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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 singing at the tender age of three years old in her father’s bakery and restaurant in Lexington, Illinois.

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 youngest child of Joseph W. “Private Joe” and Gertrude Fifer.

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...

Calimese, Louise

Napoleon J. Calimese (pronounced Calimeez) was born February 18, 1890 in Irvine, Kentucky. He was one of six children born to Jerome...

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 whose career was one born of necessity. She was a leader in the business community, and religious and social life in Lexington.

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 most) was the third of four children and was the youngest daughter born to the couple.

Crothers, Dr. Marie Louise

Dr. Mrs. Marie Louise (DePew) Crothers (1833-1920), wife of well-respected physician and druggist Dr. Eli Kirk...

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 Bloomington High School when he met his future wife Della, who was a student who played on the girls’ basketball team that he coached.

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...

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 African Americans in 1965.

Ewing, Hazle Buck
World traveler, pioneering activist, environmentalist, and philanthropist, Hazle Buck Ewing was born on December 25, 1880 to Orlando John and Lillian (Brewer) Buck.

Eyestone, Lura

Lura Mary Eyestone was born in Bloomington, Illinois on October 14, 1872 to Theodore Riley and Martha (Liston) Congleton. When Lura...

Fitzwilliam, Sarah Raymond
Sarah Raymond Fitzwilliam was an educator and an advocate who wanted better for Bloomington. She became the first female superintendent of Bloomington Public Schools. She had an uphill battle to improve the quality of education students received.

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 McLean County. And when Ruth and her family returned to Illinois, she wasted no time in becoming involved in her community.

Hendryx, Jane Frankeberger

Jane Frankeberger was born in Champaign County, Ohio on September 4, 1818 to Jesse and his second wife, Rosanna (Rhinehart)...

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 Bloomington District 87 Board of Education in 1971 and the Bloomington City Council in 1979.

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 group that fought employment and housing discrimination, to her work as a member of the NAACP, she worked hard to improve the quality of life for members of the Black community and equality for all.

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 that love and appreciation of music. 

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 graduated magna cum laude.

Laurenti, Luellen
 Soon after settling in Normal, Illinois, Luellen began to participate in efforts to promote women’s rights. Laurenti worked tirelessly to organize local meetings and rallies in support of the ERA in Illinois.

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 family known for its furniture store, Stern’s Furniture Co., on North Main Street in downtown Bloomington.

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...

Milner, Angeline Vernon
Angeline Vernon Milner, known to most as Ange, is one of Illinois' most famous librarians. Milner became Illinois State (Normal) University's first full-time librarian in 1890, serving nearly 40 years.

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...

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...

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 influence extends well beyond the town hall.

Stevenson, Letitia Green

Letitia Barbour Green Stevenson was born in Alleghany City in Western Pennsylvania on January 8, 1843. Her father was Reverend Lewis...

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.”