WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield will hold three Lunch & Learn Series events this fall. The series is presented by the UIS Alumni SAGE Society and the Illinois State Historical Society.
WHEN: Doors open 11 a.m. | Lunch 11:30 a.m. | Program 12-1 p.m.
Sept. 13, Oct. 11 and Dec. 7
WHERE: Illini Country Club, 1601 Illini Rd., Springfield
DETAILS: Sept. 13: People, Land and Memories
Award-winning writer and librarian Bill Kemp will present “The Unconquerable Kickapoo of Central Illinois,” sharing how the Kickapoo Tribe has been remembered and misremembered, removing some of the fiction surrounding the Indigenous Indian tribe. Award-winning literary scholar and distinguished professor John Hallwas will present “The Land and the People Hold Memories,” a new statewide memoir writing project reflecting upon the experiences of older Illinoisans post-World War II.
Oct. 11: Springfield Parks and Baseball
Historian and librarian Stephanie Martin will provide a historical account of the public parks and green spaces found within the Springfield Park District, sharing information on their origins, namesakes, benefactors and designs. Lincoln, Iles, Enos and Duncan parks will be highlighted. Historian and author Robert Sampson will speak to “Early Baseball in Illinois,” offering a vivid portrait of the phenomenal growth of the sport immediately following the Civil War, where local teams and civic ambition went hand in hand, and the game often mirrored society’s ills.
Dec. 7: Lake Springfield and Illinois Stories
Author and librarian Curtis Mann will present “The History of Lake Springfield,” speaking to the origins, considerations and influences that created a unique municipal, recreational and residential community along the lake’s shores. Award-winning media writer and producer Mark McDonald will present “Outtakes from Illinois Stories,” speaking to his firsthand experiences and storytelling as the two-decade host of the Emmy award-winning series.
The in-person events cost $40 a person and include a hot buffet lunch. A virtual viewing option is also available. Please register online for both options.