The remarkable women who helped build the city of Chicago
On Thursday, October 6, Bartlett Library patrons learned all about the history of the Chicago women who helped create the city we know today at the "Behind the Stars: The Remarkable Women Who Helped Build Chicago" program.
The program started off by patrons learning what the Chicago flag represents. The white stripes represent the North, South and West sides of the city; the blue stripes represent Lake Michigan and the Chicago River; and the stars represent historical events such as the Ft. Dearborn Massacre, the Chicago Fire, the World's Columbian Exposition and the Century of Progress World's Fair.
Those four events were then taken and explained in further detail by what women did during each one in order to help the city of Chicago.
One of the women featured in the program were Mary Jane Richardson Jones (1819-1910). Jones is best-known for founding the Olivet Baptist Church, which is still active today; and she is known for opening the first free library for African Americans.
Another woman that was talked about was Kitty Medill (1831-1984). Medill and her friends noted that women were being left out of relief efforts after the Chicago Fire occurred on Oct. 8, 1871.
Patrons learned that the women believed in each other to pave the path for the future of women. Now women today get to see what they can do for the next generations to come.
An upcoming Adult Services program is "Mudslinging, Muckraking and Apple Pie: Presidential Campaigns, the Great America" on Thursday, October 13 at 7 p.m. Believe it or not, political campaigns have gotten more civil over the years. Don't believe it? In this program, hear the stories of the mudslinging and muckraking of the Jefferson v. Adams campaign of 1800, the Jackson v. Adams of 1828 and more. Also covered in this program is the 1912 campaign when Teddy Roosevelt decided to start his OWN political party.
For more information and a complete listing of scheduled programs, call 630.837.2855 or visit www.bartlettlibrary.org.