Open House Held on May 17th, 2014

Posted on by May 17, 2014

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The Williamson County Illinois Historical Society hosted an open house on May 17th, 2014 to celebrate the museum’s extended hours of operation and also the 175th Williamson County Anniversary. The event was held from noon till just after 3 P.M. and was attended by approximately 90 people.

Coverage was provided by the Southern Illinoisan and WSIL Channel 3 television. Dr. Courtney Kisat distributed educational information and several board and society members served as hosts for visiting patrons. Continue reading →

Institutional Cemeteries Website Available

Posted on by May 6, 2014

Steven Seim, a resident of Wisconsin, recently contacted us to make us aware of some work he has taken on. Steven is attempting to catalog all of the cemeteries throughout the Midwest established for residents of asylums, poorhouses, poor farms, prisons, orphanages, and similar institutions – in other words, cemeteries for the unclaimed. Most of the individuals laid to rest in these cemeteries were forgotten in their own lifetimes. It is my hope that they will not be forgotten to history. Continue reading →

Civil War 150 at SIU Special Collections Research Center

Posted on by April 28, 2014

The Special Collections Research Center at Morris Library (SIU) is celebrating the sesquicentennial of the Civil War by hosting a national exhibit and three speakers.

Civil War 150, a national traveling exhibit, will be on display at Morris Library’s Special Collections Hall of Presidents from April 28 to May 16. This exhibit traces major events during the Civil War through the eyes of soldiers, presidents, freedmen, and families. A companion display highlights the impact of the war on Southern Illinois, showcasing the letters of local soldiers and their wives. To celebrate this exhibit, the Special Collections Research Center welcomes three guest speakers to the Hall of Presidents and Chancellors. Continue reading →