Daily HeraldRead all about it: Gail Borden Library digitizes historical Elgin Dairy Report
By Rick West | Published June 1, 2026
A piece of Elgin history from the turn of the 20th century has been preserved by the Gail Borden Library.
The library has digitized issues of The Elgin Dairy Report from 1892 to 1903 and made them freely accessible.
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Illinois grant helps preserve Elgin's 'Butter Capital' legacy
through digital archives
By Natalie Kiburg | Published May 29, 2026
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.
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From "Butter Capital" to Digital Age: Gail Borden Public Library Unveils
19th-Century Elgin Dairy Reports Free Online
(Photo: A snapshot of The Elgin Dairy Report Vol. XXIV. No 13 published in August of 1914.)
Funding from Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and the Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board (ISHRAB) has helped make The Elgin Dairy Reports (1892-1903) freely available online, preserving a key piece of local heritage.
ELGIN, IL – The Gail Borden Public Library District has officially 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 (ISHRAB), 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 www.gbpl.info/dairyreports.
The Gail Borden Public Library’s grant is one of 11 awarded during the 2025-2026 cycle by ISHRAB.
“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.
Grant Credit: 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.
March 30, 2026
You can now access the digitized Elgin Dairy Reports online here!
November 17, 2025
(Photo [L-R]: Gail Borden Library staff James Mcadams, Genealogy & Local History Librarian, and Angel Flores, Director of Information and Digital Services, browse historical content within some of The Elgin Dairy Reports.)
State Grant to Digitize and Preserve Elgin's Dairy History Awarded to Gail Borden Public Library
Funding from Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and the Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board (ISHRAB) will make The Elgin Dairy Reports (1892-1903) freely available online, preserving a key piece of local heritage.
ELGIN, IL – The Gail Borden Public Library is set to unlock a significant chapter of local history after receiving a grant from the Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board (ISHRAB), overseen by Illinois Secretary of State and State Archivist Alexi Giannoulias.
The $1,823 grant will help fund the digitization and preservation of The Elgin Dairy Reports, crucial historical documents from 1892 to 1903 detailing the city’s diary heritage. The project is part of a statewide initiative to digitize, preserve and expand access to archival materials that document Illinois’ cultural heritage.
“There is immense historical value in preserving these original documents," said Angel Flores, the library's Director of Information and Digital Services. “These volumes are extremely fragile. This grant ensures that the remarkable story of Elgin’s dairy era—a pivotal piece of Elgin’s identity—will not only be preserved, but also be freely accessible online to any student, genealogist or curious resident, no matter where they live."
During the late 19th century, Elgin was widely known as the "Butter Capital of the Nation," serving as the center of a dairy industry that included more than two hundred cheese and butter factories in the surrounding area. The Elgin Dairy Report provided vital market information on prices for butter, cheese, and eggs, alongside community announcements and local advertisements.
The Gail Borden Public Library’s grant is one of 11 awarded during the 2025-2026 cycle by the ISHRAB. The digitization process is expected to take six months to a year. Once complete, the collection will be made available online.
“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. “We’re looking forward to sharing more information when they become available online.”
Grant Credit: 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 TM architecture, the library strives to engage people of all ages through education, recreation and creativity. www.gailborden.info/culture information.