Category Archives: Springfield Survey

Homer Ellis, photographer (Springfield Survey)

Posted on November 12, 2022 by editor

Research by SangamonLink may have solved a minor historical mystery: the name of the photographer whose images illustrate the 1914 Springfield Survey. The survey was a massive study of the city’s economic, cultural, charitable and municipal institutions, an effort so … Continue reading →

Posted in Communications, Illustrations, Media, Photos and photosets, Springfield Survey | Leave a comment

Moose Club ‘athletic show,’ 1914 (Springfield Survey)

Posted on September 30, 2022 by editor

In March 1914, a couple of social survey experts attended a so-called “athletic show” put on by the Springfield Moose Club. The two – apparently Lee F. Hanmer and Clarence Arthur Perry of the New York-based Russell Sage Foundation – … Continue reading →

Posted in Amusements, Social life, Spectacles, Sports and recreation, Springfield Survey | Leave a comment

‘Segregated district,’ 1909-15

Posted on April 10, 2019 by editor

In the early 20th century, the city of Springfield set aside a few square blocks where prostitutes were allowed to ply their trade without interference from police. The theory behind the quasi-legal “segregated district” was to keep the rest of … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and vice, Local government, Public health, Springfield Survey, Women | 1 Comment

First labor strike, 1872-73

Posted on January 11, 2018 by editor

Sangamon County’s first labor strike failed, but it was only the first step in a coming struggle between business owners and the growing power of unionized workers. The issue in December 1872 was a demand by the county’s coal miners … Continue reading →

Posted in Coal mines and mining, Labor unions, Springfield Survey | Leave a comment

Newsboys vs. the mayor, 1921

Posted on October 30, 2017 by editor

When a newsboy stiffed Mayor Charles Baumann out of 2 cents change, Baumann ordered city police to dismantle every news stand in downtown Springfield. But the newsboys had allies of their own, including an influential group of civic-minded women. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Communications, Journalism, Local government, Media, Prominent figures, Public health, Springfield Survey | Leave a comment

‘Poor House Rules’ — the drawings of Alfred S. Harkness

Posted on February 26, 2015 by editor

Alfred S. Harkness (1866-1941) was an artist, illustrator and engraver whose specialty — at least for part of the time he lived in Springfield — was public health illustration. Harkness had been a member of the artist staff of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts and letters, Illustrations, Media, Medicine, Prominent figures, Public health, Social services, Springfield Survey | Leave a comment

Elizabeth Brown Ide

Posted on August 14, 2014 by editor

Elizabeth Brown Ide (1873-1978), who was born into money and married more, could have been merely a socialite. Instead, she became Springfield’s most prominent children’s advocate during the early 20th century. Ide’s parents were Christopher Brown and Caroline Owsley Brown, … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Medicine, Prominent figures, Public health, Social services, Springfield Survey, Women | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Duncan McDonald, labor leader

Posted on August 1, 2014 by editor

Duncan McDonald (1873-1965), while not as well-known as John L. Lewis, was almost certainly more principled as both a United Mine Workers leader and a politician. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library’s Chronicling Illinois collection characterizes McDonald’s labor career this way: … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts and letters, Business, Coal mines and mining, Lincoln, Abraham, Politics, Presidential candidates, Prominent figures, Springfield Survey | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Women’s literary clubs

Posted on July 14, 2014 by editor

The literary club movement began early in the 19th century as a consequence of the Industrial Revolution. The first recorded occurrence was a lecture series started in Milbury, Mass., in 1826. By 1834, 3,000 groups had been organized to listen … Continue reading →

Posted in Amusements, Arts and letters, Lindsay, Vachel, Prominent figures, Social services, Springfield Survey, Women | 4 Comments

Fire escape hazards, 1914 (Springfield Survey photo)

Posted on December 15, 2013 by editor

The Springfield Survey was a massive study of local schools, prisons, and other institutions undertaken in 1914 by the Russell Sage Foundation with the help of hundreds of local volunteers. Topics covered included schools, care of “mental defectives, the insane … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Photos and photosets, Social services, Springfield Survey | Tagged | Leave a comment