The Wide Awakes: Getting Out the 1860 Republican Vote

Lake County History Symposium 2015
Home Front to Frontline: The Impact of the Civil War on Lake County, Illinois

The Wide Awakes:
Getting Out the 1860 Republican Vote
Presented by Sonia Schoenfield, Genealogy and Local History Librarian,
Cook Memorial Library

Podcast

Intrigued by a local history artifact, Sonia Schoenfeld set out to discover all she could about the Wide Awakes and their effect on the 1860 presidential election. She presents an introduction to this little-known but influential group that impacted voters in Lake County and across the country.

Recorded live at the Lake County Discovery Museum on April 26, 2015

Featured Events

Apr

4

Examining History through Recipes: Crofton Cookbook (Manuscript cookbooks from Fort Sheridan, 1890s) ZOOM
Hybrid program via Zoom and live at the Bess Bower Dunn Museum Catherine Lambrecht, Highland Park Historical Society, and Nicole Stocker, Museum Education Manager at the Bess Bower Dunn Museum
May

19

Forgottonia, An Intimate Portrait of Rural Illinois with Chris Vallillo, an Illinois Road Scholar
In this presentation, Chris Vallillo performs his new one-man show, “Forgottonia” featuring music he wrote over the last 35 years about Western Illinois based on his experiences as a folklorist and songwriter in rural Illinois. Vallillo has spent the past 35 years documenting and preserving the heritage of Western Illinois: the land lovingly called Forgottonia. The show combines music, storytelling, and historically accurate narratives in a solo performance. Along with the performance, Vallillo will speak to the history and backstories of songs that document, reflect, and validate rural lives, reinforcing these communities’ sense of commitment and worth. Illinois Humanities is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy Demands Wisdom and the Illinois General Assembly [through the Illinois Arts Council Agency], as well as by contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
May

4

Stupey Cabin Open House
Cabin Curious? Look for us next on Saturday, May 4th: 10 AM to Noon, or by reservation First Saturday of the month from 10 AM to Noon, or by reservation. If we have volunteer docents, we will extend our openings. For information please email: archives@highlandparkhistory.org or call 847-432-7090 Stupey Cabin is located on St. Johns Avenue between the Library (Laurel Avenue) and City Hall (Hazel Avenue)