
2026
Brother Mathias BarrettAn Authorized BiographyCommissioned Work
An authorized biography of the founder of the Brothers of the Good Shepherd, tracing a life devoted to compassionate service.
View projectDeeply researched histories of schools, churches, organizations, and lives.
Told in story form.
The first comprehensive story of Catholic Education in Kankakee and Iroquois Counties is the result of interviews with over 500 people and extensive research drawn from the archives of parishes, schools, religious Orders, and the Diocese of Joliet in Illinois where the school resides.
As late as 1960, forty Catholic schools existed in the two rural counties. Today, only Bishop McNamara Catholic School remains. The story is one of change within the American Catholic Church following Vatican II, the huge decrease in religious vocations, and a dramatic economic blow that changed the area’s landscape in the early 1980s.
Bishop McNamara survived and saved Catholic Education in the region as a result of a highly resilient school community and a dedicated lay staff who operate the school on behalf of the diocese, today.
Alumni will find the book to be a rich treasure-trove of memories from every era. Other Catholic communities will find the McNamara story to be similar to their own. And the two-volume work has received strong reviews for not only its narrative on Catholic schools but for its important contribution to the history of the local Kankakee area in Illinois.
Shop the book“An amazing wealth of information and chronological detail. Really kept my interest and feel much more connected to my community and ancestry. Haven't read this much since my college days!”Steve Blanchette, Class of 1973

“A significant contribution to the history of the county,”Phil Angelo, retired Managing Editor of the Kankakee Daily Journal.
“Research with the patience a real story deserves.”Shaw Local Review
Readers find lost memories within your book. Our writers connect seemingly unrelated events, resourced facts, and the interviews of many to create an impactful story all will cherish.
Shop our current catalogueWe perform sensitive, realistic upgrades to even the most aged and damage images, newspaper clippings and documents to bring them to live and create visual unity in each book.
Talk to us about your project
2026
An authorized biography of the founder of the Brothers of the Good Shepherd, tracing a life devoted to compassionate service.
View project

2021
The official 50-year history of Good Shepherd Manor in Momence, Illinois.
$30 softcoverBuy book

2019
An expanded visual history of barns and structures built by the county’s original farmers.
Buy book


2013
The story of an American World War I flying ace, escapee and national speaker.
Available from AmazonBuy book
2007
A photographic history of a river town shaped by the Kankakee River and the Dixie Highway.
Available from Arcadia PublishingBuy bookKMC publishes local and institutional histories, including books for schools, churches, organizations and communities.
Yes. KMC’s institutional histories draw on interviews, archival records, photographs, yearbooks and other materials that help tell a complete story.
KMC publishes other independent authors at very little cost. Send us a proposal and we will help you publish your book. To be eligible, your book must be at least 75 pages. We also do image enhancement to make your old photos appear with better quality.