Corey Barksdale’s Mural

Artist: Corey Barksdale

When: Created in 2019 as part of CRE8IV transformational art

Location: 316 E State St, Rockford, IL 61104

 

Sources:

  1. Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Rockford Public Art Trail.” Website Accessed 8/3/2023. https://www.gorockford.com/things-to-do/public-art-trail/
  2.  Artist’s Website accessed on August 8, 2023: https://www.coreybarksdale.com/

Isaac Wilson, a.k.a. “Black Ike,” Early African-American Pioneer of Rockford (Entry 4 of 4)

Collected burial information about Isaac Wilson, also known as “Black Ike.”

The sources in this post are available in print at the Rockford Public Library’s Local History Room. They are also included in Isaac Wilson’s biographical packet in the archival box titled, “Winnebago County & Rockford Region First Families/Early Settlers.”

Sources are noted below each source/article when it’s not included in the image itself.

Please visit Isaac’s Find A Grave entry here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113535536/isaac-wilson

At the time of Isaac Wilson’s burial, he didn’t have a gravestone.  Finally, after 163 years, 11 months and 5 days he has a gravestone! It was set in Cedar Bluff Cemetery on July 5, 2023.

Isaac Wilson, a.k.a. “Black Ike,” Early African-American Pioneer of Rockford (Entry 1 of 4)

Collected information from local history books about Isaac Wilson, also known as “Black Ike.”

All of these sources are available in print at the Rockford Public Library’s Local History Room. They are also included in Isaac Wilson’s biographical folder within the archival box titled, “Winnebago County & Rockford Region First Families/Early Settlers.”

Sources are noted below each source/article when it’s not included in the image itself.

 

 

 

 

 

Isaac Wilson, a.k.a. “Black Ike,” Early African-American Pioneer of Rockford (Entry 3 of 4)

Collected information from local newspapers about Isaac Wilson, also known as “Black Ike.”

All of these sources are available in print at the Rockford Public Library’s Local History Room. They are also included in Isaac Wilson’s biographical packet in the archival box titled, “Winnebago County & Rockford Region First Families/Early Settlers.”

Sources are noted below each source/article when it’s not included in the image itself.

Rockford Republican published on August 4, 1859. Accessed on Newsbank on May 23, 2023.

Register Gazette published on September 11, 1909. Accessed on Newsbank on May 23, 2023.

Isaac Wilson, a.k.a. “Black Ike,” Early African-American Pioneer of Rockford (Entry 2 of 4)

Collected information from local history records about Isaac Wilson, also known as “Black Ike.”

All of these sources are available in print at the Rockford Public Library’s Local History Room. They are also included in Isaac Wilson’s biographical packet in the archival box titled, “Winnebago County & Rockford Region First Families/Early Settlers.”

Sources are noted below each source/article when it’s not included in the image itself.

Although the 1840 Census above is hard to rad, please see the source below for a transcribed version. View the line “KEMBLE, John C.” to see where Isaac Wilson could have been noted with him.

In the above 1850 Census, Isaac Wilson can be found on the last line.

 

Household Hints from 1971’s Directory for the Princess Zorah Chapter No. 20, Order of Eastern Star

These “Household Hints” from 1971 may still be helpful today!

Source: 1971 Directory of the Princess Zorah Chapter No. 20, Order of Eastern Star, Rockford, IL.

This directory is kept in our Archives titled “Northern Illinois Various CLUBS Collection.”

You can view this item in person by contacting the Local History Room.

Please email

The cover image of this directory:

These images were attained by donation at RPL’s Community Scan Day event in April 2023.

Tina Turner Performed in Rockford on January 22, 1983

Tina Turner performed at the MetroCentre in Rockford on Saturday, January 22, 1983.

Enjoy these newspaper advertisements, photographs, and an article of the event.

Source: Rockford Register Star, January 21, 1983, page 22.

Source: Rockford Register Star,  January 23, 1983, page 6. Photography by Brad Burt.

Source: Rockford Register Star, January 24, 1983, page 2. Photography by Brad Burt.

Source: Pat Cunningham, Rockford Register Star, January 26, 1983, page 9.