Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's School (ISSCS) Collection, 1869-2017. | Dr. JoAnn Rayfield Archives at Illinois State University

Title: Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's School (ISSCS) Collection, 1869-2017.

ID: UH/IAI20XX_97

Extent: 8.7 Linear Feet

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Predominant Dates: 1940-1979, 1990-2008

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Administrative/Biographical History

The Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's School (ISSCS), originally named the Illinois Soldiers' Orphans' Home (ISOH), was established in 1865. The design and subsequent construction of the permanent facility took four years to complete. The official dedication of the complex took place on June 17, 1869. At the time of the school's dedication, 180 students were in residence.

Located in Normal, IL, the school remained in operation until 1979. The initial purpose of the facility was to provide housing for the orphans of local Civil War veterans. However, following the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, in 1899 the school's admittance policy was altered in order to allow children of Army and Navy men who served after the Civil War to reside at the home. Between the years 1907-1924, orphans of non-veteran parents were sporadically admitted when space and resources were available. In 1931 the name of the institution was changed from ISOH to ISSCS.

Numerous construction and development projects were undertaken when funds were made available. By 1900, the complex included a kitchen and laundry, a new chapel, a hospital, and a dining hall. Cottages were regularly constructed as the size of enrollment continued to grow. The gym was built in 1916. And by 1938, the school was outfitted with an auditorium, a recreation hall, a swimming pool, and a vocational shop.

Illinois State Normal University's (ISNU) involvement with ISOH/ISSCS spanned a period of almost fifty years, beginning in 1916 and lasting until 1961. ISNU provided onsite academic instruction to ISOH/ISSCS residents, or "homers," until the early nineteen-sixties when students began attending classes offsite at ISNU's affiliate schools, Metcalf Junior High School and University High School.

After 114 years in operation, the school closed in 1979 due to decreased enrollment and the increasing cost of care. Though much of the facility was abandoned following the closing of the school, select cottages and buildings were converted into private residences, offices, and other businesses. Control over the property was granted to the town of Normal by the state of Illinois in 1996.

Author: Hannah E Johnson

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Scope and Contents:

Series I: Administration, 1869-1874,1880,1903,1907,1915-1927,1930,1936-1942,1947-1961,1994,1999,2006, holds the annual reports for the Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's School, board meeting minutes, brief histories of ISSCS, laws about the establishment of ISSCS, and inspection reports and articles.

Series II: Publications, 1923, 1933, 1997-2006, includes ISSCS Directories for "Homers" and Employees dating from 1997 to 2006, as well as two brochures published by the school--"Soldiers' Orphans' Home" (1920s) and "A Day at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's School" (1933). Also, included in this series are two histories of the school, "The Illinois Soldiers' Orphans' Home," written in the 1950s by Edward S. Palmer and "The Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's School" by Edward S. Palmer.

Series III: ISOH/ISSCS Residents and Staff, 1876, 1920-1925, 1929-1930, 1932, 1935-1937, 1939, 1942-1945, 1994-2012, contains materials related to the annual ISSCS reunions. Included among these materials are reunion books with the names and address information of former residents of the school. Also included are programs and other printed announcements related to reunion activities, i.e. the annual "Icebreaker," worship services, etc. Series III also holds a collection of obituaries pertaining to individuals once associated with ISSCS. Also included is documents related to faculty and staff, consisting of faculty indexes, staff correspondence and newspaper clippings and printouts.

Series IV: Ephemera/Memorabilia, 1869, 1897, 1899, 1901, 1907-1911, 1913-2012, 2017, holds a variety of items and photographs once belonging to residents and staff of ISSCS. Photographs (originals and reprints) are organized according to theme or by decade. Topics include: ISSCS Grounds, ISSCS Employees, Clubs and Sports, Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts, Graduating Classes, and ISSCS Reunions. The remaining ephemera and memorabilia is similarly sorted according to theme. Items include varsity letters, sports and academic awards, scout badges and pins, diplomas, postcards, musical arrangements belonging to the ISSCS band, remnants from the buildings of the ISSCS complex, etc. Also included in this series is the collection of items currently housed in the display cases at One Normal Plaza, as well as a selection of original blueprints dating from 1923 to 1983. Finally, there is a collection of scrapbook that once belonged to residents and staff of ISSCS.

Detailed Description
Series I: Administration, 1869-1874,1880,1903,1907,1915-1932,1936-1942,1947-1961,1994,1999,2006.
Series II: Publications, 1923, 1933, 1997-2006.
Series III: ISOH/ISSCS Residents and Staff, 1876, 1920-1925, 1929-1930, 1932, 1935-1937, 1939, 1942-1945, 1994-2012.
Series IV: Ephemera/Memorabilia, 1869, 1897, 1899, 1901, 1907-1911, 1913-2012, 2017.