The Rare Books at Illinois College is a temporary student exhibit that was displayed in Kirby in Fall 2024 and can now be viewed here on this Research Guide. The students in the HI 177 - Public History class, taught by Dr. Jenny Barker-Devine, put together a poster exhibit about a small selection of rare books held by the Khalaf Al Habtoor archives that range from the 17th to the 20th centuries.
Public history focuses on the many ways that historic knowledge is presented to the public, rather than academics or specialists. It is a way of doing history for (and with) public audiences.
Where is public history practiced?
The primary purpose of the Khalaf Al Habtoor Archives at Illinois College is to appraise, collect, organize, describe, make available and preserve records related to Illinois College. Collected materials include official records from governing boards, campus offices, committees and faculty and student organizations, as well as unique campus community publications.
Some of our collections are also available online to explore via JSTOR Forum and is fully available to the public even when off-campus. Discover collections from the Khalaf Al Habtoor Archives and the Paul Findley Congressional Office museum, including Illinois College Yearbooks, the Jacksonville Female Academy, and the Beecher Family Collection. Contact our archivist with a research request at archives@ic.edu or to schedule a research appointment.