River Forest in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

River Forest Women's Club

Photographed by Sean Flynn

1. River Forest Women's Club Marker

Inscription. With gratitude to the
River Forest
Women's Club
for its leadership role
in establishing a public library
for River Forest residents in 1898,
and in supporting the construction
of our beloved building in 1929.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Education • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.

Location. 41° 53.588′ N, 87° 48.871′ W. Marker is in River Forest, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Lathrop Street 0.1 miles south of Chicago Avenue, on the right when traveling north. The marker is to the right of the front doorway into the River Forest Public Library. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 735 Lathrop Street, River Forest IL 60305, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New

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France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Anne T. Smedinghoff Memorial Garden (a few steps from this marker); River Forest Firsts (within shouting distance of this marker); Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The River Forest Tennis Club (about 700 feet away); River Forest 9/11 Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); River Forest Memorial to the Great Wars (approx. 0.3 miles away); F.A. Bell House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Harold Q. Kirk, M.D. (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in River Forest.

Also see . . . History of the River Forest Public Library.

Excerpt: "In 1898, the River Forest Women’s Club put in motion the process of establishing a public library for River Forest. They created a committee whose actions resulted in the calling of special elections to establish a tax levy in support of the library and to elect the members of the first library board of trustees.... Finally, in 1904, a contract was signed with W.A.
Photographed by Sean Flynn

2. River Forest Public Library entrance
The Women's Club marker is to the right of the doorway; in the foreground of the photo is the plaque for the memorial garden dedicated to Anne T. Smedinghoff, a River Forest native who died in Afghanistan in 2013 while on assignment with the U.S. State Department.
Gerts to begin construction on a building to house the library at 508 Park Avenue, just north of Lake St. On September 26, 1905, the Library officially opened with 1,000 volumes on the shelves."

(Submitted on August 29, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Additional keywords. river forest illinois public library

River Forest Women's Club building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, May 29, 2023

3. River Forest Women's Club building

The 1913 River Forest Women’s club building, designed by William Drummond and located at 526 Ashland Avenue about two blocks from the River Forest library, is a landmark building in Prairie School architecture. It is now a private residence.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 560 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 29, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.