SPRINGFIELD – A complicated first lady, enslaved people starting new lives, women fighting for fair housing, even actors performing on horseback – all those stories and more will be told Oct. 1 and 2 at the Conference on Illinois History, presented by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
The highlight of the first day will be a presentation by Lois Romano, author of the best-selling biography “An Inconvenient Widow: The Torment, Trial, and Triumph of Mary Todd Lincoln.” She will discuss the challenges Mary Lincoln faced, including profound personal losses, struggles with mental health and unfair treatment by the law and the men in power around her. Romano will also describe her intense research, which included significant work at the presidential library.
The second day of the conference brings a unique double feature: a presentation on bicycling in Illinois and a display of vibrant, bicycle-themed art. Cyclist and Illinois Wesleyan University professor Chris Sweet will discuss biking history, its cultural impact and his own experiences on the road. Meanwhile, artist and musician Jeff Williams will showcase paintings that capture the spirit, movement and beauty of cycling.
The price is $99 to attend both days of the conference, or $59 for each day. Student prices are $30 and $20. Register at https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov.
The conference also includes sessions designed specifically for teachers interested in learning new ways to explore history in the classroom. Participating teachers can earn professional-development credit.
Presented in conjunction with the Illinois State Historical Society, the conference brings together university historians, independent researchers, government experts, teachers and students to share the latest research into the history of Illinois.
Participants will hear the stories of
- Japanese-Americans making a new start in Chicago after being detained by the U.S. government during World War II.
- Ada S. McKinley, a pioneering Black social worker and contemporary of the better-known Jane Addams.
- African Americans who founded an Illinois town and enslaved people who made their way here during the Civil War.
- The nation’s progress on civil rights under President Ulysses Grant.
- Hippodrama, the theater genre that used horses in dramatic plays
- A lost fort discovered in southern Illinois.
In addition to her lunchtime presentation at the history conference, Lois Romano will discuss her Mary Lincoln biography in an evening event designed for general audiences. The free presentation takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1. Reserve free seats at PresidentLincoln.Illinois.gov/Events.
The mission of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is to inspire civic engagement through the diverse lens of Illinois history and share with the world the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. We pursue this mission througha combination of rigorous scholarship and high-tech showmanship built on the bedrock of the ALPLM’s unparalleled collection of historical materials – roughly 13 million items from all eras of Illinois history.
For more information, visit www.PresidentLincoln.illinois.gov. You can follow the ALPLM on Facebook, X/Twitter and Instagram.
