E. C. Alft

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

• Two books on Elgin's history by E.C. "Mike" Alft reprinted online
• "Elgin's Days Gone By": E.C. "Mike" Alft's newspaper column