Everyone is welcome at our monthly meetings

NOTICE: Meetings for the 2021-22 Year will be in-person at the Holiday Inn O'Hare, but will also be simulcast on Zoom. Zoom details for each meeting will be emailed to members via the newsletter and also posted on the CWRT's Facebook page.


June 10th
Lauren Szady on "Politicians in Petticoats": The Women of the Abolitionist Movement

While not originally admitted to the earliest abolitionist societies, women were always an important part of the movement. Some names, such as Harriet Beecher Stowe and Sojourner Truth have been remembered by history as influential ladies in the anti-slavery movement, both with their words and actions. However, women from all walks of life--rich and poor, black and white, northern and southern--spoke up about this issue that started out as a male political opinion but turned into a hotly contested social matter for all. Their opinions were not without contest though- many were seen as "stirring up trouble on the slavery issue" while others divided groups by breaking with convention. Throughout women's history, only the most vocal or "politically correct" women are remembered as having an influence but during the abolitionist movement, many women took a stand and raised their voices to help bring light to those with even less rights than they had. On June 10th, Lauren Szady will explore some of these women and how their voices changed the course of the anti-slavery movement.

Lauren Szady is a museum professional with over 10-years experience in education at several small to mid-size organizations over the course of her career. She earned a bachelor's degree with honors in Public History from DePaul University and a master's degree in Museum Studies through Johns Hopkins University. In true historian style, the earliest written evidence that Lauren has about her chosen career is from when she was in 3rd grade announcing that she wanted to be a reenactor when she grew up. Her passion for museum education is a step forward in this childhood dream--while also proving her mother wrong that historical reenacting, or in this case interpretation and presentation, is a "real" career option!

For our 2021-2022 program year, we proudly welcome these outstanding speakers:

Sept. 10th, 2021 Eric Wittenberg on Seceding from Secession: The Creation of West Virginia
Oct. 8th: David Dixon on August Willich
Nov. 12th: Tom Clemens on Joseph K. Mansfield
Dec. 10th: Dennis Doyle on Illinois Regiments at Gettysburg
Jan. 14th, 2022: Rob Girardi on General John E. Smith
Feb. 11th: Ann Durkin Keating on Juliette Kinzie, the Civil War, and the Making of Chicago
March 11th: Mark Laubacher on The USS Red Rover: Hospital of Firsts
Apr. 8th: Jeffrey Hunt on Meade and Lee at Rappahannock Station and Mine Run
May 13th: James Pula on The Eleventh Corps at Gettysburg: A Reappraisal
June 10th: Lauren Szady on "Politicians in Petticoats": The Women of the Abolitionist Movement

Our in-person meetings are held at: