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Jefferson County Historical Society Museum, 1411 N 27th St, Mount Vernon, IL 62864

Roots Musician and Folklorist Chris Vallillo has restored and collected Illinois stringed instruments for over 30 years and will discuss the development of Illinois Instrument building as he performs period music on over a dozen historic examples of these important instruments, from handmade masterpieces to $3.00 mail order gems.

Des Plaines History Center, 781 Pearson St, Des Plaines, IL 60016

A Road Scholar Program by Erika Holst

It is hard to overstate the role of textiles in early American life. For families, the making of textiles and clothing required countless hours of labor. On the other hand, the purchase of textiles could consume a large portion of the household budget. For the nation, textiles drove the American pre-Civil War economy. They provided a money-making opportunity for a few and exploited the labor of countless others.

Brookfield Public Library, 3609 Grand Blvd, Brookfield, IL 60513

A Road Scholar Program by Barbara Kay

The lives and roles of our nation’s first ladies have always fascinated Americans. Unfortunately, some people only know the myths surrounding these women and few know the actual stories or the impact they had.

Ethnic Heritage Museum, 1129 S Main St, Rockford, IL 61101

Members of the Women’s Army Corps (WACs) were the first women other than nurses to serve overseas in World War II. Cyndee Schaffer’s mother, Mollie Weinstein Schaffer, was one of them.

Orland Park History Museum, 14415 Beacon Ave, Orland Park, IL 60462

This program will take audiences on a journey of discovery where they will hear the history of their arrival, the French dialects they still speak, and the unique music they still perform.