Browse Items (505 total)

Before Roots America’s history books silenced and marginalized the trials, tribulations, contributions and achievements of African American’s to America’s very being. However, Roots changed the trajectory of American history. The book version…

Lorene (Cherry) Langenfeld is pictured in the bottom row center wearing a white shirt with a circle brooch. She is pictured here with her class. Something interesting to note is that an African American student is pictured with her. As this was well…

Lorene (Cherry) Langenfeld plays the violin front and center of her school's orchestra. She was born and raised in Centralia, Illinois. This photo was taken around 1927. She is the great grandmother to Katie Brethorst.

Lucy Cherry attended Bell School in 1913. She is the great-great grandmother of Katie Brethorst. She is pictured wearing the flower in her hair and a necklace towards the center of the photo. The photo is also marked and points to her.

Andrew Brethorst, who has been an Illinois resident for most of his life, attended high school in New Jersey. He attended Morris-Knolls high school, and was a champion polevaulter. He was named the All Around Senior Athlete- Male in 1990. from his…

Andrew Brethorst, who has been an Illinois resident for most of his life, attended high school in New Jersey. He attended Morris-Knolls high school, and was a champion polevaulter. He was named the All Around Senior Athlete- Male in 1990. from his…

Denisha Brethorst, born Denisha Kehrer, upon her divorce melted down her wedding ring, a pair of emerald earrings that she received from her grandmother for her eighth-grade graduation, and her mother's class ring. Her mother was Diana Henry of…

The typed Valedictory speech of Fern FitzHenry. It consists of two, hand-typed pages. She gave the speech at the eleventh annual commencement ceremony at Drummer Township High School in Gibson City in 1922.

The commencement program for the Drummer Township High School's eleventh annual commencement ceremony. The Drummer Township High School was located in Gibson City, Illinois. The ceremony took place at the Chautauqua Pavilion on a Thursday evening,…

A framed yearbook page of the "Observer Editorial and Business Staffs" for Woodruff High School's 1952 yearbook in Peoria, Illinois. The Observer was the school's biweekly newspaper.