Scope and Contents:
This collection contains photographs from the 1923-1924 school year at District School Number 144; a primary school located in Ridott Township in Stephenson County in northern Illinois. The school’s nine pupils came from the surrounding communities, including German Valley (Baalton), Ridott, and Seward in Stephenson and Winnebago counties. The photographer and compiler are not identified.
Illinois had one of the highest numbers of one-room schoolhouses in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s, serving the children of families living in rural areas. Stephenson County was home to around 145 one-room schoolhouses at this time. This album captures several common experiences among Illinois’ one-room schoolhouses, including the co-education of students at different grade levels, a school library consisting of a single chest of books, and the hosting of community events and celebrations.
This collection consists of one photograph album containing 53 gelatin silver photographs. Photo corners for three missing photographs are present. All nine pupils are identified by name and grade level: Irvin Beuth (Grade 4), Reka Beuth (Grade 7), Sophia Beuth (Grade 2), Edna Buttel (Grade 4), Heye Buttel (Grade 5-6), Henry Miller (Grade 7), Pearlie Miller (Grade 5-6), Edna Myers (Grade 4), and Vera Myers (Grade 7). The album includes photographs of the school building, the teacher (unidentified) and students, daily school activities such as studying and recreation, and special occasions such as <a>holidays (including Christmas and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday) and excursions</a> (including a geography field trip to study soil and plant growth and a walk to the H.J. Buttel home, located nearby the school in Ridott).
The Library purchased this collection in 2026 with the support of the Bruce C. Creamer Fund.
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