Womens History

A Community in Conflict

9 items

Abraham Lincoln in McLean County

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Articles

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Bloomington’s Fifer Bohrer first state Senator

As thoughts this month turn to newly elected leaders assuming office, it’s a fitting time to lo...

Article

Clara Brian champion of farm families

Clara Brian spent 25 years traveling to every corner of the McLean County countryside with the ...

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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...

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Cousin Emmy had deep ties to Bloomington

Cousin Emmy, a pioneering female country music artist affectionately known as “the first hillbi...

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Donation illuminates Earhart’s 1936 visit to Twin Cities

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the McLean County Museum of History to temporarily cl...

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Ellen Ferguson, 19th century suffragist, polygamist

Ellen B. Ferguson, who made Bloomington-Normal her home in the 1870s, was a remarkable but ulti...

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Julia Vrooman brought jazz to WW I doughboys

“Julia Scott Vrooman has always been in the news,” noted The Pantagraph in early October 1976. ...

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May Christian, forever her own woman

“I was always too independent,” Bloomington resident Annie May Christian confided in a remarkab...

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Passage of 1920 suffrage amendment end of long struggle

On August 26, 1920, U.S. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed into law the 19th Amendment...

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Prof. June Rose Colby lived ‘life of the mind’

“Miss Colby was a most unusual person,” noted Helen Marshall in her centennial history of Illin...

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Secor’s Minnie Vautrin, ‘Goddess of Mercy’

Born, raised and educated in Central Illinois, Christian educator Minnie Vautrin was an eyewitn...

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Virtual cemetery walk showcases amazing Florence Funk

The not-for-profit McLean County Museum of History celebrates local history in all its complexi...

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WW I home front featured French-Belgian relief

The War to End All Wars, as the First World War was once called, brought out the best and the w...

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Women’s Improvement League kept Normal clean and healthy

Editor's note: This is Bill Kemp's 650th original "Page from Our Past" colu...

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Women’s suffrage debate captivates Twin Cities in 1870

On August 26, 1920, U.S. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed into law the 19th Amendment...

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‘Angel of the West Side’ met daycare needs a century ago

Ah, the good old days when all fathers were breadwinners and all mothers were homemakers. Well,...

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‘Aviatrix’ Amelia Earhart twice visitor to Twin Cities

This July will mark the 80th anniversary of Amelia Earhart’s mysterious disappearance in the Ce...

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‘Dr. Mrs. Keck’ battled male-dominated medical establishment

Back in the 19th century when miracle pills, plasters, creams, powders and tonics promised to c...

Article

Biographies

96 items

Annette, Madame

Sophia Huggins (1831-1903) or “Aunt Sophia” as she was known by her clientele, was a claimed cl...

Biography

Anthony, Susan B.

Please note: Susan B. Anthony did not live in, was not born in, and is not buried in McLean Cou...

Biography

Austin, Grace Jewett

Grace Merrill Jewett Austin was born on January 12, 1872 in Laconia, New Hampshire.  She was th...

Biography

Bach, Maria Sophia

Maria Sophia (Koehler or Kahler) Bach was the wife of pressman and political dissident, William...

Biography

Barton, Lucinda

Lucinda Robinson Barton was born on January 18, 1838 in Washington Co., Missouri. When she was ...

Biography

Becker, Augusta "Gussie"

Augusta Becker, known as “Gussie” to most, was born in Berlin, Germany on November 13, 1882, to...

Biography

Beich, Paul F.

Paul F. Beich was a German immigrant who worked in the candy-making business, first as a salesm...

Biography

Belt, Edith Pressler

Edith Pressler Belt (1896 – 1973) and Augustus "Gus" Belt (1895-1954) successfully gr...

Biography

Biggs, Llora Withers

Llora Withers Biggs is a McLean County girl who became a renowned soprano singer and theater st...

Biography

Bohrer, Florence Fifer

Florence Fifer Bohrer was no stranger to politics. She was born in 1877 into a political family...

Biography

Bradner, Judith Ann

Judith Major Allin Bradner was born on May 9, 1814 in Bourbon County, Kentucky to William T. an...

Biography

Burnham, Almira Sarah Ives

At the turn of the twentieth century, when the public reception of visual arts in Bloomington, ...

Biography

Calcote, Matilda

Matilda Bell Heaston entered the world on November 30, 1910. Born to Jake and Doshie (Robinson)...

Biography

Christian, Annie May

Annie May Christian (who went by May for most of her life) was born on November 28, 1866 to Mat...

Biography

Christian, Elizabeth Jane Mitchell

Elizabeth Jane Mitchell, called Lizzie, was born on July 16, 1842 at Stout’s Grove near Danvers...

Biography

Claxton, Belle Blue

Belle Blue Claxton was born in Bloomington, IL on April 30, 1872.  She was a daughter of Richar...

Biography

Colby, Celestia Rice

Celestia Rice Colby was born on December 19, 1827 in Andover, Ohio.  She was the fourth child b...

Biography

Colby, Dr. June Rose

June Rose Colby, known to friends and family as Rose, was born at Cherry Valley, Ohio on June 4...

Biography

Cotting, Katherine M.J. Vanderpool

James M. Cotting was born on March 18, 1825 in North Chatham, New York. He married Katherine M....

Biography

Crothers, Dr. Marie Louise

Dr. Mrs. Marie Louise (DePew) Crothers (1833-1920), wife of well-respected physician and druggi...

Biography

Crothers, Rachel

Rachel Crothers was a playwright and theatrical director known for her well-crafted plays that ...

Biography

Davis, Sarah

Sarah Woodruff Walker Davis was born on September 4, 1814 in Lenox, Massachusetts.  She was one...

Biography

Dillon, Martha Fisher

Ellis Dillon was born on March 25, 1816 in Clinton County, Ohio to Jesse and Hannah Pugh Dillon...

Biography

Dodge, Flora Pennell

Flora Pennell Dodge was born on September 14, 1868 in Normal, Illinois.  She was the youngest o...

Biography

Dyson, Nancy “Nannie” McCullough Orme

Nancy “Nannie” McCullough Orme was born on October 23, 1834 in McLean County.  In 1853 she marr...

Biography

Edwards, Ruby

Ruby A. Jackson was born on January 29, 1906 in Bloomington, Illinois.  She was the daughter of...

Biography

Ela, Frances Harriet Rowell

Frances Harriet Rowell was born on November 15, 1835 in Waterford, Vermont.  She was one of fou...

Biography

Elder, Mary

Mary Elvira Elder was born in Bloomingburg, Fayette County, Ohio on September 18, 1835 accordin...

Biography

Esque, Eliza (Davis)

Eliza Davis Esque was born around 1845 in St. Charles County, Missouri.  Little is known about ...

Biography

Ewing, Hazle Buck

World traveler, pioneering activist, environmentalist, and philanthropist, Hazle Buck Ewing was...

Biography

Eyestone, Lura

Lura Mary Eyestone was born in Bloomington, Illinois on October 14, 1872 to Theodore Riley and ...

Biography

Fell, Hester Vernon

Hester Vernon Fell was born on March 2, 1819 in Little Brittain, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania...

Biography

Fitzwilliam, Sarah Raymond

Sarah Raymond Fitzwilliam was an educator and an advocate who wanted better for Bloomington. Sh...

Biography

Fox, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Irons Folsom

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Irons was born in September 1861 in Peoria to Charles and Ettie Maria Englis...

Biography

Funk, Florence Mae Risser

Florence Mae Risser Funk (1871-1923) was one of McLean County’s most renowned suffragists and s...

Biography

Gage, Dorothy Louise

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

Biography

Geneva, Carolyn Schertz

Carolyn Schertz Geneva was born on October 13, 1892 in Hudson. Illinois. She was the daughter o...

Biography

Gridley, Mary

Mary Enos Gridley was born in Onondaga Hollow, Onondaga County, New York on March 18, 1818. Whe...

Biography

Hall, Helen Ross

Helen Ross was born on September 15, 1846 in the village of Kenagh, in County Longford, Ireland...

Biography

Hanson, Ethel Hamilton

Ethel Hamilton Hanson was a popular member of society circles and active in educational, politi...

Biography

Hartmann, Mary J.

Mary J. Hartmann was born on October 13, 1845 on a farm in Franklin Township, Washington County...

Biography

Hawkins, Julia Bee

Julia Bee was born in Illinois on March 29, 1863. It is not known who her parents were but in t...

Biography

Henderson, Effie

Effie Henderson was born on October 29, 1859 in Towanda, Illinois. Her parents, Franklin and Sa...

Biography

Hendryx, Jane Frankeberger

Jane Frankeberger was born in Champaign County, Ohio on September 4, 1818 to Jesse and his seco...

Biography

Holder, Julia

Julia Montrose Holder was on born December 24, 1884 in Bloomington, Illinois to Dan and Kate (S...

Biography

Howard, Emily

At the turn of the twentieth century, when the public reception of visual arts in Bloomington, ...

Biography

Huggins, Sophia

Sophia Huggins (1831-1903) or “Aunt Sophia” as she was known by her clientele, was a claimed cl...

Biography

Jackman, Sarah Farnum Sargent

Sarah Farnum Sargent Jackman was born on December 18, 1816 in Boscawen, New Hampshire. She was ...

Biography

Jones, Annie Ethel

Annie Ethel Jones (1899 – 1991) was a Black woman born and reared on a Mississippi farm, which ...

Biography

Jones, Eva

Eva Jones was a woman who never turned away from challenging situations or tough decisions. She...

Biography

Kaywood, Florence Stevens

Florence (Stevens) Kaywood was born on October 8, 1864 to William and Sarah (Shields) Stevens i...

Biography

Kennedy, Beulah Jones Thornton

According to Beulah Jones Thornton Kennedy, “we wanted first-class citizenship. We had to pay f...

Biography

Kessler, Clara Louise

Clara Louise Kessler (1893-1968) “knows and loves children and is vitally interested in them,” ...

Biography

Kessler, Frances

Frances Kessler had a passion for music and education. Music had always been an interest in her...

Biography

Kimball, Luella

Not much is known about Luella Kimball, sometimes known as Luella Rankin. Luella was the fourth...

Biography

King, Gertrude “Mickey” Comeau

Mickey King was known as the “Queen of the Air.” This little dynamo rocked the circus world wit...

Biography

King, Mary Reed

Mary (Reed) King (1842-1928) and Samuel Noble (1834-1913) were a force in the advancement of ag...

Biography

Litta, Marie

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

Biography

Livingston, Hilda

Sigmund Livingston was born on December 27, 1872 in Giessen, Germany. He was one of eight child...

Biography

Locher, Beulah Baker

Beulah Baker Locher was born on January 7, 1881 in Gibson City. She was the daughter of Frank R...

Biography

Loomis, Emily Hanks

Emily Hanks Loomis was born October 18, 1837 on a farm in Hickory Point Township, four miles no...

Biography

MacGillivray, Dr. Margaret

Dr. Margaret MacGillivray was born in Dunfermline, Scotland on October 21, 1845. She was a very...

Biography

Markowitz, Judy

Few women in McLean County history have had a greater impact on our community than Judy Markowi...

Biography

Marmon, Mary Ann

Mary Ann (Cheney) Marmon (1837-1908) grew up in a log cabin on the Illinois prairie and was a m...

Biography

McCurdy, Helen Clark

Helen Clark was born in Bloomington, Illinois on February 21, 1866 to James and Anna (Bacon) Cl...

Biography

Merchant, Mary Arenz

Mary Arenz Merchant was born on February 28, 1841 in New Berlin, IL the fourth of ten children ...

Biography

Milner, Angeline Vernon

Angeline Vernon Milner, known to most as Ange, is one of Illinois' most famous librarians....

Biography

Moratz, Palma

Palma Moratz was born on April 6, 1879 in Bloomington, IL to German-born parents, Hermann and E...

Biography

Morgan, Lucy Orme

Lucy Orme Morgan was born on January 21, 1858 in Bloomington, Illinois. She was the third of fo...

Biography

Murray, Ethel

Much of what we know today about Murray comes from oral history which can sometimes contradict ...

Biography

Muxfeld, Louise

Louise Muxfeld, known as “Lizzie” by all, was born as Johanna Louise Catherine Tobecksen on Jun...

Biography

Neville, Edith

Edith Neville, one of Bloomington’s most wealthy and eccentric citizens, was born in Bloomingto...

Biography

Noble, Emily Vecchi

Emily (Vecchi) Noble was born on Church Street in London, England on February 4, 1886 to Enrico...

Biography

Northrup, Rose Whipp

Rose Whipp Northrup was born on September 27, 1850 in Beardstown, Illinois.  She was the daught...

Biography

Paist, Maria Dawson

Maria Dawson Paist came to Illinois with her family in 1822 at the age of five. The Dawson and ...

Biography

Porter, Ida

Ida Porter was born on September 19, 1863 in Normal, Illinois.  She was the daughter of Solomon...

Biography

Potter, Mary

Mary Potter (DOB/DOD unknown): In 1910, Mary Potter arrived at the Illinois Soldiers’ Orphans’ ...

Biography

Rankin, Melinda

Melinda Rankin was born in Littleton, New Hampshire on March 21, 1811. She attended and taught ...

Biography

Rayburn, Jennie

Jane “Jennie” Buttolph Rayburn was born May 11, 1858 in Middlebury, Vermont a daughter of Willi...

Biography

Rice, Martha Baker

Martha H. Baker (Rice) was born in Richmond, Kentucky on September 4, 1817.  Her parent’s names...

Biography

Saltzman-Stevens, Minnie

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

Biography

Sanders, Susan Pike

Susan Augusta Pike Sanders was born in Maine on March 25, 1842. She was the third of seven chil...

Biography

Schroeder, Baroness Maria von Buchau

Much of what we know about Herman Schroeder comes from his own accounts.  Some of this informat...

Biography

Scott, Charlotte Ann Perry

Charlotte Ann Perry was born on September 18, 1831 in Athens, Tioga County, Pennsylvania.  She ...

Biography

Scott, Julia Green

Julia Green Scott was born to privilege and distinguished ancestry on February 14, 1839 in Danv...

Biography

Smith, Alice Orme

Alice Orme Smith served as a nurse with the American, British, and French forces during World W...

Biography

Stevenson, Helen Davis

Helen Louise Davis Stevenson was born in Normal on September 17, 1869.  She was the daughter of...

Biography

Stevenson, Letitia Green

Letitia Barbour Green Stevenson was born in Alleghany City in Western Pennsylvania on January 8...

Biography

Stewart, Grace Huddleston

Grace Huddleston Stewart became known throughout Bloomington after she brought a fair housing c...

Biography

Stokes, Ella Lee

Ella Lee Luallen is one of many important voices in the Black history of McLean County. She was...

Biography

Thompson, Jennie

Jane “Jennie” Lynd Thompson was born on October 28, 1860 in Bond Head, Canada—located in the pr...

Biography

Trotter, Georgina

Georgina Trotter (1836-1904) and Sarah Raymond Fitzwilliam (1842 – 1918) were advocates and clo...

Biography

Vrooman, Julia Scott

Carl was born in Macon County, Missouri on October 25, 1872. He was the son of Judge Hiram Perk...

Biography

Wagner, Grace B.

Grace B. Wagner was born on May 1, 1890 to Henry and Nellie Spafford Wagner. The family resided...

Biography

Wickizer, Jennie MacDonald

Jennie MacDonald Wickizer was born on December 31, 1852 at Knightswood, Scotland, located just ...

Biography

Withers, Sarah

Sarah Rice Withers was born to John M. Rice and Patsy (Polly) Johnson Rice in Jessamine County,...

Biography

Blog

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Events

1 item

Farming in the Great Corn Belt

4 items

Finding Aids

32 items

Making a Home

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Research

1 item

Speakers Bureau

5 items

Videos

6 items

Artists, Advocates, Acrobats, & More! Women Who Made McLean County History

Video

In the Spotlight: Antoinette Concello presented by Maureen Brunsdale

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Lunch & Learn: Christmas Past and Present at Ewing Manor

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Lunch & Learn: Lincoln and Ann Rutledge with Guy Fraker

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No Crybabies Allowed: Book Reading and Signing with Terri Ryburn

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Social Justice History Walking Tour

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Working for a Living

14 items