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Lucy Pettengill, Underground Railroad Operator at Bloomington Public Library

Event Details

October 15th at 6:30pm – 7:30pm

Bloomington Public Library, 205 E. Olive Street, Bloomington, IL

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Meet Lucy Pettengill, resident of Peoria, Illinois, during March of 1857, and learn about the struggles she and her fellow abolitionists encountered while assisting freedom seekers on their travels north. Hear accounts of the efforts of the underground railroad activities during this costumed portrayal of someone who was there! Mrs. Pettengill will share with you the details of the abolitionist movements and actions in western Illinois and why her work was not only secret, but dangerous.

The Museum, in partnership with Bloomington Public Library, will host this free, public program at Bloomington Public Library in Community Room 2 on Thursday, October 15 at 6:30 p.m. This program will also be livestreamed via livestream on the BPL YouTube page.

This is a companion program to the Looking for Lincoln travelling exhibit Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad, offered in partnership with the McLean County Museum of History. The exhibit will remain on display in Community Room 1 during all the library's open hours through November 30, 2026.

---

Our costumed presenter, Laura Keyes, graduated from UW-Madison with a Master’s Degree in Library Studies and is a librarian in Central Illinois. Laura sits on the Board of Directors of The Association of Lincoln Presenters. Laura received the Excellence in Performing Award from that Association.

Questions about this program can be emailed to Sara or Marcie at reference@bloomingtonlibrary.org.

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Meet Lucy Pettengill, resident of Peoria, Illinois, during March of 1857, and learn about the struggles she and her fellow abolitionists encountered while assisting freedom seekers on their travels north. Hear accounts of the efforts of the underground railroad activities during this costumed portrayal of someone who was there! Mrs. Pettengill will share with you the details of the abolitionist movements and actions in western Illinois and why her work was not only secret, but dangerous.

The Museum, in partnership with Bloomington Public Library, will host this free, public program at Bloomington Public Library in Community Room 2 on Thursday, October 15 at 6:30 p.m. This program will also be livestreamed via livestream on the BPL YouTube page.

This is a companion program to the Looking for Lincoln travelling exhibit Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad, offered in partnership with the McLean County Museum of History. The exhibit will remain on display in Community Room 1 during all the library's open hours through November 30, 2026.

---

Our costumed presenter, Laura Keyes, graduated from UW-Madison with a Master’s Degree in Library Studies and is a librarian in Central Illinois. Laura sits on the Board of Directors of The Association of Lincoln Presenters. Laura received the Excellence in Performing Award from that Association.

Questions about this program can be emailed to Sara or Marcie at reference@bloomingtonlibrary.org.