There are two series in the Wolcott collections: Journals and photographs. Reverend Wolcott was an avid diarist. Diaries from the years 1895; 1897-1899; 1900-1910; 1912-1913, 1915, 1919-1920; 1923-1929 are arranged chronologically in the series. Wolcott was an active member in the community who always started out his entries describing the weather. He tended to describe nicer days, but also included the “coldest day of the year” and when the weather was just “fine.” Towards his later diaries, he also started recording the exact temperatures of the day, something he continued to do towards his later diaries. Wolcott talked about his daily masses, how many people attended, and his plans for the day. He noted visits to the high school where he was a member on the board of education for 9 years as well as taking the train down to Chicago. His last entry on December 31st, 1929 talked about his night out with friends on New Year's Eve and how his friends “raged after midnight.” The reverend died a few days after his 75th birthday. The second series contains family photographs.
Eleven histories of local scouting troops on the North Shore of Illinois from formation to mid-20th century, including a research guide and historiography of troops in Deerfield, Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Northbrook, Wilmette and Winnetka. Digital manuscripts are available on the Illinois Digital Archive Highland Park History Collection.
Materials documenting the Highland Park Presbyterian Church in the mid-20th century, including church histories, bulletins, programs, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other ephemera.
Various papers regarding the Highland Park Building Company; especially its dissolution, plus newspaper clipping, portrait of Hawkins and reproduction of hand-colored photograph of Hawkins in front of bank with a family of six.
