released to the public on April 1, 2022. Get ready to access these records online, and visit the new National Archives web page for research tips and resources: https://www.archives.gov/research/census/1950

Happy Birthday McKendree University! 🎉🎂🥳
Join us virtually for the installation of Reverend Dr. Beverly Wilkes-Null and a celebration of McKendree University's 194 years of Academic Excellence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkhDuP3U_Io

Tempus Fugit: This Seth Thomas clock originally belonged to Ira Stanton Jr., a McKendree student in 1856 and 1857, whose journal revealed a fascination with time, weather and local events.

Ira, an ardent Methodist and fierce opponent of slavery, enlisted in the Union Army and died in service in Memphis in 1863 at age 27, leaving behind a young widow and infant son.

The clock remained a treasured family possession for several generations and was eventually gifted to McKendree by Ira’s great-great-grandson and his family.

View this and other fascinating items at McKendree’s Archive and Museum.

: Where is William McKendree buried?

JINGLE BELLS 🔔: One of the oldest bells in the U.S., Bothwell Chapel’s Bell was cast in Spain in the eighth century, recast in the 14th century, and brought to Florida by Jesuit missionaries in the 16th century.

A St. Louis foundry owner bought the bell to recast. In 1858, Dr. Nelson Cobleigh, the college president, bought it for $60 at the Illinois State Fair and brought it to McKendree.

The original chapel bell tower suffered storm damage in 1957. A generous gift from Miss Marion Bothwell enabled the construction of a renovated chapel in 1858 and replicas of the bell, like the one shown here, were made and sold to raise additional funds.

Support Holman Library on !

Holman Library Give back to Holman Library on ! Help us to reach our goal of raising $2,000 in 24 hours to support our efforts. With your help, we can continue to be an important resource to our students, faculty, staff, and alumni each day!

Chilly temperatures and shorter daytime hours have always given way to a unique panoply of fall fashion, but the hat you see here is a rare slice of McKendree history.

This beaver fur hat was worn by Peter Cartwright (1785-1872), a Methodist circuit rider who was elected to the Illinois General Assembly. He became a preacher in 1802, ordained in 1806 by Bishop William McKendree.

Calling himself “God’s Plowman,” Peter was known as the “Backwoods Preacher.” He promoted education and helped found McKendree, Illinois Wesleyan and MacMurray Colleges.

Find this and other items at the McKendree University Archives and Museum.

FUN FACT OF THE WEEK!!!

*Did you know that in Illinois in October of 1964 it was declared McKendree College Month!?*

In 1964 Illinois Governor Otto Kerner was so impressed by the progress McKendree was making in the field of academic excellence that he officially declared October McKendree College Month.
This was so widely accepted by the state that the 1964 state license plates were made purple in honor of the school.

Check back next week for another unique fun fact!
Please like and share with your friends and don't forget to come check more amazing stories at the McKendree University Museum located on the first floor of Bothwell Chapel!!!

MUSEUM IS OPEN TODAY FROM 11-2!!!

It's now easier to email McKendree University Archives and Museum

The McKendree Archives received a very generous gift today! It’s Albert McFarland’s Civil War drum from the estate of Edwin G. and Marion E. Gerling. McFarland was a drummer in Company I of the 117th Illinois Infantry Regiment of Volunteers. It was nicknamed the “McKendree Regiment” because it was made up of a large number of faculty and students from McKendree College.

The drum was presented to McKendree by their children: Bryan Gerling, Jane Johnson, and Robert Gerling.

McKendree University Archives and Museum updated their information in their About section.

Great news! The Museum is open this Fall for the following hours:

Monday: 9-Noon; 1-3pm

Tuesday: 2-4pm

Wednesday: 8-Noon; 1-3pm

Thursday: 11-Noon; 2-4pm

Friday: 1-3pm

We are located on the first floor of Bothwell Chapel so be sure to stop by!

TGIF! Have a great weekend Bearcats!

Stop by the Archives & Library table today in the Hett until 2pm!

💜 INVOLVEMENT FAIR TODAY!!! 💜
Stop by the table today from 11am - 2pm for some goodies and to hear more about the purple pigs! 🐷🪙

Celebrate Preservation Week 2021!

Charles Dickens spent the night at the Mermaid House in Lebanon in 1842. Not fond of Belleville, Dickens favorably compared the inn to those in English country towns. Lebanon Advertiser Lebanon Chamber of Commerce Lebanon Illinois Brick Street