Joiner History Room
103 E. State Street
Sycamore, IL 60178
815-895-7271
JoinerHistoryRoom@DeKalbCounty.org

Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 10AM-3PM
Located in the Sycamore Public Library

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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.
 

The Current Issue of the Joiner Room Journal is Now Online

Can You Help?

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  We are also interested in historical documents pertaining to DeKalb County.  You don't have to send the original historical document, copies will be just as good.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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



In Our Archives

The Ritzman Collection

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Changeling Movie has a DeKalb County Connection



For more information click on the
Website Articles Link

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

This Page Maintained by Sheri Baker
DKGenWebSheri@AOL.com

Copyright 2007 Sheri Baker.  All Rights Reserved.  Copyright of submitted items belongs to those responsible for the authorship or creation unless otherwise assigned.