Illinois State Museum Early New Year Programs Feature Tree Rings on Jan. 2, Prohibition on Jan. 3

ISM Location: Springfield

For Immediate Release:

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois State Museum will host two free pubic programs in early January featuring interesting facts about Illinois history.

Dendrochronology: Applications in Historic and Prehistoric Archaeology

Paul Mickey Learning Series, presented by Dr. Glen Freimuth

Wednesday, January 2, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Illinois State Museum Auditorium

502 S. Spring St., Springfield

Dendrochronology, commonly known as tree ring dating, has been in use since the 1920s. The science has broad applications to archaeology, ecology, and climatology. Dr. Glen Freimuth will discuss the tools used, the collection of cores, the analysis of cores, and one historic application.

Dr. Freimuth's talk is part of the ISM Paul Mickey Learning Series featuring a different speaker and topic each month in the Auditorium at the Illinois State Museum. For additional information, email events@illinoisstatemuseum.org or phone 217-558-6696.

Tales from the Vault: Prohibition

Program moderated by Erika Holst, Curator of Art and History, Illinois State Museum

Thursday, January 3, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Illinois State Museum Research and Collections Center, 1011 E. Ash St., Springfield

Free, Donations Appreciated

The 18th amendment to the U.S. Constitution banning the production, transport, and sale of intoxicating liquors was ratified on January 16, 1919. Nearly 100 years later, Erika Holst shares liquor-related artifacts from the Illinois State Museum's collections to trace the history of alcohol consumption and the temperance movement in America, from Colonial times to the repeal of Prohibition.

"Tales from the Vault" is a collaborative program hosted by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the Illinois State Museum which allows the public to discover some of the treasures from these institutions' collections. Each program will include the chance to view an artifact or document not normally on display, commentary by a staff member or local scholar, and a chance for group discussion. All programs are free and open to the public.

The ISM Research and Collection Center is located at 1011 E. Ash Street in Springfield. The Collections Center must be accessed from the new gate on Ash St. and approached from 11th Street or further east due to the rail closure at Ash and 10 ½ Streets. For additional information, email events@illinoisstatemuseum.org or phone 217-558-6696.

Contact Person: Elizabeth Bazan

Contact Email: Elizabeth.Bazan@Illinois.gov

Contact Phone: 217-558-6696

Release File (pdf): ism-history-jan19.pdf

Release File (doc): ism-history-jan19.docx