Mollie’s War
March 18, 1:30–3:00 p.m.
SOLD OUT!
Join the waitlist. Email contact@desplaineshistory.org or call 847-391-5399 to be added.
Author Cyndee Shaffer uses excerpts from letters her mother, Mollie Weinstein Schaffer, wrote home during World War II to provide a romantic yet frightening glimpse into the life of a woman in uniform during this crucial time in history. The 150,000 women who served in the Women’s Army Corps are now seen as undersung heroes of the Second World War. This memoir describes Mollie's life as a WAC enlistee, serving in England when it came under attack, in France immediately after the Allied invasion, and in Germany after VE Day. From her experiences during basic training in Daytona Beach to the climactic moment when she saw the Statue of Liberty as her ship approached American shores upon her return home, this work provides a glimpse into the life of a woman in uniform during this crucial time in American history.
Writing as Cultural Archaeology and the Poetics of Place
April 6, 6:30– 7:30 p.m.
In this program, artist and writer Michael Workman invites audiences to explore how writing, history, and landscape intersect to shape cultural memory. Drawing from his interdisciplinary practice and from the work of artists such as Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, Johanna Drucker, and Charles Reznikoff, Workman approaches writing as a form of cultural archaeology—an excavation of the layered relationships between language, identity, and place. Through this lens, participants are encouraged to see the local environment not only as a backdrop but as a living archive of stories, gestures, and voices that continue to inform community life across Illinois.
Blending storytelling, performance, and reflective discussion, Workman leads participants through accessible exercises that connect observation, movement, and writing. Each session begins with a short reading or performance excerpt that frames the concept of “poetic fieldwork,” followed by guided writing prompts and group dialogue. Participants may be asked to respond to local landmarks, historical artifacts, or personal memories of place, using language to uncover how geography shapes emotion and thought.
By the end of the program, attendees will have produced short fragments of writing and new ways of perceiving their environment—connecting artistic practice to civic imagination.
Register online today by CLICKING HERE.
When the Monsters of the Midway Ruled the NLF
April 15, 1:30–3:00 p.m.
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Once upon a time, the Chicago Bears ruled the gridiron. Between 1921 and 1946, the Monsters of the Midway captured an incredible seven (!) NFL titles and helped shape the early days of professional football. Join author Joe Ziemba for our April Coffee Talk as he takes you back to an era when the game was gritty, hard-nosed, and led by larger-than-life figures like owners George Halas and Dutch Sternaman, and Hall of Fame players Red Grange, Bronko Nagurski, and Sid Luckman.
Drawing on newly released records from the Pro Football Hall of Fame—including secret, handwritten Bears financial ledgers—Ziemba reveals how the team fought to stay competitive through lean crowds, the Great Depression, ownership disputes, and World War II. From on-field riots and shockingly low player salaries to a fierce rivalry with the Chicago Cardinals, the Bears weathered it all, laying the groundwork for one of today’s most valuable NFL franchises
Don't miss your chance to relive the glory days of football and discover the untold stories behind the Chicago Bears' most iconic era!
Registration is required.
Coffee Talks are free for members and $10 for nonmembers. Please use this link to register online today.
Nonmembers may pay in advance online or at the door on the day of the event.