McHenry County Historical Society offers Adopt an Artifact program
McHenry County is home to a significant number of women who made a difference in American history. Among them is Lillian Keating.
Lillian Keating Donovan was born in Chemung in 1889. She graduated from Harvard High School in 1904 and lived with her attorney husband, Paul, in Harvard through the 1920s.
However, by 1914 Lillian was beset with serious polio pains. While not immobilized by the disease, Lillian followed the advice of a friend and elected in 1927 to "take the water cure" at Warm Springs, Ga. There she met Franklin Roosevelt and they soon became "pool buddies."
In fact, it was Roosevelt who gave her the nickname of "Donney" after her last name - Donovan. She soon became known as the "Belle of Warm Springs."
One of the items in the McHenry County Historical Society's collection that was recently adopted is a wide-brimmed peach and lace-covered hat with a satin crown. Lillian Keating wore it when she wed Paul Donovan on June 12, 1912. The historical society also has Keating's ivory, satin wedding dress in the collection, which it hopes to exhibit with the hat - once the later is repaired.
The crown of the hat has been detached from the brim and needs to be resewn and stabilized. The cost of doing so is estimated at $70, and includes the cost of an archival-quality storage box that can house both the dress and hat.
There are a number of other artifacts the public can adopt by visiting the historical society website at GotHistory.org. They include:
• Victorian Parlor Settee - This circa 1895 parlor settee is bottoming out and needs repair. Adopt for $225.
• Franklinville Methodist Church Bible - Mary Sanford presented this Bible to the Seneca Township church in 1890. It needs rebinding, while preserving the original cover. Nearly 40 pages need to be reattached to the spine. Adopt for $700.
• 1840s Shirtwaist - The adoption of this artifact will ensure the detached sleeve and ribbon trim are properly sewn back on to the shirtwaist according to 1840s sleeve styles. The donation will also support the cost of an archival storage box to house the shirtwaist. Adopt for $50. This ecru silk woman's shirtwaist was made from a wedding dress worn by Mary Collson for her marriage to Eli Whitney Brigham on Nov. 20, 1842, in Dundee. Mary Collson was born on July 16, 1810, in Cheshire, Mass. By 1850 the couple lived in Hebron. Mary's husband was a farmer and she was "keeping house" She died on March 28, 1891, in Hebron and is buried in the Linn-Hebron Cemetery.
Your tax-deductible donation will support the restoration and storage of an artifact of your choosing, and preserve its historical significance. Benefits include:
A personalized adoption packet that includes a certificate of adoption, a photograph of your artifact and a description of its historical significance.
Your adopted artifact will be on exhibit for one year together with signage recognizing your donation.
Society membership for one year, good for free museum admission and access to reduced program fees and a museum store discount
Acknowledgment in our next Tracer magazine as a member of our Adopt An Artifact program.
The McHenry County Historical Society launched its Adopt An Artifact program last year with great success. Patrons stepped up to fund the restoration of a rare 1908 county atlas, as well as a composition Buddy Lee doll, which appeared in store window displays from 1920 through 1948, and an African-American doll from about the same time period.
The McHenry County Civil War Roundtable also adopted an 1890s snare drum with ties to the Civil War and - most recently - an 1863 diary belonging to Marengoan August Schwager, who served in Company K of the 65th Illinois Infantry.
For more information about any of these artifacts or how you can adopt an item, call (815) 923-2267 or visit www.gothistory.org.