Joliet Area History | Pictorial Histories of Joliet & the Will County Area

New Release

The Soaring Achievements of John C. Houbolt

Full Color / Soft Cover
40 Pages / 8"W x 8"H

With succinct text and striking graphic designs on almost every page, this book tells the exciting story of Apollo 11 and the role played by NASA engineer John C. Houbolt in landing Americans on the Moon and returning them safely to Earth. The book contains more than 40 carefully selected historic photos that capture one of mankind’s greatest achievements.

New Release

Joliet: Then and Now

Black&White / Hard Cover
152 Pages / 12"W x 12"H

This book’s 375 photos portray Joliet’s past and also show how the city has changed. Early archival views are paired with contemporary photos carefully shot from the same perspective. In some cases, the two pictures reveal dramatic change while in others the change is much more subtle. This superb volume, which measures 12” x 12” and is printed on quality paper, both captures the past and also preserves the present for future generations.

New Release

Joliet Prisons: Images in Time

Black&White / Hard Cover
127 Pages / 12"W x 9"H

The history of Joliet's three prisons from 1858 to the 1960s is presented in a fascinating collection of photographs. The book opens with a history of the old Joliet Prison on Collins Street, then moves to the Women's Prison, and finally concludes with several photos of Stateville from its construction through the era of Warden Joseph Ragen.

New Release

Joliet Transportation and Industry:
A Pictorial History

Black&White / Hard Cover
160 Pages / 8.5"W x 11"H

Photographs stop time for an instant, providing a glimpse of life in a particular place. Especially interesting are the relatively rare photographs of building interiors and people at work. One picture of men and women on the job can speak volumes about how people earned a living in another era. The unique collection of 275 photographs presented here provides a wealth of information on the rich history of transportation and industry in the Joliet area.

New Release

The Civil War Years in Will County, Illinois

Black&White / Hard Cover
600 Pages / 5.5"W x 8.5"H

Written in 1876, George H. Woodruff's Fifteen Years Ago: Or the Patriotism of Will County contains a wealth of information about Will County's historic contribution to the Civil War. Original copies of this 600-page volume are rare and usually sell for more than $250 at auction and on eBay. This affordable reprint is a must for Civil War historians, local historians, collectors, genealogists, and for general readers curious about the impact of war on a Midwestern community. Only 400 copies of this book were printed. Don't miss the opportunity to own this history of the Civil War years in Will County.

New Release

Joliet Junior College: A Pictorial History of America's Oldest Public Community College

Black&White / Hard Cover
240 Pages / 9"W x 12"H

Joliet Junior College is the oldest public community college in the country. This volume presents the rich history of this important institution in picture and print. The serious scholar will find this book a valuable source for researching the history of the community college movement in America. Former students will also enjoy reminiscing about their years at JJC as they page through the 700 photographs depicting the college's history. From 1901 to 2001, the history of Joliet Junior College is recounted in this 240 page volume.

New Release

Joliet: A Pictorial History

Black&White / Hard Cover
200 Pages / 9"W x 12"H

The City of Joliet is defined not only by smokestacks and steam engines, but also by the diversity and character of its people. From the blue-shirted workman to the crisp boardroom executive, Joliet residents have served, taught, and led their community to the forefront, taking pride in its churches, schools, social services, and many fine accomplishments. Joliet's past is a matter of pride, and its record of achievements holds promise for the future. Within the pages of this book, Joliet history comes alive through carefully selected photographs which open windows to the past. They enable us to experience the excitement and vitality of the City's development. Joliet: A Pictorial History is a book and knowledge to be cherished forever.

New Release

A Pictorial History of Will County: Vol. II

Brown Tone & White
Hard Cover
215 Pages / 10"W x 8"H

Photographs truly provide a "window to the past" and increasingly are recognized by scholars as important resources for historical research. As neither words nor art can ever do, photographs stop the clock for an instant, forever capturing an exact image of a particular place and time.

New Release

A Pictorial History of Will County: Vol. I

Brown Tone & White
Hard Cover
215 Pages / 10"W x 8"H

Much of Will County's history is either lost in obscurity or is hopeless entangled in the contradictory accounts of early historians and antiquarians. The purpose of this book is not to present the definitive history of Will County, even if that were possible, but merely to sketch in board strokes an overview of the county's founding and early settlement.

New Release