Park Forest Photographs

Park Forest Photograph Collection

Some of these photographs have been scanned, with digital images on the "History" computer at the Archive. Several had copy negatives and 3" x 5" resin coated copies made by Charles "Bo" Lawrence, ca. 1985 through 2004. Some had 8" x 10" prints made as well. These copies were made with $500 allocated each year for a number of years by the Park Forest Public Library Board of Directors. Some were made with donations from the Park Forest Historical Society and some with money from fees collected from authors and publishers for photograph use.

Bernard Klein Photograph and Negative Collection

--Ben Callard Collection, Accession A1993.19.2 Bernard "Bernie" Klein was a professional photographer who lived in Park Forest with his wife Judie and son, "Rusty." They moved to Park Forest in February 1949, living at 3048 Western Avenue. In early 1952, the family moved to 140 Marquette Street in Park Forest. From very early in his Park Forest residency Bernie was doing advertising and public relations photography for American Community Builders, developers of Park Forest. Many of his photographs were commissioned by Mayer and O'Brien Public Relations firm, and are part of that collection [Mayer and O'Brien Publicity Photographs Collection, Accession A1988.19.3.] They are cross-referenced in the accession records. Several of his photographs became iconic images of Park Forest and were used numerous times by Chicago newspapers. His early business was called "Park Forest Photography."

He was employed up to 1953 as engineering photographer with International Harvester Company. His wife, Judie was involved in Park Forest Playhouse theater group, and Bernie was involved in the production and photographic end. The collection includes his photograph of the cast of, "Analysis in Wonderland" from May 1954. His Photographer's notebook contains photographs of actors in makeup.

On June 15, 1953 Mr. Klein opened "Camera Corner" at 101 Plaza with his wife Judie, and his brother Larry Klein managed the store. They sold photographic equipment and Bernard did portrait work of all kinds and for all ages. Bernard also conducted a photography class for the Park Forest police force, free of charge before opening Camera Corner.

At some point in the 1960s, Bernard Klein passed away. His photograph business was sold to Ben Callard of Crete, including the negatives and the rights to the images. Later, Mr. Callard sold the business to Phillip Brin, who operated it into the late 1980s as Park Forest Studio. Mr. Callard and Mr. Brin each donated prints, negatives, and the rights for them to this collection in the 1990s. Because Bernard Klein's work was so iconic, and so prevalent a public relations work, other copies and additional images have emerged in other donations since 1985, and as much as possible have been included in A1993.12.

Parts of this collection are accessioned as:

1. A1985.1 Park Forest Photography Promotional Notebook.
2. A1987.14 Ben Callard Collection, and Accession A1993.19.2, Ben Callard Collection [which all may be numbered as A1993.19.2 now, or may have come in two different accretions.]
3. A1993.12 Bernard Klein Photograph and Negative Collection, donated by Phillip Brin.

*The bulk of these photographs were taken by Bernard Klein. The rest were taken by Phillip Brin. The photographs cover the years 1951-1982, with one photo from 1951, the bulk from 1953-1967. Attribution is not made by the photographers on the sleeves and can only be determined by the archivist being familiar with numbering schemes used by Mr. Klein, and approximate year of transfer of the company.

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Mayer and O'Brien Publicity Photographs Collection, Accession A1988.19.3.

Mayer and O’Brien was a Public Relations firm in downtown Chicago, hired by American Community Builders (ACB) to do publicity for Park Forest. Charles “Chuck” Gold of Park Forest worked for this firm and secured the photographs for the collection when the company was going out of business in 1988. Several of these photographs became iconic images of Park Forest, used over and over again in trade magazines, Chicago newspapers and ACB’s own rental and sales brochures. Photographs in this collection are divided into subject folders, with headings for Schools, Churches, Fire Department, Houses, ACB (American Community Builders), ACB Personnel, etc. Photographs of the architectural model, and early construction of Faith United Protestant Church Education building are in this collection, along with photos of Dr. Gerson Engelmann, and Chaplain Hugo Leinberger. Many photographs in this collection have been scanned and/or have had copy prints and negatives made for the 3’ X 5” photograph collection.

Bernard Klein took a number of the photographs in the Mayer and O’Brien collection. The inventory/accession list for the Mayer and O’Brien collection cross-references photographs by Bernard Klein with the collections of his photographs, the Bernard Klein Photograph and Negative Collection.

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Archive Boxes 12a and 12b, Accession A2013.1-A 2013.1.46 and A1998.9-A1998.10 for 12a, A2013.1.47-A2013.1.87 for 12b

These boxes contain photographs gathered in the early years of the collection from a number of sources, including the Park Forest Reporter Newspaper, boxes of photographs donated by individuals, and photographs found in the Village of Park Forest vault. Since these were not filed or sorted in any way, an artificial collection was created with the photographs divided by subject.

Archive box 12a contains 48 folders of photographs featuring various events and places in Park Forest. These photographs include: American Community Builders, various anniversaries of Park Forest, architecture photos, art, celebrities, the Chamber of Commerce, churches, clubs, Governor's State University, health department, the Park Forest Public Library, Marshall Fields, and more.

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Archive box 12b contains 40 folders of photographs featuring various people and places of Park Forest. These photographs include:  Park Forest officials, the Planning Commission, the Fire Department, the State and Federal Government, Park Forest Public Works, Park Forest Recreation, various schools in Park Forest, various stores in the Park Forest Shopping Center, various streets, the Tent Meeting, Park Forest Transit System, Village Hall Construction, and the Water Treatment Plant.

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Park Forest Videotapes

Video Recordings Introduction

Boxes 41, 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d.
List created and initially filled in by volunteer, Rose Thomas in Spring 2012.

These boxes contain videotapes in ¾" Umatic and/or VHS masters, and VHS "Archive Copies", or in some cases, a DVD master or DVD "Archive Copy."

An Excel chart lists the titles in these boxes, by Box and letter number, i.e., Box 41 a.

The continuation of the charting project will be to use a printed copy of this list to record call numbers and accession/item numbers of circulating copies of the titles which have been made in VHS or DVD, and any other DVD copies made of the programs. Some of the programs had duplicate DVDs made, which were intended to become the Archival and Master copies of the recordings. "Archival" was intended to be a copy that would not be viewed, so it would remain as pristine as possible. "Master" was intended to be used to make new copies, since the collection was in the Park Forest Public Library and public use of the DVDs or Videos would result in wear and scratches. If they were used, a need for replacement would be inevitable.

In most, but not all cases these recordings were made by the Cable TV firm, Jones Intercable in the early 1980s, then by Comcast. Some were recorded by videographers we hired to do the filming. Most recordings are of Park Forest Historical Society panel discussions and programs. Some are Videotapes of the "OH! Park Forest," Oral History of Park Forest, final program, and videotapes shown to the audience at that program. There are videotape copies made from some of the 16 mm films in the collection.

A1987.13 Accession is the Dan Clark ¾" videotapes. Dan Clark was a Park Forest-raised young man who became manager of the Park Forest Jones Intercable Station on North Street in the earliest days of Park Forest's Cable TV service. He inherited the post from the first manager. The company was originally Cox Cable Company. Dan Clark did interview programs, "Neighbors and Friends," and taped political results programs, etc. He taped the program, "Shame on You Marshall Fields" and the blowing up of the Clocktower in 1987.

He also did a series of "Hot Seat" interviews. For this series he recorded one of the few recorded interviews with Mr. Philip M. Klutznick, former president of American Community Builders, developers of Park Forest. Mr. Klutznick served under several presidents of the United States, was the President of the International B'nai B'rith, and was a real estate developer, who built Park Forest Shopping Center, River Oaks, Old Orchard, Oak Brook, and Water Tower Place, among others. Also interviewed for this series were Henry X. Dietch, second Village President and Village Attorney, and Governors State University President, Leo Goodman-Malamuth. Mr. Clark saved these tapes from destruction when he was leaving the station by donating them to the Park Forest Local History Collection and Archive which I believe was also the time when the provider changed to Comcast.

Other titles which are considered to be in Accession A1987.13 include the series, "Neighbors & Friends" in which Therese Goodrich interviewed interesting people in Park Forest, "Round Table" which seems to have been political interviews, "Maeyama Day", and "Lively Arts Festival" tapes from 1983 and 1984, and "Beginning Guitar" with Neil Whitham, among other titles. 

Kristofer Olson, also raised in Park Forest, became Manager of the Comcast Cable TV Station on North Street in 1987-2004. Comcast originally paid Kris to film the Park Forest Historical Society programs, which were held in the Ringering Room of the Park Forest Public Library. Later, that free service was discontinued, but Kris donated his services to the society to videotape the programs. Magne Olson, Kris' father, was the president of the Park Forest Historical Society at this time. Magne may have made an in-kind donation of some payment to Kris, during this period. Sometimes Archie Cocke (pr. Coke) would videotape, either for Comcast or with PFHS paying him. Programs were almost always aired on Channel 4, Public Access Television for Park Forest.

When Kris was leaving the Comcast offices in Park Forest, and the studio was being shut down, he saved the tapes he had recorded or run for us, many more programs made for other events, and also more that Dan Clark had recorded by donating them to the Park Forest Local History Collection and Archive. At this time, a ¾" Umatic player appeared in our collection as well, which will someday enable ¾" tapes to be viewed and digitized. This collection is A2004.8, and is listed in a PDF.

In a Sterilite plastic box (contents should be transferred to an acid free buffered carton) on the wooden video shelves by the windows in Room 2 at St. Mary's, we have some DVD transfer copies made from the VHS films, and some original DVD copies of more recent programs which have been filmed directly to DVD. There are also a few DVDs sent to us by former residents, or by the Police Department of their anniversary program, which we helped supply newspaper articles and photographs to.

Former residents have sent us CD-ROMS or DVDs of their family photographs, and also DVD copies of their family films. In one case, a family film was edited by John Snider, down to just the video pertaining to the Park Forest Shopping Center, and this was given a sound track, in one instance synched with the music of Art Hodes as his band played for an Art Fair audience.

Jane Nicoll 3-7-2014, rev. 11-19-2014.

Park Forest Videotapes Collection

Click on the PDFs to view the lists of videotapes in more detail.

• Historical Archives Videotapes--This box of videotapes contains tapes of different topics from the years 1992-1994 including:  Park Forest: The Midwest's Best Kept Secret, Park Forest 6 1/2 Minutes, Save the Surcharge, District 163, Election Night Returns, interactive Video Bulletin Board Demo Tape, Today's Park Forest Featuring JPJ, Candidate Orientation Tape #1, Park Forest Labor Day Special, Uncommon Valor, Introduction to Matteson School District 162, Nurses Plus Promo Video, The 24-hour City Hall/County Courthouse: Partners in Progress, Park Forest Town Meeting, Education:  Everybody's Business, and Forest: Capture the Spirit.  (Note:  These videotapes have not yet been accessioned.)

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• Dan Clark Videotapes--This box of videotapes feature Dan Clark, from Jones Intercable, conducting interviews with individuals throughout the years 1984-1987 from various events including: the Hot Seat, Round Table, Neighbors & Friends, Park Forest Perspective #1. DeMarco #3. Arts, Craft, Gun Show, Maeyama Day, Meet the Candidates, July 4th Parade, Lively Arts Festival, Candidates Debates, Gov. Thompson in P.F., Jim Marzuki:  Election Documentary, Beginning Guitar Lessons with Neil Whitham Lessons #1&2 and more.

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•  Archive Video Box 41--This box of videotapes from 2005 features several topics including:  Senator Dick Durbin:  A Different View, Chronicle of an American Suburb:  Field Tapes, Chronicle of an American Suburb, and Chronicle of an American Suburb:  Home Movie.

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• Comcast Videotapes--This box of videotapes features the tapes from Kristofer Olsen when he worked as manager of Comcast Cable.  The tapes cover several events such as:  the opening of Old Plank Trail, An Afternoon with Friends, Bach Concert at Hope Lutheran, 4th of July Parade, Town Hall Meeting, Health Care Lecture, Rich East Concert-Band and Choir, and more.

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Park Forest Audiotapes

Oral History Collections

"OH! Park Forest"

Oral History of Park Forest 79 oral history interviews done in 1980-1981 with pioneer residents and others who were involved in early Park Forest development. About six of the interviews were done after the grant period, funded by the Illinois Humanities Council Grant, had ended. The list is based on what tapes exist, but users would generally be offered the typed transcript to read. Researchers might be allowed to listen to the audiotapes in house under the supervision of the archivist. With oral histories, it is the transcript edit that the narrator approves. Twenty-six are clean typed and bound. The others are edited photocopies. Circulating copies of transcripts are at the Park Forest Public Library, in a cupboard behind the "Information Station" desk. Twenty-seven of the transcripts are on Illinois Digital Archives in the "Park Forest: An Illinois Planned Community" project. Illinois State Library grant funded from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, this project began in 1998-99. The archive has the audiotapes, the original, and the original edited photocopies of the transcripts. The archive has those which have been digitized onto CD-ROMS. We will be getting the digital files, as well.

"GI Stories from a GI Town"

As of November 2014, Suzanne Brown has done 93 oral histories of World War II veterans who settled in Park Forest, Illinois. Fifty three have been transcribed. The archive has the audiotapes for those which have been transcribed. We will soon have the electronic versions of the transcripts stored on the History computer at the Archive. They will be shared with the Illinois Digital Archives, but mechanics of that have not been worked out.

"Oral Histories by James Saul" (This is a temporary title. List not divided out separately at this point.)

James Saul did oral histories as an independent project in the 1980s. We have audiocassettes of those interviews. None have been transcribed.

Park Forest Historical Society Programs

Most of the programs done for the Park Forest Historical Society since 1985 have been audiotaped.
Some were also videotaped. In many instances we have two copies of the audiotapes because one was intended for the Archive and one for the Circulating collection at the Park Forest Public Library.  None have been transcribed. None of the original analog recordings on audiotape have been digitized.

"Analysis in Wonderland"

Musical by Gerald "Jerry" Myrow, Al Engelhard, and Bernie Kuby. Written 1953-1954, performed by Park Forest Playhouse (a cast of ca. 50) in May 1954. These recordings were made originally on reel to reel tape, analog. We have made audiocassette recordings from the reel to reel tapes. These should soon be in our holdings as digital files and on CD-ROM. The Archive holds a collection, Accession A1997.6 Box 58, which contains "Analysis in Wonderland" librettos and some scores and some sheet music, articles and a cast photograph.

Robert A. Dinerstein

When Robert Dinerstein donated his many boxes of personal papers on the history of Park Forest, Jane Nicoll, Archivist, audiotaped his explanations of the contents of the boxes.

Grande Prairie Singers

We have a small collection of audiotapes and programs from Grande Prairie Singers donated in the early 2000s. It was determined that due to performer and composer copyright issues, we could not share the audiotaped music. We can share the programs, which are in the Park Forest Files at the Park Forest Public Library.

Park Forest Audiotape Collection

This list of audiotapes the Park Forest Historical Society Program possesses can be found at the Archive office. Click on the PDF to view the list.

These audiotapes cover various events and interviews including:

1. The Park Forest Hall of Fame Induction
2. Larry McClellan HUD and Park Forest South
3. Jane Nicoll T.A.L.E. Tape (1 and 2)
4. Carroll Sweet Jr. Rotary Luncheon
5. Carroll Sweet OH! Interview Tape (1, 2, and 3)
6. Anna Leweling Interview, Henry Leweling Tape (1 and 2)
7. Celebrating Marshall Fields
8. 5th Annual Up Front and at Home
9. Community
10. How Integration Came to Park Forest
11. 6th Annual Up Front and at Home
12. 7th Annual Up Front and at Home
13. Dr. Charles E. Gavin Foundation History
14. Park Forest Historical Society Trustees and Officials Reunion
15. Reflections and Accomplishments of Park Forest African Americans
16. Park Forest Historical Society Annual Meeting-Elaine Brownlee on PFHS Website
17. Gregory Randall Book Signing for "America's Original GI Town"
18. The Sauk Trail Indians
19. Park Forest Historical Society Steering Committee, and many more.

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Park Forest Local History Collection and Archive

Park Forest Local History Collection and Archive

Stored at the Archive Office
Open Fridays 10 a.m. to 12 Noon and by Appointment

• Duplicates and originals of some of the 270+ subject files
       including Integration and Shopping Center history.

• Oral History project originals and photocopies

• Photographs, slides, negatives (5000 images)

• Regional history files

• Videotapes, DVDs, Audiotapes, CD-ROMs

• Manuscript Collections, including papers of some Village Presidents.

• Select Government documents, including minutes of the
  first Village Board meetings

• Scrapbook original copies

• Maps

• Newspapers, hard copies. (Access may be limited by condition.)

• Records and scrapbooks of some PF Organizations

• Yearbooks, (Duplicates, Incomplete holdings)

• Textiles (limited) Some items of Park Forest clothing, Nixon
  Girls felt skirt, 1948 U.S. Flag flown at 1948 Tent Meeting.