Batavia History

Local History

Batavia in Historical Photographs and Images

Batavia History archive on Flickr
Share your images
If you have photographs, documents, brochures, school newspapers, programs, memorabilia, or artifacts related to Batavia’s history that you would be willing to share, we invite you to contact the Library, (630) 879-1393, ext. 250 or ext. 350.
The Library will arrange to copy, scan, or photograph the items, which then will be returned to you. Donations of such items are also accepted.
Images of the items will be available for public view via the BataviaHistory.org website.

Batavia Newspapers

Batavia Herald, 1930–1969
Searchable full-text newspaper
Preservation and digitization funded by the City of Batavia and an Illinois Public Library Per Capita Grant
Batavia Republican, 1990-2000
Searchable full-text newspaper
Preservation and digitization funded by an Illinois Public Library Per Capita Grant, with permission from the Kane County Chronicle and Shaw Media
Windmill Merchant (1982), Windmill News (1982-1990), and Windmill Herald (1991-1998)
Searchable full-text newspaper
Preservation and digitization funded by a grant from the Friends of the Batavia Public Library
Other Batavia newspapers
Searchable full-text newspapers

Batavia’s Civil War History

Search full-text Civil War letters and diaries written by Batavians Preservation and digitization supported in part by an award from the Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board, through funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), National Archives and Records Administration; and supported in part from an Illinois Public Library Per Capita Grant.

Batavia’s Windmill History

Windmill City: A Guide to the Historic
Windmills of Batavia, Illinois, Second Edition
(2013)

In August 2013, the Library published Windmill City: A Guide to the Historic Windmills of Batavia, Illinois, Second Edition. This book provides information about the windmills on display in Batavia in 2013, and it contains a map that shows the location of each windmill.

Acquire a print copy

In the Batavia area, the book is available free of charge, thanks to the generous support of many donors. Please visit the Batavia Public Library to pick up your free copy.

Outside the Batavia area, the book may be purchased for $5 per copy; the cost of postage is included. To purchase a copy of Windmill City, please send a check or money order payable to “Batavia Public Library” to:

Batavia Public Library
Attn. : Administrative Assistant
10 S. Batavia Ave.
Batavia, IL 60510-2449

Batavia Township
Batavia Township records, 1874–1969
Browseable full-text records, 1874–1969
Searchable full-text records, 1936–1969
Preservation and digitization funded by Batavia Township, with permission from Batavia Township


City of Batavia, Illinois
City Council Minutes, 1874–1969
Browsable full-text minutes, 1874–1969
Searchable full-text minutes, May 1915–1969
Preservation and digitization funded by the City of Batavia, with permission from the City of Batavia

City of Batavia Officers, 1891–2019
Searchable list of City officers


History of Batavia Public Schools  
Bee Aitch Ess, 1912 – 1917 (Batavia High School yearbooks)
Searchable full-text yearbooks. Preservation and digitization
funded by an Illinois Public Library Per Capita Grant
Batavia Public Schools documents
Searchable full-text documents. Preservation and digitization
funded by an Illinois Public Library Per Capita Grant
The Biggest Game of the Season: Batavia Bulldogs vs. Geneva Vikings
(Revised October 2017)
The Biggest Game of the Season: Batavia Bulldogs vs. Geneva Vikings:
Books Between Bites presentation, October 2018 
Sports in Batavia: The Early Years (Video)
Kane County (Southeast Corner) School District Map, 1904
Batavia School and Home Bulletin, Christmas 1912
Batavia Homecoming Celebration and Memorial Athletic Field Dedication, July 27, 1946
[program] (donated by David Peebles)
Batavia High School vs. Geneva High School, September 19, 1958
[football program]
Batavia High School Dedication, January 15, 1967
[program]
Parent’s Handbook, Batavia Elementary Schools, 1967 – 1968
Batavia High School Lettermans Club Annual Athletic Potluck, 1970 – 1971
[program]
“Hail to the Crimson, Hail to the Gold” (2011)
Batavia High School traditions
“Et Tu, Brutus? The Spirit of Batavia” (2011)
Batavia High School nicknames
We’re Loyal to You: A Celebration of Batavia High School, 1911-2011
(2011) a series of 10 posters
Batavia Public Schools Hall of Honor
Batavia Public Schools Hall of Honor Awards Ceremony,
September 19, 2015 [program]
Batavia Public Schools Hall of Honor Awards Ceremony, September 15, 2016 [program]
Batavia Public Schools Hall of Honor Awards Ceremony, October 5, 2017 [program]
Batavia Public Schools Hall of Honor Awards Ceremony, September 20, 2018 [program]
Batavia Public Schools Hall of Honor Awards Ceremony, September 19, 2019 [program]

Photo archive: Batavia Public School