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The Unconquerable: Kickapoo of Central Illinois presented by Bill Kemp

February 17, 2023 @ 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Kickapoo of Central Illinois

The Elkhart Historical Society is pleased to announce that Bill Kemp, librarian of the McLean County History Museum, will continue his presentation on the “The Unconquerable Kickapoo of Central Illinois”, on Friday, February 17, 2023, at Horsefeather’s Wild Hare Café in Elkhart Illinois. Doors open at 5p and dinner will be served at 5:30p.

In the early nineteenth century, the Kickapoo occupied much of central Illinois at the point when the first Euro-American settlers arrived. The struggles that ensued were many, but thanks in part to the efforts of the McLean County Museum of History, a productive relationship with the Kansas Kickapoo has finally been forged.

A brief summary of the first talk, will give attendees some background before Kemp continues by showing the museum’s remarkable collection of photographs of the Kickapoo living in Kansas in 1906.  Kemp will also relate how the Kickapoo have been remembered and misremembered by Central Illinois residents, which will help to remove some of the fiction surrounding them. This second talk will add additional information  to those who are interested in the Native Americans that occupied this area so long ago, as well as  the project to rededicate and relocate some of the historical markers defining more accurately where they lived.

Since July 2003, Bill Kemp has served as librarian for the nationally accredited, not-for-profit McLean County Museum of History in downtown Bloomington. Bill has a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Illinois Springfield (formerly Sangamon State University), and a second master’s in history from Illinois State University. For fourteen years–from December 2005 to January 2020–Bill wrote an award-winning weekly history column in The Pantagraph, Bloomington’s longtime daily newspaper. Bill also serves on the boards of both the Illinois State Historical Society and Barn Keepers, the latter being a McLean County based not-for-profit preservation group.

The menu choices are: Chicken Cordon Bleu or Medallions of Pork Tenderloin in a red wine sauce. For the complete menu download the reservation form at www.elkharthistoricalsociety.org.

The cost per person is an all-inclusive package price of $45, for the meal, tax and tip, which includes $15 for the Elkhart Historical Society program. The public is welcome to attend, and reservations are required and can be made by calling 217 947 2238. The cut off for reservations and payment is February 10th.

Details

Date:
February 17, 2023
Time:
5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Event Categories:
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Website:
http://www.elkharthistoricalsociety.org/

Organizer

Elkhart Historical Society
Phone
217-947-2238
View Organizer Website

Venue

Horsefeathers/Wild Hare Cafe
104 Governor Oglesby St
Elkhart, IL 62634 United States
+ Google Map
Phone
(217) 947-2100
View Venue Website