Women's History Month
In honor of Women's History Month, we're highlighting the stories of 30 influential women from McLean County's past. Spanning multiple generations and hailing from various backgrounds, these women have transformed our community, leaving an indelible mark on our history. Click on the name or image of the woman you want to learn more about. They are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Feeling inspired by their stories? Join us for a Lunch & Learn Thursday, March 13, from 12:10 to 1:00 p.m. Candace Summers, the Museum's Senior Director of Education, will share information about 10 McLean County women who shaped local history in a program titled Artists, Advocates, Acrobats, and More! Women Who Made McLean County History.
The Museum's Rotunda Installation, generously sponsored by The Pantagraph, will be up through the end of the month.
Biggs, Llora Withers
Llora Withers Biggs is a McLean County girl who became a renowned soprano singer and theater star in the early 20th century. She began si...
Bohrer, Florence Fifer
Florence Fifer Bohrer was no stranger to politics. She was born in 1877 into a political family in Bloomington, Illinois. She was the you...
Burnham, Almira Sarah Ives
At the turn of the twentieth century, when the public reception of visual arts in Bloomington, Illinois could be characterized as “tepid,...
Calimese, Louise
Napoleon J. Calimese (pronounced Calimeez) was born February 18, 1890 in Irvine, Kentucky. He was one of six children born to Jerome and ...
Carnahan, Nellie Jones
Nellie Jones Carnahan was one of the “movers and shakers” of her time in Lexington, Illinois. She was a savvy and energetic businesswoman...
Clark, Lue Anna Sanders
Lue Anna Brown was born on January 26, 1892 in a rural area in Bandana, Kentucky, to William and Laura Brown. Anna (as she was known to m...
Crothers, Dr. Marie Louise
Dr. Mrs. Marie Louise (DePew) Crothers (1833-1920), wife of well-respected physician and druggist Dr. Eli Kirk Crothers, was one of the f...
Crothers, Rachel
Rachel Crothers was a playwright and theatrical director known for her well-crafted plays that often dealt with feminist themes.
Delroy, Irene
Josephine “Joey” Lucille Sanders was born on July 21, 1900 to Royal W. and Della (Soverns) Sanders. Royal was a teacher and coach at Bloo...
Duff, Julia
Julia Edith Duff was born on June 5, 1895 in Normal, Illinois, the daughter of Peter Charles and Fannie (Walker) Duff. Her parents came t...
Ebo, Sister Mary Antona
Sister Mary Antona Ebo was a well-behaved woman who DID make history as one of the Sisters of Selma who marched for voting rights for Afr...
Ewing, Hazle Buck
World traveler, pioneering activist, environmentalist, and philanthropist, Hazle Buck Ewing was born on December 25, 1880 to Orlando John...
Eyestone, Lura
Lura Mary Eyestone was born in Bloomington, Illinois on October 14, 1872 to Theodore Riley and Martha (Liston) Congleton. When Lura was b...
Fitzwilliam, Sarah Raymond
Sarah Raymond Fitzwilliam was an educator and an advocate who wanted better for Bloomington. She became the first female superintendent o...
Hamm, Ruth Thelma Bitting
Ruth Thelma Bitting Hamm was passionate about her community, genealogy, and the DAR. Her mother’s family, the Merwins, had deep roots in ...
Hendryx, Jane Frankeberger
Jane Frankeberger was born in Champaign County, Ohio on September 4, 1818 to Jesse and his second wife, Rosanna (Rhinehart) Frankeberger....
Jones, Eva
Eva Jones was a woman who never turned away from challenging situations or tough decisions. She was the first Black person elected to the...
Kennedy, Beulah Jones Thornton
Beulah spent the better part of her life fighting discrimination in Bloomington-Normal. From working with “US,” a local Civil Rights grou...
Kessler, Frances
Frances Kessler had a passion for music and education. Music had always been an interest in her life, and she credited her family for tha...
King, Gertrude “Mickey” Comeau
Mickey King was known as the “Queen of the Air.” This little dynamo rocked the circus world with her aerialistic achievements.
Kirk, Margaret "Peg"
Margaret "Peg" Kirk was born to Bernard and Veryl Sidley in Akron, Ohio, in 1933. She attended Kent State University and gradua...
Laurenti, Luellen
Soon after settling in Normal, Illinois, Luellen began to participate in efforts to promote women’s rights. Laurenti worked tirelessly t...
Markowitz, Judy
Few women in McLean County history have had a greater impact on our community than Judy Markowitz. Judy Rose Stern grew up in a Jewish fa...
McCurdy, Helen Clark
Helen Clark was born in Bloomington, Illinois on February 21, 1866 to James and Anna (Bacon) Clark. Hallie (as she was also referred to a...
Milner, Angeline Vernon
Angeline Vernon Milner, known to most as Ange, is one of Illinois' most famous librarians. Milner became Illinois State (Normal) Uni...
Morgan, Lucy Orme
Lucy Orme Morgan was born on January 21, 1858 in Bloomington, Illinois. She was the third of four children born to William Ward Orme and ...
Muxfeld, Louise
Louise Muxfeld, known as “Lizzie” by all, was born as Johanna Louise Catherine Tobecksen on June 7, 1853 in the city of Schoenburg in the...
Reitan, Carol
Carol Reitan holds a place in history as the only woman to ever serve as Mayor of Normal, but her longtime community leadership and influ...
Stevenson, Letitia Green
Letitia Barbour Green Stevenson was born in Alleghany City in Western Pennsylvania on January 8, 1843. Her father was Reverend Lewis W. G...
Wannemacher, Patricia "Pat"
“Bloomington-Normal and McLean County have been good to Pat Wannemacher, so I just wanted to give a little back and will continue to do so.”