Local History

Historical Batavia Photographs and Images

Famous Batavia

Batavia Newspapers

History of Batavia

History of the Batavia Historical Society

History of the Batavia Public Library

History of Batavia Public Schools

Batavia’s Windmill 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

Batavia Is the “Windmill City” (2012)
International Windmillers’ Trade Fair 2012 – Batavia, Illinois

Batavia Windmill Symposium 2013 – Batavia, Illinois

Batavia Windmill Symposium 2013 Program
ASME Landmark Ceremony Program (2013)
Batavia Windmill Symposium 2013 Video – Part 1:
ASME Landmark Ceremony and Windmill City Book Release
Batavia Windmill Symposium 2013 Video – Part 2:
“The American Windmill Story,” presented by T. Lindsay Baker
Batavia Windmill Symposium 2013 Video – Part 3:
“From Batavia to Aermotor,” presented by Christopher Gillis
Batavia Windmill Symposium 2013 Video – Part 4:
“Batavia Windmills: Building Local, U.S., and World Economies,”
presented by Bob Popeck and Francine McGuire-Popeck
Photo archive: Batavia Windmill Symposium 2013
Photo archive: 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

Famous Batavia
Notable Batavians
Notable Visitors
Books by Batavian

History of Batavia
City of Batavia – Batavia History
Batavia Public Library – “Batavia: What’s in a Name?”
Batavia Public Library – “List of Places Named Batavia”
Batavia Dentist Is “Father of Flag Day” (2011)

John F. Kennedy – Campaign visit
to Batavia on October 25, 1960
VIDEO
Speech
Lyceum Movement in Batavia
Video: “Batavia: A Tribute to Its Time” (1983)

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

Photo archive: Batavia Public School

History of the Batavia Public Library
Library History
Library History
Library Directors
Roll of Honor: Recognizing Library Trustees with 10+ Years of Service
10 Years at 10 South Batavia Avenue (2011) a series of 4 posters
Photo archive: Batavia Public Library History
Historical Art and Artifacts at the Library
Sarah Gammon Portrait
Abraham Lincoln Portrait
Watercolor—Anderson Bros. Block
Watercolor—Bellevue Place
Watercolor—Batavia Library
Watercolor—Stone Manor
Watercolor—Batavia Depot
Batavia Public Library Sign
Fox River Ice-Skating
Mark Twain in Batavia
Mark Twain in Batavia (2018)
Aurora Beacon, “From Batavia,” Feb. 2, 1869, page 1
Mark Twain’s letter from Batavia