"KNOX COLLEGE, GALESBURG and the UNDERGROUND RAILROAD" Owen Muelder, Director of Alumni Affairs for Knox College, will speak on the Underground Railroad, its history and connections to Galesburg, Knox College, and the County, at the Old Knox County Courthouse in Knoxville on Thursday, January 10, 2002, at 7:00 PM. Besides a general history of the Underground Railroad, Owen's talk deals with the origins of Galesburg and Knox College as a manual labor institution, abolitionism in the Knox County and Galesburg region, and the story of Susan (Sukey) Richardson. Mr. Muelder graduated with a degree in history from Knox College in 1963. His father, historian Hermann Muelder of Knox College, authored two works on local history, Fighters for Freedom and Missionaries and Muckrakers. Admission to Mr. Muelder's talk is free and open to both members of the Knox County Historical Society and the public at large. All are invited and welcome. The story of Susan Richardson was chronicled recently in the book Escape Betwixt Two Suns, by Carol Pirtle (SIU Press: 2000), which documents parts of both the Northern and Southern chapters in the life of the former slave. The Knox County Courthouse, operated by Knox County Historical Sites, Inc., was built in 1839 and used until 1873 when the county seat changed to Galesburg. Stephen A. Douglas held court in the building during the early 1840s. It is located in the historic downtown of Knoxville. Knox County Historical Sites maintains a website with information about the Courthouse and other landmarks in Knoxville and Knoc County. CHANGES IN BOARD Terry Wilson, Treasurer, and Tom Wilson, Board Member, have recently resigned their Board positions for personal reasons. We thank them for their services and will miss them. Laurie Sauer is currently Acting-Treasurer and the Board is seeking nominations for a further Board Member. The Board of the Society, as it currently stands, is: Joel Ward, President; Bob Conklin, Vice President; Phil Reyburn, Secretary; Laurie Sauer, Treasurer; and Carley Robison, Board Member. |
Knox County Historical Society |
MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Knox County Historical Society is to nurture an awareness and appreciation of the history of Knox County, Illinois, through the collection and preservation of library, archival, and material artifacts, and educational programs; and to strive for excellence and quality in the research and interpretation of the collections and of local history, so that the past may shed light on the present and the future. "SO THAT THE PAST MAY SHED LIGHT ON THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE." |
Upcoming Speaker and News |
"KNOX COLLEGE, GALESBURG and the UNDERGROUND RAILROAD" Owen Muelder, Director of Alumni Affairs for Knox College, will speak on the Underground Railroad, its history and connections to Galesburg, Knox College, and the County, at the Old Knox County Courthouse in Knoxville on Thursday, January 10, 2002, at 7:00 PM. Besides a general history of the Underground Railroad, Owen's talk deals with the origins of Galesburg and Knox College as a manual labor institution, abolitionism in the Knox County and Galesburg region, and the story of Susan (Sukey) Richardson. Mr. Muelder graduated with a degree in history from Knox College in 1963. His father, historian Hermann Muelder of Knox College, authored two works on local history, Fighters for Freedom and Missionaries and Muckrakers. Admission to Mr. Muelder's talk is free and open to both members of the Knox County Historical Society and the public at large. All are invited and welcome. The story of Susan Richardson was chronicled recently in the book Escape Betwixt Two Suns, by Carol Pirtle (SIU Press: 2000), which documents parts of both the Northern and Southern chapters in the life of the former slave. The Knox County Courthouse, operated by Knox County Historical Sites, Inc., was built in 1839 and used until 1873 when the county seat changed to Galesburg. Stephen A. Douglas held court in the building during the early 1840s. It is located in the historic downtown of Knoxville. Knox County Historical Sites maintains a website with information about the Courthouse and other landmarks in Knoxville and Knoc County. CHANGES IN BOARD Terry Wilson, Treasurer, and Tom Wilson, Board Member, have recently resigned their Board positions for personal reasons. We thank them for their services and will miss them. Laurie Sauer is currently Acting-Treasurer and the Board is seeking nominations for a further Board Member. The Board of the Society, as it currently stands, is: Joel Ward, President; Bob Conklin, Vice President; Phil Reyburn, Secretary; Laurie Sauer, Treasurer; and Carley Robison, Board Member. |
Membership Information |
Membership in the Knox County Historical Society is open to all who are interested in the varied and interesting history of of Knox County, Illinois. Members receive a quarterly bulletin, with news of upcoming events, articles on a variety of topics, and news of general County history. The Society will be publishing a series of booklets, each one representing a well-researched and focused look at a specific topic of County history. Members will receive a discount on all publications. Membership is available in four categories: Individual, for $10 per year; Family, for $15 per year; and Institutional, for $20 per year. A Lifetime membership is also available for $250. To join, please send check or money order to the address listed below in our Contact section, made out to: Knox County Historical Society. You will receive a certificate of membership and your first newsletter in the mail as confirmation. |
Contact Us |
Knox County Historical Society P. O. Box 1757 Galesburg, IL 61402-1757 |
Last updated December 19, 2001
