GERMAN VALLEY HISTORICAL MUSEUM
2024 Season Exhibits
Be sure to visit our newly decorated and organized Military Room. As part of a World War II display is a copy of the Freeport Journal Standard front page announcing the surrender of Germany.
During our renovation, we found many treasures that we didn't know we had. These two portraits were found at the bottom of a drawer in the dining room. They had actually been used as signs that said, "Keep Out"! We couldn't find any paperwork on our two mystery portraits. If you can identify either of these two people please contact us. We would love to be able to identify these two individuals.
Collections at the German Valley Historical Society Museum
•A new Research Room has been created: "Come and Discover Your Past"
•Old Photographs of the German Valley Area
•Historic Farm, Business, Firefighting, and Homemaking Items in our Barn
•School Yearbooks and Photographs from the Pleasant Prairie Academy and German Valley Grade Schools
•Homemaking Tools of the Past in the Kitchen
•19th and 20th Century Wedding Dresses
•Glassware and Decor
German Valley Area Veterans
Civil War
Ulrich Boomgarden
Addo Borchers
Harbert Harberts
Wilhelm Herren
Marcus Marks
Spanish-American War
Menno Bleeker
John Nieman
World War I
Albert Marvin Beyer
George A. Diddens
Onno A. Everts
John Gasmond
Conrad J. Druse
Albert H. Manus
Gerhard H. Manus
Henry E. Schoon
Reint Henry Sluiter
Herman M. Stratman
World War II
Harlan W. Aukes
Dennis Bawinkel
Lewis Bawinkel
Russell Bawinkel
Fred Boomgarden
Louis Boomgarden
Richard Brubaker
Theodore R. Buisker
Russell Buttel
Gertrude S. Denekas
Raymond Dieken
John P. Gaffney
Lyle Hundertmark
Roland M. Klentz
Stanley G. Koehn
Glenn Earl Miller
Franklin B. Ross
George B. Saaijenga
Francis E. Shier
Robert E. Schneiderman
Lester Stein
Louis Stykel
Melvin Stykel
Eugene Paul Wieman
Korean War
Leon D. Bawinkel
Harold A. Becker
LeRoy Boomgarden
Leslie C. Bruning
Willis Collman
Donald Ray Cornelius
Harold E. Denekas
John R. Dirksen
Boyd G. Fricke
Gordon W. Gravenstein
Alvin Meyer
Norman A. Osterloo
Robert E. Plock
John T. Rust
Fred Smith
Hiram "Harm" Smith
Lewis Stykel
Dale Wilken
Vietnam Era
Roland P. Baier
Harvey Bolen
Randall I. Bolen
Ruben J. Bolen
Stephan O. Brown
Theodore M. Buisker
Duane Collman
Floyd Derby
Ronald Kerkhoff
Jim Kloester
Sheryl L. Mennenga
Larry Miller
Gary L. Ross
James Schneiderman
Randy Schneiderman
Larry Stein
Glenn H. Wichmann
Gulf War to Present
Joel M. Boettner
Travis G. Brainard
Troy M. Brainard
Derek S. Brown
Jacob B. Coffman
Stacy L. Wright Rust
Artifact Donation and FAQ
The German Valley Historical Society Museum is privileged to have many individuals in its locale who are willing to help us preserve the history of the German Valley area. Generally, we accept items that the Archives Committee deems consistent with the policies, programs, and best interests of the Museum. Below is a list of frequently asked questions in regard to making a donation to the museum.
Q: Does the German Valley Historical Society Museum accept all donations?
Regrettably, restrictions of space and resources prohibit us from accepting every item. Our first consideration is whether the object supports our mission. We concentrate on preserving items unique to the German Valley area including (but not limited to) German Valley-made products, photographs, military items, business, school, and church documents, and items belonging to people who lived in the area.
Q: How do I donate an object?
To inquire about making a donation please contact the museum through our email address. If it is decided that your object is appropriate for our collections, you will be asked to sign a “Deed of Gift Form” in which you give the museum possession of your object. The object then becomes a part of the German Valley Historical Society Museum’s permanent collection and will be cataloged and properly stored.
Q: What happens if my donation is not accepted?
If you do not want your object, the museum might use it for hands-on education or give it to another museum where it might be more appropriate to their mission.
Q: Will my donation be exhibited?
At any given time, only a portion of the museum’s collection is on exhibit. There is no guarantee that your donation will be exhibited, but we would be happy to discuss how we might use your particular object with you.
Q: Is my donation tax deductible?
Yes, but the German Valley Historical Society Museum cannot determine the value of the object for you.
Q: Does the German Valley Historical Society Museum accept items on loan?
No, we do not accept items on loan.
German Valley Historical Society • 805 Church Street • German Valley, Illinois 61039