Oak Park - Philander Barclay Photo Collection

Philander Barclay Online Photo Collection

Philander Barclay, a passionate historian and photograher, single handedly captured in images the early growth of Oak Park and River Forest.

Below are examples of Barclay's collection, numbering over 1,000 at his death in 1940.

The complete Barclay collection can be viewed at the Historical Society. All images are owned and copyrighted by The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest and may not be used for any purpose without permission from the Society.

For questions about the collection, please call (708) 848-6755.


1903: River Forest, John J. Ryan home, SW corner Keystone & Hawthorn	1903: Oak Park volunteer Fire Dept #3, Lombard side of #2 House	1903: River Forest, E. J. Brooke Residence, west of Central & Thatcher	1903: River Forest Athletic Club baseball grounds

1903: Len F. Moore's Blacksmith shop south side of Lake Street	1903: River Forest, E. C.Waller's Estate	1903: River Forest, DesPaines River bridge at North Ave.	1903: River Forest Volunteer Fire Dept. putting out prairie fire

1903: River Forest, First Methodist Episcopal Church, NW corner, Lake and Keystone	1903: River Forest Presbyterian Church, SW corner, Gale and Linden. Sold to the River Forest Women's Club in 1894	1903: River Forest Golf Club, NW corner of Lake and Harlem	1902: River Forest, Dairy Farm of James P. Madsen near Iowa and Bonnie Brae

1903: River Forest, R. H. Pierce Residence	1903: River Forest, Real estate office of E.A. Cummings, NW corner, Lake & Harlem	1903: River Forest, View from Wisconsin Central viaduct & C&NW Railroad	1903: River Forest, View from Wisconsin Central viaduct & C&NW Railroad

1903: Oak Park, S.C Postelwait Undertaker, Funeral Parlors, 132 N. Oak Park	1903: Oak Park, N. M. Freer estate. looking SE from Euclid near Erie	1903: Oak Park, W. G. Fricke at 640 N. Scoville (now 540 Fair Oaks)	1909: Oak Park, View of children, W.B Harvey & Jasper Redmond prize winners

1903: Oak Park, Harlem Ave., north from Lake Street	1903: Oak Park, North Western Gas Light and Coke Co. Lombard and Garfield. Now Barrie Park	1903: Oak Park, Elgin, Aurora & Chicago eastbound at Ridgeland	1903: Oak Park, W. C. Gray residence, 319 (now 219) Kenilworth

1903: Alley south of Lake between Harlem and Marion	1903: Oak Park's first Locomobile Steamer formerly owned by Capt. Geo. W. Hayden.	1903: Oak Park, Wisconsin Ave. (now South Marion) south from South Blvd.	1907: Owens Bros. Grocery Store on fire. SW corner of South Blvd & Wisconsin (Marion)

1903: Oak Park, Unity Church fire, 215 Wisconsin	1903: Oak Park, Fire Dept. #3, 213 Marion. Capt.J Mannix & volunteer Ralph Smith	1903: Oak Park, Fire Dept. #3, 213 Marion	1903: Cutsuvitis' Fruit Stand, Marion south of Lake Street

1903: Oak Park Police #2	1903: Oak Park Police Dept. Interior - 213 Marion	1903: Oak Park Police #2	1916: Philander Barclay's 2 stores, 1112 North Blvd.