Source: Festa Italiana, 2023, p.27
A Digital Collection of Rockford, Illinois History
Source: Festa Italiana, 2023, p.27
Seminary Syncopators: Ellen Baker (Drums), Mabel Jones (Violin), Helen Lalasnsky (Piano), Agnes O’Dell (Saxophone), and Roberta Meese (Banjo)
The Seminary Syncopators, bubbling over with melody, harmony, and rhythm, have played their way into the hearts of all lovers of jazz and syncopation. This group of musicians, organized only this fall, have proved extremely popular as entertainers. They sponsored an “Oriental Tea Dance” on the afternoon of Thanksgiving Day, which was their first real public appearance, and since then have played at a number of college functions, including Washington Party, Dramatic Club plays, and short informal dances in the gymnasium.
Source: Cupola 1928 R378.7 R58 1928
Mandolins: Raymond Frost, Louis Lindloff, Birdseye Pierpont, Belle Haley and William Hayes
Guitars: Fred Carrico, Mary Turner, Samuel Andrews and John Green
Source: The Annual MDCCCC R379.7 R59R 1900
Source: Rockford Daily Register Gazette December 29, 1894
Source: Rockford Register Star, June 15, 2023, front page and continued on page 3A.
The Robert Hempstead Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Colonists presented a dedication of a grave marker for Anna Peck Sill, Founder and Principal of Rockford Female Seminary on May 18, 2023 at Greenwood Cemetery. Rockford Female Seminary would later become Rockford College and then Rockford University.
Enjoy these scans of the event program and a photo before the unveiling of the grave marker.
(end of event program)
Photo before the unveiling taken by Amber Kresol on May 18, 2023.
Source: Rockford Morning Star, October 11, 1936.
Also found in the “Rockford College” binder from our Rockfordiana Files. This collection is located in RPL’s Local History Room.
Source: As yet undated photo of the Rockford High School band (formed in 1907) An article in the Rockford Daily Register-Gazette, January 18, 1908 refers to the “natty red uniforms.”
Sources: Rockford Morning Star, May 5, 1961 and photo from Google.com/maps August 2021