DeKalb in DeKalb County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Annie Laurie Garden
1865-1962
Annie Glidden was the niece of Joseph Glidden of DeKalb. Her father died when she was young, and her mother moved the family from their farm located outside DeKalb city limits into town.
Scholar
Joseph Glidden believed that his brother's five children should have the opportunity to attend college, and all the children did go to college. Annie first enrolled in the Illinois Normal School in Bloomington, Illinois and then obtained a degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Her focus of study was agriculture.
Award Winning Farmer
After returning to DeKalb, Annie moved into her brother John's home on what is now Annie Glidden Road. Annie was known as a farmer and lifelong scholar. She grew asparagus, raspberries, alfalfa, and corn.
Ambassador of Goodwill
Annie was a community leader and belonged to the DeKalb Women's Club. In an effort to raise funds for the library, Annie developed the Library Whist Club. Women could play the card game Whist and donate their earnings for the purchase of library materials. What started as a fundraiser by Annie Glidden continues to this day. Although Annie moved out of town to Pasadena, California in 1929, she would continue to return to DeKalb to visit. She died in 1962 at the age of 97.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Charity & Public Work • Education • Women.
Location. 41° 56.288′ N, 88° 45.533′ W. Marker is in DeKalb, Illinois, in DeKalb County. This marker is located inside Annie's Woods in DeKalb. It is in the Annie Laurie Garden along an east-west sidewalk close to the northeast corner of the park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 397 Miller Ave, Dekalb IL 60115, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Northern Illinois. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Annies Woods (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ellwood Green (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Little House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Unified and Diversified Time Capsule (approx. 0.4 miles away); Major General Johann De Kalb White Oak (approx. 0.4 miles away); Northern Illinois University 75th Anniversary Time Capsule (approx. 0.4 miles away); Mrs. Ellwoods Museum (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in DeKalb.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 10, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.



