Illinois history conference registration open

[APRIL 23, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD -- Plan to attend the 2005 Conference on Illinois History Oct. 27-28 in Springfield. The Conference on Illinois History -- now in its seventh year -- is the state's largest meeting devoted to the history of the Prairie State.

More than 250 attended the 2004 conference, which featured traditional academic papers, local history studies, teacher workshops and round-table discussions.

This year's luncheon and dinner speakers:

• Carl J. Ekberg, professor emeritus of history, Illinois State University -- Ekberg, an expert on the French in colonial Illinois, has written the award-winning books "French Roots in the Illinois Country: The Mississippi Frontier in Colonial Times"; "François Valle and His World: Upper Louisiana before Lewis and Clark"; and "Colonial Ste. Genevieve: An Adventure on the Mississippi Frontier." His presentation will be on French-ness and Indian-ness in Illinois.

• Darroch Greer, documentary film-maker and historical researcher -- Greer researched the casualty figures for "The Civil War in Four Minutes," one of the exhibits in the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield. He has written, produced and directed documentaries for PBS, Discovery Channel, History Channel and VH1. He will discuss the development of "The Civil War in Four Minutes."

• Edna Greene Medford, associate professor of history, Howard University -- Medford is a nationally recognized scholar and frequent lecturer on African-Americans in slavery and freedom. As a member of the Scholars Advisory Board for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, she participated in discussions for planning the museum's content. She is also a member of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission Advisory Committee. Medford will speak on blacks' perceptions of emancipation.

To ensure that you receive a registration form and program for the conference, contact Donna Lawrence, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, Springfield, IL 62701; e-mail [e-mail]; or phone [phone]. As details become available, they will be posted at www.Illinois-History.gov/conference.htm. 

The conference is accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education for continuing professional development units. Preregistration is required by Oct. 21.

[Illinois Historic Preservation Agency news release]