Several events set for Lombard Historical Society’s Black History Month celebration

The Lombard Historical Society has announced its schedule of Black History Month events for February 2025. Reservations are required for all events, as space is limited. For more information, visit lombardhistory.org or call 630-629-1885.

Sheldon Peck Homestead Tour - 4 to 6 p.m. Feb. 4: Learn what makes the modest home of Sheldon Peck integral not only to the history of Lombard, but also the history of the Civil War in this free tour.

LHS Documentary viewing - 2 p.m. Feb. 15: View a documentary on the York Center Co-op produced in partnership with Tim Frakes Productions. The co-op was established in 1947 by Louis Shirky of the Church of Brethren. This faith-based effort provided fair housing, community and opportunity in an era of white flight, redlining and restrictive covenants to non-white people in the United States. Despite acts of overt racism, the York Center Co-op and the White, Black, Asian and Jewish families who lived there demonstrated what happens when determined people set aside racial, religious and class differences and work together for the common good.

Lives in Code: Stories of African American Resilience Under the Illinois Black Codes, 1819-1865 - 2 p.m. Feb. 15: Join host Caroline Kisel to learn abut the long history of slavery, racial segregation and exclusion in Illinois’ past. This presentation will highlight stories of African American resilience under the Illinois Black Codes.

Sheldon Peck: Portrait of an Ordinary Man in Extraordinary Times - 2 p.m. Feb. 22: Attend a free screening of Tim Frakes Productions’ documentary. Largely forgotten in the century following his death in 1868, Sheldon Peck and his legacy have seen a revival and renewed appreciation, recognizing his talent, passion, courage and vision. It is a story of western expansion during the days of Manifest Destiny and how one man embraced the important issues of his day.

The Search for Old Charley: Uncovering the Story of a Freedom Seeker - 6 p.m. Feb. 27: In 2018, the Lombard Historical Society received a grant to continue research on Old Charley, a freedom-seeker who spent time in the Sheldon Peck Homestead. LHS has likened this research process to finding a needle in a haystack, but each piece of information brings more understanding to Charley’s life and journey to freedom.