WGLT McHistory Series

McHistory: 19th Century Cabbie Saw all of Bloomington-Normal Society

February 26th, 2020

Listen to the audio on WGLT's website here

McHistory goes back in time to explore big moments and small stories from McLean County history. McHistory episodes can be heard periodically on WGLT's Sound Ideas.

Here is a profile of a man who drove vice presidents and governors, wealthy landowners, visiting artists, and the prominent of Bloomington-Normal all about town more than a century ago.

During Black History Month, this episode of McHistory shows you the working life of Absalom Hawkins, a well-known African American man in the Twin Cities. It also tells you about a 19th century brain drain of African Americans.

Those who became educated had to leave the area to get jobs outside the working class. 

McHistory is a co-production of WGLT and the McLean County Museum of History, using the words of those who have come before, to remember the way we used to be, and sometimes to think about how we still are.

Bill Kemp

Librarian

Contact Bill