v26-3 Voices of Edgewater Immigration Then and Now

At the Edgewater Historical Society Museum

Oct 23, 2015 to May 28, 2016

The Edgewater Historical Society announces a major exhibit on immigration in Edgewater which will include the stories, oral histories, artifacts, photos, textiles, maps and census statistics of the many waves of immigrants who settled in Edgewater.

Even before its founding in 1889, Edgewater had been home to immigrants. The first permanent settlers came from Luxembourg and Germany in the 1840s, establishing celery farms. From these beginnings Edgewater grew into a community which embraced diversity as it became the greatest port of entry for immigrants in Chicago. Over the years Edgewater’s immigration demographics have changed as the mix evolved. Why would someone leave their home country and venture to our community on Chicago’s north side? What factors contribute to Edgewater’s preeminence as an immigrant destination? As the flood of immigrants and refugees continues, how will Edgewater continue to welcome them and respond to a need for support that is greater than ever?

We are pleased to welcome Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky as our featured speaker for the annual Wyman Lecture on Monday, October 19, 2015. Her talk will be at the Broadway Armory at 7:30 p.m. Rep. Schakowsky is a strong advocate for immigration reform and her perspective promises to be a timely introduction to the exhibit.

“Voices of Edgewater” opens on October 23 with a Members-Only Reception at the museum. The exhibit will run from October 23 to May 28 of next year. During the course of the exhibit, speakers from different backgrounds, ranging from authors to artists to activists, will be invited to speak on a topic that has dominated the national dialogue. Join us as we gain new insights into why immigration is an essential contribution to the vibrancy of our community.

The exhibit will also feature a recording booth so that visitors with stories of their own will be able to record them.