What we're about
Mission
The mission of the Highland Park Historical Society is to preserve our community’s past, to inspire an appreciation of our history and culture and share with the community and scholars the rich history of Highland Park, Illinois.
The Society is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and is administered by a volunteer Board of Directors. The Society’s operations, exhibits and research collections are housed in the National Register-listed Jean Butz James house.
Museums
The Highland Park Historical Society maintains or preserves three historic structures: the Jean Butz James Museum, the Francis Stupey Cabin and the Robert G. Robinison Bandstand. Click on each image below for more information on each of our sites.
Exhibits and Education
Throughout the year, the Society hosts exhibits, lectures and educational events at our historic sites as well as throughout the community. Educational Field Trips are conducted throughout the year and Teacher Toolkits are available by appointment.
Research Center
The Highland Park Historical Society Archives and Research Center holds approximately 700 cubic feet of research materials. The repository’s collection documents the distinct, diverse community of Highland Park, Illinois and its citizens. The Museum houses a wide variety of items. Some collections of note:
Highland Park City Records; and local collections documenting business, progressive and vocational education in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, cultural life, and photography.
Architecture records of J. Marion Gutnayer and Robert Arnold
Jesse Lowe Smith Photographic Botany Collection
Highland Park Woman’s Club
Ravina Festival programs
Ravinia Artists
Photographs of Highland Park and environs
100 years of Highland Park High School Yearbooks
Oral Histories
Local Artifacts
In 2010 the Society became the recipient of an $86,000 Basic Processing and Preservation Planning Project matching grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, the granting agency of the National Archives and Records Administration. This grant has allowed us to focus on organizing, preserving and making the Collections accessible to the public online.
www.HighlandParkHistory.com
Upcoming events (4+)
Presented by Gerald Savage,
HoChunk Native American
In this presentation, Chief White Winnebago will introduce participants to the culture and history of the HoChunk nation. He will examine the history of his tribal territory and settlements, how his family was relocated into Starved Rock, tribal names and culture, his regalia, and artifacts
Gerald Savage—HoChunk Ska Ga in his native language—is a member of the HoChunk nation. He grew up with his grandparents, who raised him in the tribal ways. His grandfather was Chief Walks With the Wind, and HoChunk Ska Ga is Chief White Winnebago.
This program is supported by a grant from the Illinois Humanities Road Scholars.
This event will be held on the lawn of the Stupey Cabin at[masked] St Johns Ave, Highland Park, IL 60035, between the Highland Park Public Library and Highland Park’s City Hall.
If there is inclement weather, this will Hybrid meeting:
Auditorium at the Highland Park Public Library
494 Laurel Avenue, Highland Park, IL 60035
OR Available virtually via Zoom
If you are not already on our email list, need a zoom link or have any questions, please e-mail: [masked]
www.HighlandParkHistory.com
- Catherine L.
- Alice H.
- Bryan D.
- 7 attendees
Researching the early 20th century images of local flora and fauna by Jesse Lowe Smith and E. E. Parratt led to further investigation. Twenty-first century publications including Andreas Viestad’s Dinner in Rome a History of the world in one Meal and Arbres et arbustes sauvages des trottoirs toulousains (Wild trees and plants and shrubs of the sidewalks of Toulouse) by Boris Presseq inspired further research of these plants as food sources for humans. We will share selected early 20th century, local images and documentation of these plants’ in early recipes.
Nancy Webster began working with historical collections in Highland Park, Illinois in 2010 when she launched the community archives program with a grant from the National Archives’ National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). Since beginning the community archives program in collaboration with the NHPRC, she has written and managed $50,000.00 in local and Illinois state grants for digitization and other history and culture projects. She teaches at Dominican University as an adjunct instructor, currently teaching the Advanced Archives seminar. Previously, she worked at the Bentley Library, the Chicago History Museum and Molex Connector Corporation. She received her MILS and BA from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Prior to her 30 year career as an archivist Webster worked as a translator, political science researcher, au pair, waitperson, and bartender. Her years working in restaurants provided a base for this project.
www.HighlandParkHistory.com
- Catherine L.
- Sarah
- 2 attendees
Highland Park Public Library
More information to follow
- Catherine L.
- 1 attendee
Singing Bird and the Importance of Native American Women in Illinois History
Kim Sigafus
Kim Sigafus is an award-winning Ojibwa author who writes Native American fiction, non-fiction, children’s and young adult books. She has presented on native history, food, and music, and has traveled all over the Midwest in her native regalia, bringing native culture to life. Kim’s family is from White Earth Reservation, located in the northwest corner of Minnesota. She sings and drums, as well as crafts dream catchers and Talking Feathers.
Kim owns Quiet Souls, a Native American Inspired Gift store in Freeport, where she offers native presentations several times a year.
### LEARN MORE AND FOLLOW KIM
This program is supported by a grant from the Illinois Humanities Road Scholars.
This event will be held on the lawn of the Stupey Cabin at[masked] St Johns Ave, Highland Park, IL 60035, between the Highland Park Public Library and Highland Park’s City Hall.
If there is inclement weather, this will Hybrid meeting:
Auditorium at the Highland Park Public Library
494 Laurel Avenue, Highland Park, IL 60035
OR Available virtually via Zoom
If you are not already on our email list, need a zoom link or have any questions, please e-mail: [masked]
www.HighlandParkHistory.com
- Catherine L.
- Mandy B.
- Jennifer H
- 4 attendees
Past events (106)
- Catherine L.
- Marc W.
- Steve B
- 3 attendees