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Obituary Collection Donated
The Joiner History Room
has been given the obituary collection of Berdeane Wagner, a
well-known person in DeKalb County genealogy circles. She
is from the southern part of the county and this collection of
over 3,000 names from that area enhances the thousands of
obituaries that are already indexed and available to
researchers.
Her friend, Ginny Hann, wrote to the
Joiner Room,
“She spent many Sunday afternoons at the
Sandwich Historical Museum when her husband was president of
that association. She pored over the museum collection of
newspapers (including Sandwich and the Leland Times) dating to
the late 1800s, extracting obituaries and items of
interest—probably initially those related to her family and/or
friends, which led to assisting visitors as they showed an
interest. She extracted obituaries from the Somonauk Reveille
and Kendall County publications as well as other miscellaneous
papers.”
Berdeane also contributed many publications
to the Latter Day Saints Library in Salt Lake City and always
was willing to help anyone who showed an interest in genealogy.
The Joiner History Room is very
appreciative for this donation by her family. Queries
should be sent to the Joiner History Room using the Email Us
button, above.
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The Current Issue of the
Joiner Room Journal is Now Online |
Can You Help?
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The Joiner History Room is seeking to add to its archives pre
1960 telephone books and city directories for the cities of
Dekalb and Sycamore. We are also interested in historical
documents pertaining to DeKalb County. You don't have to
send the original historical document, copies will be just as
good. If you have such an item to donate, please email the
Joiner History Room. In the subject line enter "Item to
Donate." Thank you.
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In Our Archives
The Ritzman Collection
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Floyd R. Ritzman (1885-1975) was a teacher and
administrator in the DeKalb public school system. His passion was
photography, especially of trains. When the Ritzman family traveled,
Floyd always carried a camera. According to his son, Allyn, he and
his father would take drives with the intention of photographing area
depots, trains, bridges and events.
Through the generosity of Allyn, his father’s
collection of photographs was donated to the Joiner History Room. The
collection contains pictures of many railway trains including 400
pictures of the Chicago North Western Railway trains, and 135 pictures
of the Chicago Great Western Railway trains. Allyn and Sue Breese
spent many hours identifying and cataloging the photos. In addition,
the Ritzman Collection includes timetables, schedules, maps,
histories, and pictures of every depot that was located in DeKalb
County.
Click here to see some of the pictures in the collection.
The Joiner History Room also has available subject binders containing
information on trains that operated within the county, including
original ledger books for the Sycamore Woodstock Trolley Line.
Shown above is the Sycamore Chicago North Western depot.
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Images of America-Sycamore
Available
from Borders, Barnes and Noble, Amazon
and at Local Stores
Fairview
Cemetery Listing Has Been Updated And Available on CD
$15.00
For more information click on the
Publications Link
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Changeling Movie has a
DeKalb County Connection
For more information click on the
Website Articles Link
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