Local History

The Library maintains a collection of local history items that can be requested for in-library use. See the full list in our catalog. If you would like to view any of these items, contact the Info Desk at 847-929-5101 or info@mgpl.org.

For more artifacts from Morton Grove history, contact the Morton Grove Historical Museum.

My Morton Grove, the Library's oral history project, records and preserves stories from Morton Grove’s diverse community of residents.

Visit our oral history archive to browse interviews from the 1970s through the present. Full transcripts and audio on CD and digital are available for in-library use.

Newspapers

• The Bugle, current and previous year (print)
• Morton Grove Champion
  • Print: current and previous year
  • Microfilm: 1960 – June 2009
  • CD-ROM: July 2009 – 2017
  • USB: 2018 – 2021
• Morton Grove Life, January 1967 to October 2004 (microfilm)
  • Full print archive available at the Morton Grove Historical Society
• Morton Grove News, January 1961 to August 1984 (scattered holdings on microfilm and CD-ROM)
  • Full print archive available at the Morton Grove Historical Society
• Niles East Nilehilite, 1957-1980 (print)

Yearbooks

• Niles North Saga (1965-70, 72-79, 81 to 2019)
• Niles West Spectrum (1962-64, 69-72, 74, 76, 79-81, 83 to 2019)
• Niles Township/East Reflections (1937-44, 50-61, 63-64)

Historical Newsletters

• American Legion Post no. 134, 1958-2005
• League of Women Voters of Morton Grove/Niles, 1983-88
• Morton Grove Little League, 1960-75
• PALS Letter Gals, 1943-45

• Walking In Time: Morton Grove, 1895-1995
• Barbara Todd Presents: Memories of Old Morton Grove

A Wild Ride: The Story of Morton Grove, IL Roadhouses is a virtual "storymap" exhibit that explores the history and geography of Morton Grove's Prohibition-era roadhouses, speakeasies, and nightclubs that attracted people from around Chicagoland.

This project was made possible by two MGPL staff members: Mark Knox conducted the research and Amanda Herrmann built the storymap.