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Join the History Center and Museum of Broadcast Communications on July 16 at 7 PM via Zoom for “The Fine Art of Obituary Writing.”

In this unique and interactive virtual program, five-time Grimmy award winner Maureen O’Donnell and Executive Director of the Museum of Broadcast Communications Susy Schultz explore the ins and outs of crafting a personal, honest, and memorable obituary.

Listen in as Susy and Maureen discuss Maureen’s career as an award-winning obituary writer. Watch videos and see examples of some of Maureen’s best obituaries, as well as some of her most challenging. Then, be sure to have pen and paper handy as Susy and Maureen lead a brief writing workshop on crafting your own obituary.

Please note: 1) You MUST pre-register for this event. Those who do not register before 6 PM the day of the program will not be granted entry to the Zoom meeting. 2) This program begins at 7 PM. To ensure that you will be granted access, please login at 6:50 PM. You may be directed to the Zoom waiting room for a few minutes.

The Fine Art of Obituary Writing is free and co-hosted by the Museum of Broadcast Communications. Questions? Contact aschneider@lflbhistory.org.

Special thanks to our sponsors for making this program possible:

Don't Miss These Two Twenty in the 20s Film Screenings!

We're delighted to partner with Gorton Community Center in presenting these two iconic film screenings with interesting connections to local history.

Before each film begins, Carol Summerfield, History Center Executive Director, will share some brief cinematic history including Irene Castle's special connection to Lake Forest and F. Scott Fitzgerald's love for Lake Forest and his muse, Ginevra King!

As we continue to celebrate Twenty in the 20s be sure to stop by the History Center during our new open hours to see our exhibit comparing and contrasting life in the 1920s to the 2020s and our permanent exhibit featuring stories on the Castles and Ginevra King.

The History Center will have a table out on our front lawn on July 16 & 17, 10am-2pm

Please stop by and enjoy great deals on James L. Lockhart nature print notecards, select books, hand-painted holiday ornaments featuring iconic community buildings, and other miscellaneous items from the old museum shop.

This Week in History

This Week in History: Episode 9

Join the History Center's Alexandra Schneider for a look back at local history happenings from the week of July 5-July 11. This week's highlights: LF Mayor cracks down on gambling, Dr. Proxmire searches for a sanitarium site and Lake Bluff ladies get a garden tour. View Episode 9 here.

#100YearsAgoToday

#100YearsAgoToday Harold Fowler McCormick, president of farm equipment manufacturer International Harvester Company, hosted 500 of his office employees at his Lake Forest estate, Villa Turicum (pictured).

Harold F. McCormick had become president of International Harvester in 1918. According to the Encyclopedia of Chicago, “In 1919 the McCormick company added an employee representation plan, a common feature among large welfare capitalist firms of the time. In combination, McCormick programs were intended to blur the distinction between worker and manager, to bind employees to the firm, and most emphatically, to deter unionization.” McCormick played a major role in the plan’s formation, and hosted these employee outings as bonding experiences.

Source: http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1332.html

#100YearsAgoToday Summer recreation kicked into high gear in Lake Forest, with the town’s two playgrounds open and the beach “bathing” season launched. The playgrounds, at West Park and at Farwell Field at Illinois and Washington roads, had recreation instructors (Patricia Taylor and Anna De Haan) to provide supervision, to organize games, and to take children down to the beach twice a week.