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Agriculture

The 18th Century

A Topographical Description on Illinois, 1778

• This portion of a book my Hutchins describes the types of agriculture than can be conducted in Illinois and generally goes over the topography of the region. 
• Citation: Hutchins, Thomas. "A Topographical Description of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and North Carolina: Reprinted from the Original Edition of 1778." ed. by Frederick Charles Hicks. Cleveland, OH: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1904.

The 19th Century

Pre-Statehood

Excerpt from Morris Birkbeck's Notes on a Journey from the Coast of Virgninia to the Territory of Illinois

• Morris Birkbeck was an Englishman and prolific writer who settled in Illinois. He published his Notes in 1818. In this excerpt, he discusses the economic state of the farmer and the prices for various foodstuffs.
• Citation: Quaife, Milo Milton, ed. Pictures of Illinois One Hundred Years Ago. Chicago: The Lakeside Press, 1818.

Early Statehood

Excerpt from J.M. Peck's A New Guide for Emigrants to the West 1836

• J.M. Peck wrote this manual for people settling the states of Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, and of course Illinois, as well as the territories of Wisconsin and Arkansas. In this short excerpt, he describes how to set up a farm in Illinois.
• Citation: Peck, J.M. A new guide for emigrants to the West : containing sketches of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, with the territories of Wisconsin and Arkansas, and the adjacent parts. Boston: Gould, Kendall & Lincoln, 1836.

Effingham County Estray Record 1845 / Typed Transcription

• People who found and kept stray livestock (estrays) were required by law to report their finds to a justice of the peace. The justice recorded a description of the animal, the name and residence of the finder, and the appraised value of the animal. Public notice of the find was then given. If no one claimed the animal after one year, it became the property of the finder. If the owner claimed the animal, he was required to reimburse the finder for the cost of keeping the stock.
• Citation: Turnbaugh, Dr. Roy C. Jr. and Robert E. Bailey. Windows to the Past: A Selection of Illinois County Records from 1818 to 1880. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1985. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Marks and Brands Record, Calhoun County, 1858 / Typed Transcription

• A state law required county clerks to maintain a book, which recorded ear marks on cattle, horses, hogs, sheep, and goats. To encourage registration owners were paid 12.5 cents for their participation. Marking was necessary when stock was allowed to graze freely without fencing.
• Citation: Turnbaugh, Dr. Roy C. Jr. and Robert E. Bailey. Windows to the Past: A Selection of Illinois County Records from 1818 to 1880. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1985. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

The Late 19th Century

Photograph of Centennial Parade, July 4, 1876, Charleston, Illinois  

• This photograph depicts two floats from the Traver and Nixon Broom Factory. Broomcorn played an important role in Coles County’s economy. Manufacturers used the tassels of the broomcorn plant to make the bristles of the broom found in many kitchens.
• Photograph courtesy of the Illinois State Historical Society.

Newspaper article about lack of rain, August 8, 1894

• This article from the New York Times talks about a lack of rainfall and it's affect on crops in the Illinois region. 
• Citation: "Illinois Still Needs Rain." New York Times, August 8, 1894.

Memoir of Edward West, 1895, Speaking About the Farmer and Fruit Growers Association

• Citation: West, Edward William. "Memoirs: Record of the Events in the Life and Times of Edward William West, Belleville, Illinois, A. D. 1895." In "Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society," vol. 22, no. 2. July, 1929.

The 20th Century

Newspaper article, "Opposes National Farm Credit Law," Nov. 14, 1915

• An article in the New York Times about a proposed farm credit law which is denounced by B. F. Harris of Champaign, IL.
• Citation: "Opposes National Farm Credit Law." New York Times, November 14, 1915.

Letter Concerning an Appointment to the State Agricultural Conciliatory Committee, 12 January 1934

• William Tanner, a farmer in Kankakee, was selected to be on the State Agricultural Conciliatory Committee. This group helped farmers prepare applications and other processes to work out debt payments.
• Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Letter Requesting Free Garden Seeds, 16 February 1934

• Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Letter Complaining of Unfair Treatment Under a Feed and Seen Loan Program, 22 February 1935

• Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Letter Concerning the Depressed Livestock Industry, 5 March 1935

• The Great Depression caused many businesses to have to downsize, reduce wages, and sometimes close. The livestock industry was no exception.
• Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Plains Farms Need Trees WPA Poster, 1936-40

• This poster, associated with the Prairie State Forestry Project, encourages planting trees as a method of soil conservation. It depicts two farms--one with trees and one without.
• Citation: “Plains Farms Need Trees: Trees Prevent Wind Erosion, Save Moisture … Protect Crops, Contribute to Human Comfort and Happiness / J. Dusek,” Chicago: Illinois WPA Art Project, 1940, accessed through "By the People, For the People: Posters from the WPA, 1936-1943." Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaposters/.

Letter Requesting Drought Relief for Fayette County, 1 August 1936

• Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

News Release from the State Rural Electrification Committee, 1938

• The Great Depression caused many businesses to have to downsize, reduce wages, and sometimes close. The livestock industry was no exception.
• Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

14th Cattle Feeders Meeting, WPA Poster, 1940

• This poster announced the 14th annual cattle feeders meeting at the University of Illinois in Urbana and depicts the head of a cow.
• Citation: “14th Illinois Cattle Feeders Meeting: Nov. 8, 1940, University of Illinois, Urbana, Ill.,” Chicago: Illinois WPA Art Project, 1940, accessed through "By the People, For the People: Posters from the WPA, 1936-1943." Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaposters/.

Annual Farm and Home Week, WPA Poster, 1941

• This poster advertises for the Annual Farm and Home Week at the College of Agriculture, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana for January 6-10, 1941. It shows a snow-covered barn, silo, and mailbox.
• Citation: “Annual Farm and Home Week,” Chicago: WPA Art Project, 1941, accessed through "By the People, For the People: Posters from the WPA, 1936-1943." Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaposters/.

Worker Service Program, WPA Poster, 1941

• This poster, showing factories and farm buildings, advertises for the Workers Service Program in Rockford.
• Citation: “Workers Service Program … Rockford, Illinois,” Chicago: Illinois WPA Art Project, 1941, accessed through "By the People, For the People: Posters from the WPA, 1936-1943." Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaposters/.

World War II

Victory Garden Diagram, March 1942

• Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

War Food Communique No. 1, Meat Rationing, October 1942

• Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Defense News from Illinois State Council of Defense, City Children and Farm Work, 22 February 1943

• Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

A Billion-Acre War Plant, America's Farms, 1943

• Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

1,000 LB. Horse, Diagram of Byproducts, 1945

• Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.