Grain Storage Facilities play an important role in the process of agricultural production in McLean County. The earliest record contained in this collection relates to E.H. Rood’s Elevator in Bloomington in 1881. Many such facilities within McLean County were developed through the utilization of statutory provisions allowing for the co-operative incorporation for development, ownership and operation. Co-operative facilities in these records include the Barnes Elevator, the Carlock Farmer’s Elevator, the Danvers Farmer’s Elevator, The Farmers Co-operative Grain Company of Shirley and the Stanford Grain Company. The collection also includes information on other privately owned grain storage companies including the Jones Elevator in Holder, IL and reports relating to the infamous Claudon Grain & Coal Co. of Gridley.

This collection contains newspaper articles, incorporation documents, materials produced by companies including advertising, brochures, annual reports, company correspondence.