MEMBERSHIP

Events & Exhibits

Nov
5

Oakford Pecans – a story of discovery, Linda Eilks and Pumpkin/Squash update, Catherine Lambrecht

Linda Eilks grew up on a farm outside of Oakford Illinois. After careers at both IL Extension and U.S. Department of Agriculture, she retired and moved into a home within the village of Oakford. There she was faced with an abundance of pecans falling from the trees in her yard. She researched what to do with them and found some interesting historical facts about the pecan trees in the area. She will talk about pecan trees in general, those that grow around Oakford, and especially those that grow in her yard.
Oct
23

Finding the Answer with Local Maps, Nancy Webster, Archivist

Pinpointing the precise location of an event, building or other location can be a challenge due to changing names, numbers and boundaries.  This presentation will share how to use Highland Park and township maps from locally drawn plat books to Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps to complete your research and answer questions.
July
21

Acre by Acre: Our Farming Heritage @ Elmhurst History Museum

From 1850 – 1950, the area of DuPage County, located just 10 miles west of Chicago, was home to farming families and small towns. Acre by Acre: Our Farming Heritage will explore how settlers transformed the land into a thriving farming community and delve into the rich history of farming in the western suburbs. Despite facing challenges, these pioneering families supported themselves through subsistence farming before transitioning to commercial farming, contributing to Illinois' agricultural legacy. The farmers of DuPage experienced the impact of mechanized farming equipment, which revolutionized the agriculture industry in Elmhurst and throughout Illinois. Furthermore, DuPage County's location along extensive railway lines allowed Elmhurst to participate in the bustling trade and commerce of agricultural products through Chicago.
July
12

Food: Gathering Around the Table + Church Supper – A Learning Tour

The food on the American table may not define exactly what we are as a nation, but the traditions surrounding our foods speak volumes about who we are. Rooted in centuries of borrowing and sharing, food traditions are staggeringly diverse and constantly evolving. The intersection of cultures in America is perhaps the most important factor in the mix that is America’s food. “American food” defies definition, except to say that it is what people in America harvest, prepare, and eat. There is no real recipe, just a few key ingredients constantly stirred by time. Stop by and explore this exhibit that explores our natural resources, local food traditions, food technology, and food as an autobiography.
Jun
21

Preserving Family Recipes

FREE Workshop: Preserving your Family recipes. When you dip your madeleine in your Proustian tea, make it more than a memory. This workshop, in partnership with Society life member the First Bank of Highland Park, will provide the tools to preserve your family’s culinary history whether the original format is digital, oral or on a file card! Limited seating, please reserve.
May
28

Chicagoland Dream Houses

Please join Lake Forest College Professor and Highland Park resident Siobhan Moroney at Secret World Books, 1774 Second Street, Wednesday, May 28, 7:30 PM. She will discuss her book, Chicagoland Dream Houses How a Mid-Century Architecture Competition Reimagined the American Home," including the Highland Park dwellings, architects and organizations' role.
Apr
3

Preserving Family Heirloom Recipes – How to Save and Celebrate Your Food Traditions

Presented by Valerie J. Frey Heirloom dishes and family food traditions are rich sources of nostalgia and provide vivid ways to learn about our families’ past, yet they can be problematic. Many family recipes and food traditions are never documented in written or photographic form, existing only as unwritten know-how and lore that vanishes when a cook dies. Even when recipes are written down, they often fail to give the tricks and tips that would allow another cook to accurately replicate the dish. Unfortunately, recipes are also often damaged as we plunk Grandma’s handwritten cards on the countertop next to a steaming pot or a spattering mixer, shortening their lives.