Illinois grant helps preserve Elgin’s ‘Butter Capital’ legacy through digital archives
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The Gail Borden Public Library District recently announced that a vital piece of local heritage, The Elgin Dairy Reports (1892-1903), have become fully digitized and freely accessible. Following a year of meticulous preservation work funded by a state grant, this one-of-a-kind historical collection is now accessible to researchers, genealogists and history buffs worldwide.
During the late 19th century, Elgin proudly wore the “Butter Capital” crown, serving as the economic hub for more than 200 cheese and butter factories across the region.
The Elgin Dairy Report was the heartbeat of that industry, publishing essential market prices for butter, cheese and eggs. Local advertisements and community announcements also set the market prices that captured the flavor of daily life in turn-of-the-century Elgin.
The transition from century-old paper to high-definition digital pages was made possible by a $1,823 grant awarded last year by the Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board, overseen by Illinois Secretary of State and State Archivist Alexi Giannoulias. The project was part of a competitive statewide initiative to safeguard Illinois’ cultural heritage.
“These original volumes are incredibly fragile, making them difficult to handle without risking damage,” said Angel Flores, director of information and digital services at Gail Borden Public Library. “Thanks to the support from this grant, we have successfully preserved this irreplaceable history. Now, anyone across the globe can explore these remarkable stories and data that shaped Elgin’s identity.”
James McAdams, Genealogy & Local History Librarian, worked alongside Flores to oversee the delicate preparation and digitization process of the historic logs.
“The digital collection is fully indexed and searchable,” added James McAdams, Genealogy & Local Historian Librarian. “This makes it easy to track names, historic local businesses, and the agricultural data that once dictated national dairy markets.”
The public can explore The Elgin Dairy Reports collection for free today by visiting the library's digital archives at gbpl.info/dairyreports.
The Gail Borden Public Library’s grant is one of 11 awarded during the 2025-2026 cycle by Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board.
“We thank the Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board and Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, and many others who see the great value in preserving Elgin’s historical documents,” Flores added.
It is supported in part by an award from the Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board, through funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, National Archives and Records Administration.
About the Gail Borden Public Library District:
The Gail Borden Public Library District is “the library where imagination and transformation flourish, fueled by the power of community.” Recognized for its impact and partnerships, the Library has received numerous accolades, including the 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the highest honor that can be bestowed on an American library. Serving a population of nearly 150,000, it is the second-largest self-governed public library district by population served in the state of Illinois. With numerous literary resources and exciting exhibits like Pirate Island, SPACE and Lego architecture, the library strives to engage people of all ages through education, recreation and creativity. Visit gailborden.info/culture.