Western Illinois Museum

DISCOVERING THE STORIES OF WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS CHANGEMAKERS [FREQUENTLY WE HEAR FROM THOSE WHO LIVE IN RURAL WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS THAT THEY DON'T SEE THEMSELVES IN HISTORY. THIS INABILITY TO SEE HOW WE FIT IN THE STORY LIMITS OUR ABILITY TO CONNECT TO AND LEARN FROM THE HUMANITIES. OUR REGION?S HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS INCLUDE THE PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO SOUGHT THE FREEDOM TO OWN FARMLAND AND WOMEN, THROUGH THE PURSUIT OF EDUCATION, SOUGHT THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE A PROFESSION OUTSIDE THE DOMESTIC SPHERE. OUR PROJECT WILL CREATE A NEW EXHIBIT NARRATIVE THAT FEATURES THESE CHANGEMAKERS AND ENSURES THAT A MORE COMPLETE HISTORY OF RURAL AMERICA IS TOLD. THE NEW PERMANENT EXHIBIT WILL RE-ENFORCE THAT THESE STORIES DESERVE TO BE INCLUDED IN HISTORY.]