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Highland Park Archives and Local History Collections

The Highland Park Archives and Local History Collections (HPALHC) is a collaboration between the Highland Park Public Library, the City of Highland Park, and the Highland Park Historical Society. The collaboration documents the distinct, diverse community of Highland Park and its inhabitants through government records, organizational records, family interviews, papers, correspondence and images, photography collections, maps, and much more in both digital and physical formats.

Whether for research or for exploration and discovery, HPALHC ensures that the history of Highland Park is available and accessible.

To preserve this history and enhance the collection, HPALHC welcomes contributions of historical documents pertaining to Highland Park. For more information or to discuss donating materials, contact Bridget Lerette at blerette@hplibrary.org.

Together, let’s preserve Highland Park’s history! 

About

The collections include books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, newspapers, scrapbooks, records of local organizations and local government records, and related materials documenting Highland Park history from the 1800s to the present, including resources on Ravinia, Fort Sheridan, and the surrounding area. Archives and Local History collections are for use at the Library only and cannot be borrowed. The Archivist and the Information and Reader Services Librarians will assist you.  Photocopying or other reproduction of Archives & Local History materials may be restricted. Please read the Agreement and Reproduction form.

Research Assistance

While appointments are not necessary to use the Archives, we welcome getting advance notice for access to the Archives and Local History Collection. Please contact Information and Reader Services for more information.

PHONE: 847-681-7031
EMAIL: hppla@hplibrary.org

Digital Resources

Highland Park Local Newspapers 
Digital copies of local newspapers from 1874 - 1951
Historical Photos on Flickr
Early photos of Highland Park from the Library's Historical Files
Jesse Lowe Smith Diaries
(1888 - 1934)
Jesse Lowe Smith Photo Collection
Telephone Directories
(1908 - 1913)
Civil War Veterans
Civil War Veterans from Highland Park, IL
Armed Forces in Your Family
Research the military service of your ancestors with the Library
"Highland Park Number" Real Estate and Building Journal, January 2, 1909
(incomplete)
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
(1900-1924)
Historical Sketch of Highland Park
From the Highland Park Code of 1919
Notes on History of Highland Park, Illinois
Published by the North Shore Chapter of the D.A.R. 1920
Deerfield-Shields and Highland Park High School Annuals 1912-1935
Funded by the Friends of the Library
Research Guides