The Watch Word magazine chronicled personal stories, photos, engineering successes, and company history for employees of the Elgin National Watch Company, a leading Elgin employer for over one hundred years. The first watch movement was created in 1867, and manufacturing continued until 1968. Watches produced after 1968 may bear the Elgin name, but have no connection to the Elgin, Illinois company.

Publication of the Watch Word begain in August 1921 and ceased in December 1956.

In a partnership between the Elgin Area Historical Society Museum and the Gail Borden Public Library, copies of the Watch Word are being scanned and made more easily available. Follow the links below to view specific issues of the magazine. Originals can be viewed at the Gail Borden Public Library & the Elgin History Museum. 

	Issues currently available are: 1921 - August through December 1922 - the complete year 1923 - the complete year 1924 - the complete year 1925 - the complete year 1926 - January through April, June through December 1927 - the complete year 1928 - January through October, December 1929 - January through November 1930 - the complete year
	1931 - the complete year 1932 - January through June, September through December 1933 - May 1935 - Publication was suspended during the Great Depression. 1935 - June through December 1936 - January, February, April, May, August, November 1937 - March through December 1938 - January through March, May 1940 - March, July through December 1941 - January through May, August through October 1942 - January, February, April through December 1943 - January, February, April through November 1944 - the complete year 1945 - Special Anniversary issue - 80th Anniversary and War Production Issue, January through August, December
	1946 - January, February/March, April, June 1947 - Anniversary issue, June through December 1948 - January, March through December 1949 - January through May, July, August, October through December 1950 - the complete year 1951 - February through April, June through December 1952 - December 1953 - December 1954 - April, June, August through December 1955 - January through June 1956 - January through June, September through December Publication ceased after the December 1956 issue.