By The Wheaton College Archives & Special Collections Staff
Title: J. B. Russell Papers, 1848-1946
Predominant Dates:1893-1930
ID: SC/007
Primary Creator: Russell, J. B. (John Benjamin) (1860-1930)
Extent: 5.0 boxes. More info below.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged by series with folder level control.
Date Acquired: 00/00/1972
Subjects: College Church (Wheaton, Ill.), Education -- Illinios -- DuPage County -- Sources, Russell, Edna, 1886- -- Diaries, Russell, J. B. (John Benjamin), 1869- --Manuscripts, Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Alumni
Forms of Material: Articles, Biographies, Clippings Files, Correspondence, Diaries, Essays, Financial Records, Genealogies, Memorabilia, Photographs, Postcards, Speeches
Languages: English
Wheaton College Alumnus, John Benjamin Russell, was born in Henry County, Illinois, prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, on February 25, 1860, the child of Samuel and Matilda Russell. Russell's siblings were Frank Horace and Eva May. Russell would later marry Isabel Gunn of Wheaton, Illinois (December 23, 1885). Together they raised their children Edna L., born September 1886, and Everett Russell, born August 1889.
Russell attended and graduated from Wheaton College with high honors in 1885. He also attended and graduated from the University of Chicago (1894-1896).
J. B. Russell, upon his graduation from Wheaton College, became the principal of Glen Ellyn High School, a post he held for one year. Afterwards, Russell became principal of Kewanee High School, a post he held for five years. Concurrent to his last year at Kewanee, Russell was County Superintendent of Public Instruction for Henry County, the county of his birth. Russell held this position until 1893 at which time he became Professor of Natural Science at Wheaton College. Russell continued in that capacity until 1895. In 1896 Russell became the Superintendent of Public Schools of Wheaton. He died on January 26, 1930.
College Church (Wheaton, Ill.)
Education -- Illinios -- DuPage County -- Sources
Russell, Edna, 1886- -- Diaries
Russell, J. B. (John Benjamin), 1869- --Manuscripts
Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Alumni
Repository: Wheaton College Archives & Special Collections
Alternate Extent Statement: 2 linear feet
Access Restrictions: There are no restrictions on this collection.
Use Restrictions: Duplication may be restricted if copying could cause damage to items.
Acquisition Source: Gift
Acquisition Method: The collection, including hundreds of textbooks later transferred to Northern Illinois University's Blackwell Collection in 1996, was donated to Wheaton College in 1972.
Separated Materials: Hundreds of textbooks were transferred to Northern Illinois University's Blackwell Collection in 1996.
Preferred Citation: J. B. Russell Papers (SC-7), Wheaton College Special Collections, Wheaton, Illinois.
Other Note: The John B. Russell collection documents the professional and family life of an educator and Wheaton College alumnus. It provides a look into the readings, writings and correspondence of a Progressive era educator and resident of the Wheaton area.
Other URL: http://library.wheaton.edu
