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Mcadams, Genealogy & Local History Librarian, and Angel Flores, Director of Information and Digital Services, browse historical content within some of The Elgin Dairy Reports.)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The $1,823 grant will help fund the digitization and preservation of The Elgin Dairy Reports, crucial historical documents from 1892 to 1903 detailing the city’s diary heritage.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Board and Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, and many others who see the great value in preserving Elgin’s historical documents,” Flores added.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.