Famous Locals

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

A small selection of Pages from our Past articles written by Bill Kemp

4 items

This undated photograph offers a fine view of Leonard “Baby” Bliss, Bloomington’s celebrity “fat man” of a century past.

Celebrity life of ‘Baby’ Bliss mired in tragedy

One of the more beloved local figures from Bloomington’s rich past is Baby Bliss, the city’s re...

Article

Hollywood Legends Brought Local Author’s Novel to Silver Screen

Bloomington writer Harold Sinclair always looked a little out of place, whether it was standing...

Article

Pantagraph reporter turns sci-fi writer

You might’ve missed it, but Thursday, Nov. 10, marked the 50th anniversary of the first airing ...

Article

Pawnee Bill Lillie and his wife Mary Emma celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 31, 1936 in Taos, NM. The celebration included the governors of Oklahoma and New Mexico, and Pueblo, Navajo and Sioux, as well as the requisite contingent of Pawnee. Two weeks later the Lillies suffered a wreck in their gold-colored anniversary automobile. Mary died on September 27 as a result of her injuries.

Wild West legend ‘Pawnee Bill’ got start in Bloomington

The life and times of Bloomington-born Gordon William “Pawnee Bill” Lillie show us that when it...

Article

Biographies

8 items

Davis, Judge David

David Davis was born on March 9, 1815 at Mercer Plantation, Maryland to David and Anne Mercer D...

Biography

Davis, Judge David

David Davis was born on March 9, 1815 at Mercer Plantation, Maryland to David and Anne Mercer D...

Biography

Gage, Dorothy Louise

The life of Dorothy Louise Gage, although brief, was certainly meaningful, leaving an impact th...

Biography

Green, Harry -"The Flying LaVans"

“The Flying La Vans,” were first known by the name the “La Van Brothers” or the “Brothers La Va...

Biography

Litta, Marie

Marie (pronounced Maria) Litta, born Marie Eugenia von Elsner, was born in Bloomington, IL on J...

Biography

Radbourn, Charles "Old Hoss"

Charles Radbourn was born on December 11, 1854 in Rochester, New York. He was the son of Charl...

Biography

Saltzman-Stevens, Minnie

The story of Minnie Saltzman-Stevens is a Cinderella story of the musical arts. She rose from a...

Biography

Stevenson, Adlai E. II

Politics was in his blood. Adlai Ewing Stevenson II was a member of the two most influential po...

Biography

Blog

6 items

McHistory: Baseball ban a dark day for some in Bloomington

McHistory goes back in time to explore big moments and small stories from McLean County history...

Blog Post

McHistory: Bloomington’s Favorite Son

Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big momen...

Blog Post

McHistory: Modern electronics rests with Bloomington-Normal's only Nobel Prize winner

Blog Post

McHistory: Noted Author Harold Sinclair of Bloomington

Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big momen...

Blog Post

McHistory: Paul Rhymer, the man who put Bloomington 'on the air'

Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big momen...

Blog Post

McHistory: Rags the Dog, The Illinois Traction System Mascot

Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big momen...

Blog Post

Speakers Bureau

1 item

Mourning in McLean: The Story of Death, Grieving, and Funerary Customs in McLean County

Speakers Bureau

Videos

1 item

Lunch & Learn: The Wizard of Oz in Illinois and Beyond

Video