Although it was first settled in the 1830s, Oak Park did not become an independent municipality until it split from Cicero Township in 1902. No longer a rustic small town, the village soon became a population magnet, attracting ever-larger numbers of prosperous, progressive people to settle in what many soon referred to as "the finest of the streetcar suburbs." Coincidentally, use of the penny picture postcard had approached a national mania during this era. Thus from the earliest years of the 20th century, the rapid growth and development of Oak Park was well documented, even celebrated, with a vast and varied array of outstanding postcard images.

Although it was first settled in the 1830s, Oak Park did not become an independent municipality until it split from Cicero Township in 1902. No longer a rustic small town, the village soon became a population magnet, attracting ever-larger numbers of prosperous, progressive people to settle in what many soon referred to as "the finest of the streetcar suburbs." Coincidentally, use of the penny picture postcard had approached a national mania during this era. Thus from the earliest years of the 20th century, the rapid growth and development of Oak Park was well documented, even celebrated, with a vast and varied array of outstanding postcard images.

Founded in the 1830s by Joseph and Betty Kettlestrings, an intrepid young couple from Yorkshire, England, the small settlement of Oak Park grew slowly until the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Before the ashes had cooled, Oak Park's population boomed as displaced families relocated into the community on the west edge of Chicago. By the turn of the 20th century, this thriving village became a magnet attracting ever-larger numbers of prosperous, progressive people to settle in what many referred to as "the finest of the streetcar suburbs." In the 1960s and 1970s, Oak Park became widely recognized for encouraging racial and ethnic diversity. Though best known for such residents as architect Frank Lloyd Wright and novelist Ernest Hemingway, Oak Park also lays claim to scores of others who have shone brightly in the national spotlight, as well as current folks who are passionate, daring, and dynamic. More than 100 noteworthy Oak Parkers-- past and present--are featured in this volume, from writers and restaurateurs to mobsters and movie stars.

This delightful follow-up to the first volume of Peoria: A Postcard History guides the reader through the development of Peoria to the twenty-first century. From the Illinois Riverfront to the streets of downtown, these postcards demonstrate the many changes that have taken place in this city throughout the years. The growth and expansion in Peoria have been phenomenal, and this volume allows us to follow the timeline of the city.

Although he was a native of Bullock County, Alabama, Wade Hall -- teacher, writer, poet, critic, interviewer, folklorist, and documentarian -- spent most of his fifty-year career in Kentucky. But he was never emotionally far from his home as evidenced by his passion for collecting vintage Alabama postcards. In his lifetime he amassed 10,000, which he then graciously gave to the University of Alabama Libraries and Troy University in a large joint bequest that also included rare books, quilts, folk art, letters and more. These postcards date from the late 1800s to the mid-20th century and offer a fascinating and diverse picture of the state. The meaning of postcards that could be purchased as a travel souvenir is largely forgotten today when cameras are commonplace. But the value of Hall's stunning collection cannot be missed. The some 400 cards featured in Greetings from Alabama are revealing of scenes familiar and rare. From Birmingham's Vulcan to Mobile's Bellingrath Gardens, from Enterprise's boll weevil monument to Huntsville's rockets, from Helen Keller's home to William Rufus King's resting place, the scenes offer captivating glimpses of Alabama history.

Today's Stockton is a modern California city, home to a quarter of a million people. But few remember the details of its illustrious past. Influenced by strategic waterways and rich soil, Stockton attracted a succession of miners, farmers, shipbuilders, and industrial entrepreneurs. Throughout the years Stockton has evolved from a rough-and-tumble harbor town to an agricultural, business, and transportation center and has done so with a great amount of style and finesse. This collection of vintage postcards showcases Stockton's early days from 1900 to 1950, capturing the elegance and industry of a young city on the journey to the modern era. This book contains over 200 images of Stockton including the waterfront, paddlewheel steamers, beautiful hotels, graceful estates, sprawling farm vistas, and the ornate buildings of downtown.

Strategically located seven miles west of Chicago's Loop, multifaceted Cicero is one of the oldest and largest municipalities in Illinois. In the late 19th century, this unique industrial suburb developed as an ethnic patchwork of self-sufficient immigrant neighborhoods. Since the Roaring Twenties, when mobster kingpin Al Capone set up shop there, the town has often been characterized by corruption and controversy. Yet the Cicero story continues to be full of promise and adventure, vision and accomplishment. As its population has shifted from heavily eastern European to predominantly Hispanic, Cicero remains a vibrant community where residents maintain strong civic pride, work ethic, and family values.