SYCAMORE | DeKalb County historian Phyllis Kelley received the Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award, which honors individuals who donate their time to the humanities and help build communities for the next century.

Both Sycamore Mayor Ken Mundy and DeKalb Mayor Frank Van Buer recognized Kelley’s achievements and, together, nominated her for the award.

The Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award has been given to about 400 people since 1999. To be acknowledged, an Illinois mayor must nominate someone who has done considerable work within the field of the humanities.

Kelley became involved in rebuilding local history almost three decades ago.

“I fell into it,” Kelley said. “I was hired 27 years ago to catalogue and index and sort all of the old papers [in the courthouse basement]. It took a year to get that all done. I saw how important all that stuff was that I was finding.”

All of the material Kelley found was relocated and filed at the Joiner History Room in the Sycamore Public Library, 103 E. State St. The historical documents date back to 1837 and include many notable events.

“We have the poll book from the Lincoln election in 1860 listing all the men, of course, who voted in that election,” Kelley said. “We have the 1837 paper from when DeKalb County separated from Kane County.”

The collection grows as people bring in material every week.

“Last week a man from Rockton brought an 1844 letter written from Genoa to relatives in Pennsylvania,” she said.

Although creating the history room is, to Kelley, her biggest achievement, she still has plans for the future.”We are writing a book about the history of Sycamore,” Kelley said. “It’s back to work next week.”