Springfield

Resources are listed in alphabetical order. More information can always be found by using our website search bar, or contacting a member of our staff.

Articles

Pages from our Past articles written by Bill Kemp

4 items

a yellow paper and faded print shows a dog with his mouth open, tongue hanging out. He has dark fur that is wavy, thick all the way down to his furry paws. He has floppy ears. He has four legs in this image. Below the image of the dog it says

Beloved ‘Rags’ rode the rails to local fame

The story of “Rags” is proof that most everyone loves a shaggy dog story, especially those of t...

Article

Bloomington inescapably linked to Springfield Race Riot

The Springfield Race Riot of August 14-15, 1908, when thousands of white residents rampaged thr...

Article

Courts offered women few protections in cases of rape

Rape was the “least-reported, least-prosecuted, and least-punished” of crimes in the 19th centu...

Article

‘Pop’ Horton organized campus circus fraternity in 1929

Today marks the 38th anniversary of the death of Dr. Clifford E. Horton, one of the titans of I...

Article

Biographies

1 item

Blue, Richard

Richard Blue (1842-1921) was born in Ohio and came to Bloomington at age 9 with Judge Rayburn a...

Biography

Videos

Livestreamed and recorded presentations by staff, experts, and community members.

3 items

Family Heirloom Recipes from the Illinois State Fair

Video

Growing up Gen X

Video

Untold African American Stories: Springfield's Lincoln Colored Home

Video