Past Programs

Since the Historical Society was formed in 1972, we have been sponsoring programs that inspire an awareness of the community’s history and an appreciation of its relevance. Below is just a sample of what we’ve been up to in the past decade.

Tours

Spirits of the Past: A Living History Tour of the Lake Forest Cemetery • 1999-2003, 2011

Tour of Crab Tree Farm • 2001, 2012, 2013

Architectural Bike Tour of Lake Forest by Kim Tunney • 2001

Hidden Treasures of Lake Forest Schools Bus Tour • 2001

Family Bike Tour of Lake Forest • 2004

Trolley Tour of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff • 2004

Tour of Lake Forest Cemetery • 2004

Evanston to Lake Bluff:  The Sheridan Road We Share Bus Tour • 2005

Tour of the Albert J. Lasker Estate • 2007, 2009

Walking Tour of Lake Bluff • 2008

Nature by Design: A Tour of Four Historic Gardens • 2010

Walking Tour of Graceland Cemetery by John Notz • 2011

40th Anniversary Walking Tours: Lake Forest High School by Kathy O'Hara • Lake Forest Academy by Rita MacAyeal • Lake Forest College by Art Miller • 2012

Lectures and Programs

Newport of the Midwest • Kim Tunney • 2000

Historic Hats – Lecture and Luncheon • Ainsley Wonderling • 2000

Vintage Baseball Game • Chicago Salmon vs. Knights of the Diamond • 2000

History of Lake Forest College • Rosemary Cowler, Franz Schulze, Arthur Miller • 2000

Gentleman Farms of Lake County • Nancy Burgess • 2001

The Irish in Lake Forest • Sean Callan • 2001

Speaking of Unmentionables: A History of Women’s Undergarments – Lecture and Luncheon • Elizabeth Carlson • 2001

125th Anniversary of the Lake Bluff Camp Meeting Association • Janet Nelson and Kathy O’Hara • 2001

WPA Murals in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff • Dr. Connie Kieffer • 2002

Vintage Elegance: Evening Apparel Through the Decades – Lecture and Luncheon • Nancy Pratt • 2002

The Underground Railroad in Illinois • Glennette Tilley Turner • 2002

A Force of Nature: The Life and Work of Jens Jensen • Julia Bachrach • 2002

Ground Zero: Remembering 9/11 • John Zils • 2002

The Chicago River Watershed: A Natural and Cultural History Lecture • Friends of the Chicago River • 2002

Discovering the History of Your House • Betsy J. Green • 2003

Adorning the Ears – Lecture and Luncheon • Judy Rosenbloom • 2003

Beautiful, Moral and Affordable: Turn of the Century Magazines and Home Furnishings • Annual Meeting, 2003

Griffith Grant and Lackie: 100 Years in the Community – Lecture and Exhibit • 2003

Classic Country Estates of Lake Forest, Architectural and Landscape Design: 1856-1940 – Lecture and Book Signing • Kim Conventry, Daniel Meyer, and Arthur H. Miller • 2003

Frances Shaw: Around the Ragdale Ring • Jen Hoyer Minarik • 2003

One Hundred Years of Fashion – Lecture and Luncheon • Diane Rarick • 2004

Lighthouses of the Great Lakes • 2004

Italian Villa on the Prairie: The J. Ogden Armour Estate • Arthur H. Miller • 2004

North Shore Chicago: Houses of the Lakefront Suburbs, 1890-1940 • Stuart Cohen and Susan Benjamin • 2005

Hats Off to Music – Lecture and Luncheon • Kirstin Synnestvedt • 2005

Wish You Were Here: The History of the Postcard • Annual Meeting, 2005

Daniel Burnham: Life of One of Chicago’s Most Famous Architects • Robert J. Lindsey • 2006

The Glessner House • 2006

Lake County and the Civil War • 2006

The Intelligent Design of the Apron – Lecture and Luncheon • 2006

Preserving Lake Forest: The Heritage of Our Oldest Institutions: A Panel Discussion • 2007

Mail Order Homes • 2007

The Open Steel Highway: The North Shore Interurban • 2007

The Golden Age of Chicago Children’s Television, 1940-1970 • Author and Television Producer Jack Mulqueen • 2008

The Way to Fly: The Chicago & North Western Railroad • 2008

Loving Frank: A Dramatic Performance Including a Tour of the Glore House, Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright • Barbara Rinella • 2008

Chicago’s Prairie Avenue: The Sunny Street that Held the Sifted Few • Bill Tyre • 2008

A Royal Visit and Barbara Rinella Reading of American Jennie: The Remarkable Life of Lady Randolph Churchill • 2009

A History and Guide to Chicago’s Oldest Private Clubs • 2009

From Gowns to Gavels: The Life and Work of Virginia Fiester Frederick • 2009

Lake Forest During the Depression • Frederick Van Sickle • 2009

On & Off the Course – Golf in Chicago • Alberta Adamson • 2010

Chicago Gardens • Cathy Jean Maloney • 2010

Lake County in the Civil War: Frontline to Home Front • Diana Dretske • 2011

Walter Frazier: Architect of the 20^th Century • Kim Coventry and Arthur Miller • 2011

100 Years of Great Lakes Naval Station • 2011

The Magnificent Medills Book Signing • Megan McKinney • 2011

Remembering Marshall Field's • Leslie Goddard • 2012

Barat College: A Legacy, A Spirit and A Name • Sister Martha Curry, RSCJ • 2012

Everett and Beyond: A Celebration of West Lake Forest • Susan Kesley, Arthur Miller, Shirley Paddock • 2012

The Open Steel Highway: The 50th Anniversary of the Closing of the North Shore Interurban • Norman Carlson • 2013

The Mystery of the Gardener's Daughter • 2013