The History Speaks Lecture Series celebrates its 11th season at Naper Settlement

The History Speaks Lecture Series at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., in Naperville, kicks off its 11th season with monthly presentations from September 2014 through May 2015, featuring first-person interpretations and informative presentations about historic events of the 19th and 20th centuries.

“We plan the series around historic milestones such as the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s popular novels or the 100th anniversary of World War I,” said Lead Museum Educator Cindy Lackore, who planned this year’s lineup. “I also think about interesting people of the past that I would have enjoyed meeting and that I think our audience will enjoy, too.”

The first presentation, Thunder in the Distance: Midwestern Perspectives on the Civil War, will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14 at Naper Settlement’s Century Memorial Chapel. Musician and storyteller Lee Murdock takes a look at the role of the Civil War from a Midwesterner’s perspective in the1860s era. There will be a few traditional songs, but he will be performing primarily new originals that sometimes sound like a contemporary letter to the editor.

Day of presentation tickets are $7 adult, $6 student, youth and Naperville Heritage Society Sustaining members. Save $1 on advance tickets.

Edgar Allan Poe – To Tell a Tale will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19. Literary chills abound in this spine tingling program. Terry Lynch as Edgar Allan Poe will give a brief biographical sketch of his life and will retell some of Poe’s greatest works including “The Raven” and “The Tell Tale Heart.”

Eleanor Roosevelt – “First Lady of the World” will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Nov. 9. Jessica Michna as Eleanor Roosevelt shares with the audience her tragedies and triumphs. Born into the opulent wealth of America’s “Golden Age,” she would grow from a shy homely orphan into a confident, driven woman. Despite her personal tragedy, she would emerge as a champion of civil rights, author and stateswoman. She is best summed up by President Harry S. Truman, who called her “The First Lady of the World.”

World War I Christmas Miracle will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Dec. 14. Rochelle Pennington, author of “World War I Christmas Miracle,” will present a program based on the true story included in her book, “Christmas Gifts: Ten of the Greatest Ever Given.” Drawing directly from the written memories of those soldiers who participated in the events of Christmas 1914, this presentation will detail the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the war “miraculously” halting at Christmas.

Jane Austen and Her Women will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Jan. 11, 2015. Jane Austen, portrayed by Leslie Goddard, has time-travelled to today and agreed to answer the most common question about her life: what did she really think about marriage? While speaking, she will refer back to the women in her novels, bringing them to life in monologues from her books as they discuss romance, choice of a spouse and the position of women. The presentation is being held to celebrate the 200th anniversaries of “Pride and Prejudice,” “Mansfield Park” and “Emma.”

John and Mary Jones and the Illinois Black Codes will be held from 4 to 5 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 8 at the Meeting House, northwest corner of Webster Street and Porter Avenue. In this fully costumed performance, storytellers Kucha Brownlee and Baba Tony Brown celebrate the life, times and accomplishments of John Jones, vice-president of the Freedmen’s Association, who was most influential in removing the Black Codes from Illinois law, and Mary Richardson Jones, his constant support. Find out about life in Illinois during the mid to late 1800s for free people of color, the abolitionist movement and the courage and ingenuity of the Jones family. Admission is $10 for this special presentation.

Juliette Kinzie will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 8. Juliette Magill married the famous Chicago fur trader John H. Kinzie in 1830, who invited her to share with him the great adventure of life in the Northwest Territory. Relive the early days of the Illinois frontier with writer, historian and pioneer Juliette Magill Kinzie, portrayed by Betsey Means of WomanLore.

Forever the Tramp—A Chaplin Retrospective will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 12.
After receiving an honorary Oscar in 1972, actor Charlie Chaplin, portrayed by Terry Lynch, looks back on his legendary career as a pioneer of American film. Included are his days in Chicago with Essanay Studios, his Hollywood success, and finally, his exile in Switzerland. The year 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of Chaplin’s silent film, The Tramp, the movie that created the characteristics of his screen persona.

The Demise of Mary Lincoln will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 3. In 1929, Francis Carpenter’s portrait of Mary Lincoln was sold to a member of the Lincoln family, who retained possession until donated and displayed for three decades at the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield. In 2012, art conservator Barry Bauman made a shocking discovery, the portrait was a fake. In a special illustrated presentation, Bauman will explain how the discovery was made and detail the fascinating history of this now-famous forgery.