Speaker Series
Each month, we welcome a speaker to the museum to present on various topics relating to Champaign County history. This event takes place in our Community Room on the second floor of the Cattle Bank. We also stream the speaker series on Facebook Live. Join us in-person to meet the speaker and engage with questions, or watch from home!
Seating is limited, so check back to this page periodically to reserve your ticket. You can also sign up for our eNewsletter below to receive information on upcoming topics.
Upcoming History Talks
The History of the Urbana Seminary
Join us on May 23rd at 7pm @ the Champaign Public Library. More information coming soon!
2024 History Talks
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January 18th - History of UIUC Homecoming by Ryan Ross, Historian / U of I Alumni Alliance (Postponed)
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February 15th - The 370th Infantry and Their Impact on Champaign County by CCAAHT
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March 21st - The 100+ Year Ride Listening to Champaign County Radio by Mike Haile
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April 18th - The Eastern Illinois League in Champaign County by Bob Sampson
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May 23rd - Celebrating a Milestone with the Urbana Seminary by Pearce Durst
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June 20th - Discovering an Unincorporated Community: Myra Station by Will Best
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July 18th - History of UIUC Homecoming by Ryan Ross, Historian / U of I Alumni Alliance
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August 15th - The History of the Mt. Vernon UMC: Celebrating their 150th Anniversary by Dan Sherman
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September 19th - The Krebiozen Hoax: How a Mysterious Cancer Drug Shook Organized Medicine by Matthew Enrlich
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October 17th - History of Champaign County Fires by Jeremy Mitchell
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November 21st - William Springer: The Political Life of a Local Congressman by Janey Schmidt
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December 19th - John Gregory's University Art Museum 150th Anniversary by Ian Wang
2023 History Talks
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December 21 - Lincoln on the Verge: Thirteen Days to Washington by Ted Widmer, Historian / Author
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November 16 - Dorothy Schroeder: Champaign County's All-American Baseball Player by Anna Sielaff
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October 19 - Myra, IL and the Tragedies of the Silver Family by Will Best, CCHM Manager
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September 21 - Urbana's Architect, Joseph William Royer, by Brian Adams, Archaeologist
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July 20 - Illinois at the End of the Ice Age: Champaign's Earliest Inhabitants
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June 15 - 100 Years of Illini Hillel
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May 18 - Avenues of Transformation: Illinois' Path from Territory to State
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April 6 - The Illinois Theater: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly by Perry Morris, CCHM Vice President
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March 9 - Farm Aid '85 in Music and Memory
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February 16 - Alexander Bowman and His 1856 Map of West Urbana
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January 19 - The History of the Wilber Mansion by Madison Story, CCHM Intern
2022 History Talks
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December 15 - "Dangerous Ideas on Campus" - A Discussion with Author Matthew Ehrlich
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November 17 - "The Heartland" - A Discussion with Author Kristin Hoganson
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October 20 - Sarah McGuirk, Orphan Train Rider by Tammy Wilson
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September 15 - A History of Chinese Students and Scholars at the UI by Yingying Han & Ian Wang
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August 18 - Virginia Sale: Urbana's Hollywood Starlet by Perry Morris, CCHM Vice President
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July 21 - Daughter of the American Revolution Lincoln 8th Circuit Markers
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June 16 - Chic Sale: Urbana's Leading Man by Perry Morris, CCHM Vice President
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April 19 - The Illinois Traction System by Dale Jenkins, President of the IL Terminal RR Association
2021 History Talks
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February 13 - Senior Memorial Chimes of Altgeld Hall by Liam Flood
2019 History Talks
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November 9 - The Harris Mansion Heist by Zane Zielger, Champaign Police Historian
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August 10 - 100 Years of History of the News-Gazette, by Tom Kachich, News-Gazette Reporter
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June 8 - A Home of Their Own - African American Students Housing at the UofI 1920-1950
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April 20 - 100th Anniversary of the American Legion
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March 9 - Crowning a Champaign in Champaign: 77 Years of IHSA Basketball Championships
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February 9 - Historic Sites of Champaign County (Part 2) by Rick Williams, CCHM Board Member
2018 History Talks
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October 11 - Powering the University of Illinois
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September 13 - Busey vs. Cannon: The Perfect Storm Election of 1892
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August 9 - Stories from Chanute, by Anke Voss, Director of the Champaign Co. Archives
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July 12 - Champaign's Gambling Hotspots in 1937 by Sherrie Bowser, Champaign Co. Archives Librarian
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June 14 - 100 Years of the Samual T. Busey Memorial Library by Thomas Kuipers
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May 10 - Vaudville and the New Orpheum Theatre by Perry Morris, CCHM Vice President
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April 12 - History of the University of Illinois Archives by Bill Maher, UofI Archivist
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March 8 - The Four Color Theorem: Solving a 124-Year-Old Problem
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February 8 - The History of the History Museum by Hal Balbach, former CCHM President
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January 11 - Historic Sites of Champaign County (Part 1) by Rick Williams, CCHM Board Member
2017 History Talks
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December 14 - WWII Diary of Chick Bruns 70 Years Ago by Author John Bruns
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November 9 - "An Illini Place" - A Discussion with Author Lex Tate
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October 12 - The Pacific Theater with David Anderson, WWII Veteran
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September 14 - "The Lord is Not on Trial" The Vashti McCollum Case by Author Dan McCollum