E. C. Alft

Elmer C. "Mike" Alft, Jr.
Born	Chicago, Illinois, USA
Occupation	Historian, educator and politician

Elmer C. "Mike" Alft, Jr. (born 1925) is an American historian and former mayor of Elgin, Illinois. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Grinnell College in 1949 and received his master's degree from Syracuse University in 1950. He taught at Elgin High School for four decades while serving as city councilman, mayor, secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Gail Borden Public Library District, and various other capacities in local government. In addition he was a part-time instructor at Elgin Community College.

Alft was elected to the Elgin City Council in the at-large election in April, 1963. Four years later, he was elected Mayor, succeeding Clyde Shales. As was the custom at the time, Alft did not seek reelection when his four-year term expired in 1971. William Rauschenberger was elected to succeed him.

He may be best known as a historian of Elgin. He has published several books on the history of Elgin and the surrounding area, in addition to hundreds of articles for the local newspaper Elgin Daily Courier-News. He currently writes a biweekly column on Elgin's history.

Works

Elgin, An American History 1835-1985, Carpentersville: Crossroads Communications, 1984
A Century of Service: The First National Bank of Elgin, Elgin, 1965
Elgin Area Landmarks, Elgin: Elgin Area Historical Society, 1975
Hanover Township, Elgin: Bartlett Historical Society, 1980
Old Elgin: A Pictorial History, St. Louis: G. Bradley Publishing, 1991
Elgin's black heritage, Elgin: City of Elgin, 1996
Elgin Time: A History of the Elgin National Watch Company 1864-1968, Elgin: Elgin Area Historical Society, 2003
Elgin: Days Gone by, Carpentersville: Crossroads Communications, 1992
South Elgin, a history of the village from its origin as Clintonville, South Elgin: South Elgin Heritage Commission, 1979
Elgin: A Women's City, Elgin: Elgin Area Historical Society, 2008
Elgin Area Landmarks: A Community Heritage Tour Guide
The Elgin Historic District, Elgin: Elgin Area Historical Society and Gifford Park Association, 1980
Sherman Hospital: A century of caring, Carpentersville: Crossroads Communications, 1987
Hispanics in Elgin : a brief history, Elgin: Elgin Area Historical Society, 2010
Promoting Elgin : a centennial history of the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce, 1908-2008, Elgin: Elgin Area Chamber, 2008
Elgin parks: a community history. Elgin: City of Elgin, 2005
An Elgin almanac: a book of stories, records, lists and curiosities, Elgin: City of Elgin, 2004
Books and more : a history of the Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, 1996
Days gone by, Elgin, 1981
Elgin High : a centennial history and record book, 1869-1969, Elgin : Board of Education, Elgin Public Schools, 1969

Sources

Alft family history

External links

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