History: Stories Of Our Past

Lunch Lectures On Zoom

This seven-week series offers you the chance to connect with Rockford's past in a lunch and learn program format. Learn about Rockford's history through these informative lectures presented by professional museum staff and local historians.

Wednesday, February 17 . Noon

Rockford and the Negro

Motorist's Green Book

Speaker: Laura Furman,

Curator, Midway Village Museum

Hear the true story of The Green Book which was the topic of a major motion picture. Before the 1964 Civil Rights Act, African American travelers needed to know where they would and would not be welcomed. Not all gas stations, restaurants, or hotels would serve black customers. Despite being a northern city, blacks in Rockford, Illinois still experienced discrimination. From 1936-1966 Victor Green published the Negro Motorist's Green Book to aid black travelers. In it he lists hotels, private rooms for rent, and restaurants welcome to black guests. Rockford accommodations were listed in each issue.

Read below for a listing of other

Lunch Lectures:

Wednesday, January 6 . Noon

Sock Monkeys

& Rockford's Industrial Past

Speaker: Caitlin Treece

Educator, Midway Village Museum

Thursday, January 21 . Noon

History of the Pledge of Allegiance

Speaker: Sue Saunders

History Interpreter

Midway Village Museum

Please note this is a THURSDAY lecture. The original Wednesday date is the day of the United States Presidential inauguration.

Wednesday, February 3 . Noon

African American Soldiers at Camp Grant

Speaker: Joyce Higgins

Rockford Local Historian & Author

Wednesday, March 3 . Noon

The Amazing Bessica Raiche

Speaker: Dave Eisele

History Interpreter

Midway Village Museum

Wednesday, March 17 . Noon

The Suffrage Movement

Speaker: Laura Furman

Curator, Midway Village Museum

Wednesday, March 31 . Noon

Rockford Peaches

Speaker: Caitlin Treece

Educator, Midway Village Museum

Cost:

$7 per person

Museum Members are free

To Register: online at www.midwayvillage.com or

call 815-397-9112.

Museum Members should call the museum and speak to a Front Desk representative to register at 815-397-9112.

A Zoom link is sent to your email following the registration deadline each Wednesday prior to the start of the program. The Zoom program link will be sent to you the morning on the day of that program.

You must register for each program separately.

If you are not available to attend via Zoom contact Caitlin Treece, Educator, at 815-397-9112, ext. 106 or email educator@midwayvillage.com for more options.