Huge postcard collection could leave Lake County
The Lake County Forest Preserve District could transfer ownership of the world-renowned Curt Teich Postcard Archives to the University of Illinois as part of a potential plan to save money and make the collection more accessible.
Established in 1982 at the district-run Lake County Discovery Museum at the Lakewood Forest Preserve near Wauconda, the archives have grown from the initial donation from the Chicago-based Curt Teich Co. to nearly 3 million items. It is regarded as the largest public collection of postcards and related materials in the world, and a premier source of images from the 20th century.
Plans are to relocate the museum to the district offices in Libertyville and to build a storage area for the archives and collections. However, the project cost would be reduced by $800,000 if the Teich archives were not part of the mix, according to Executive Director Ty Kovach.
The district also would save $107,781 by not filling the vacant position of historical resources manager. Another $10,000 a year would be saved in data storage, as would an estimated $30,000 in software and hardware upgrades, Kovach reported Monday to the forest board's education cultural resources and public affairs committee. The savings are attractive, given the district is looking in every nook and cranny of its operations for ways to save money.
To that end, Kovach is seeking the go-ahead from forest district commissioners to negotiate an agreement with U of I to care for the collection and provide public access to it. University officials recently responded favorably after a tour, he said.
“Are we really the best custodians of this going forward? They can leverage it in a way we're probably unable to do anymore,” he said. An endowment created by the Curt Teich Foundation in 1998, which has a current balance of $522,020, also would be transferred to U of I.
In a statement, the university said the Teich archives would be an “extraordinary addition” to its research archives and library and would provide an “unparalleled” resource for a broad range of research and study, including graphic arts and popular culture.
“The Teich archives and associated postcard collections promise to be a valuable tool for campus faculty and student projects as well as a significant anchor for study by external scholars, students and members of the general public,” according to the statement.
Committee members favored the idea.
“I don't think we're doing it justice by having it here at a local venue,” said S. Michael Rummel, a committee member and the board's treasurer. He added the materials are not specific to Lake County history. “Does it belong with us?” he said.
Katherine Hamilton-Smith, head of public affairs and development, has dealt with the collection since it arrived.
“I can't think of another institution in Illinois that would be better suited,” she said. The Teich family and other large donors, such as Leonard A. Lauder, agreed with the proposal, she said.
Forest board President Ann Maine and others said they wanted to ensure the district's role in developing this “huge asset” was noted.
“There needs to be some recognition that is permanent,” Maine said.
Kovach said that would be part of the due diligence if talks are authorized. That would follow pending approval of the board's finance committee, which is scheduled to discuss the matter Thursday.
Commissioner Audrey Nixon said she was “just a little selfish” and had mixed feelings about the proposal.
“I just don't want us to rush and do this,” she said.