DuPage County Historical Museum Foundation adds three new board members
The DuPage County Historical Museum Foundation is pleased to welcome to its volunteer board Philip Buchanan of Naperville, Susan Benjamin of Carol Stream, and Daniel Wagner of Wheaton.
• Philip Buchanan's passion for historic preservation has led to a career as a project manager for exhibit companies that focus on museums and trade shows. One of his most recent projects included the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield.
• Susan H. Benjamin, a member and treasurer of the Carol Stream Historical Society, has spent time organizing and documenting artifacts with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County and most recently with the Robert R. McCormick House at Cantigny. She is also an active member of the League of Women Voters.
• Daniel Wagner, senior vice president of government relations for The Inland Real Estate Group, LLC serves on numerous real estate industry and government boards and committees and is familiar with the vital role the DuPage County Historical Museum plays in the county. In 2014, the museum received a $200,000 donation to replace the museum's roof from The Inland Real Estate Group, LLC CEO Daniel Goodwin.
"I am honored to be on the DuPage Historical Museum Board of Directors," commented Dan Wagner, senior vice president of government relations for The Inland Real Estate Group, LLC. "I look forward to continuing to help preserve history for the future generations of DuPage County citizens."
The DuPage County Historical Museum Foundation board also includes President David Thiel, Vice President Marty Keller, Treasurer Bob Jacobsen, Secretary Michael Benard and members, Samantha Bauman, Melody Coleman, Emily Doyle, Don Puchalski, and Troy Rodman.
The foundation exists to raise funds in support of the museum's mission to educate the general public through the collection, preservation, interpretation, and exhibition of materials that document the history of DuPage County.
The foundation relies on revenue from special events such as "Casino Night," "Octoberfest," and "Night at the Museum." Unfortunately, with the ongoing limitations on special events due to the pandemic, the foundation wasn't able to host events in 2020 but is focusing its efforts on developing new and unique fundraisers for 2021.
Through the foundation's fundraising success over the years, its support has been able to assist with many temporary exhibits, the restoration of two civil war flags which are on display in the museum auditorium as well as the development of various specialty publications including catalogs titled, "1917: Catalyst for a Modern Era," "Early Illinois Folk Art," and "Wheaton, IL: Golf History Starts Here."
Many of the artifacts included in the Golf History catalog are currently on exhibit at Arrowhead Golf Club, located on Butterfield Road in Wheaton.
The museum offers a variety of virtual and in-person programming and new exhibits including "Celebrating 100 Years: Wheaton Park District Centennial" opening in May, "Together We Win: DuPage in World War II" in July and "Ghost Towns of DuPage County," opening in September.
The museum functions as the only institution dedicated to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of the material culture documenting the county of DuPage, Illinois. The collections represent artifacts collected by the DuPage County Historical Society since 1929 as well as artifacts collected by the museum since its founding in 1965.
The museum is free to visit but donations are greatly appreciated. The museum relies on revenue through donations, special events, and programming. It is open Tuesday to Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. More information can be found at dupagemuseum.org or www.facebook/dupagemuseum.