This year marks the 40th anniversary of Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation’s creation of an Architectural Archive. To celebrate this milestone, the Archives Committee will be hosting an exhibit of architectural drawings and ephemera from its collection May 4 through June 28 at the Peoria Public Library Main Library Gallery. The committee invites everyone to an opening reception from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, May 11th.

The committee has selected items showcasing Peoria’s rich architectural history. The display ranges from buildings we see every day to ones we have lost to history that now only live through photographs and documents.

The archive was established in 1984 with a gift of 66 boxes of building plans from Paul Strehlow of the recently closed V. Jobst & Sons, building contractors. The collection has grown to an estimated 28,000 sheets of drawings representing 2,850 projects.

These items date from the late 19th century to the 1980s. The archives are located at the main branch. The collection is not open to the public, but by appointment only. Anyone with inquiries or who would like to donate items to the archive may contact Tim Hartneck at mot2@mtco.com Visit www.cilfpeoria.org to become a member.
— Tim Hartneck