June 2022—Likes Lectures offer four freedom stories relating to New Philadelphia
Every June our Likes Lectures tell freedom stories that relate to New Philadelphia. We gather online again this year to hear four stories every Tuesday in June at 7 p.m. To attend, write to newphiladelphiail@gmail.com for the Zoom details.
June 7: The New Philadelphia and Lincoln University Connection, Brigadier General Donald Scott, retired. The New Philadelphia and Lincoln University Connection with Brigadier General Donald Scott, retired. After the American Civil War African American soldiers started Lincoln Institute in Jefferson City, MO. so that their children and other African Americans would have quality education. Brig. Gen. Don Scott, alumni, will speak about this educational institution and how it relates to New Philadelphia had graduated from Lincoln Institute, now called Lincoln University. Video | Slides
June 14: McWorter’s New Philadelphia and Other Settler Communities in western Illinois, Dr. Nancy Davis
In 1817 the United States government made 5,360,000 acres of western Illinois land bordering the Mississippi River available to the War of 1812 veterans. Most veterans living far from Illinois found it impractical to uproot so they sold their 160–320-acre patents to speculators for anything they could get. It was a boon for those who desired cheap land in the Midwest. Within this tract, three very disparate settler communities were established over the next forty years. They migrated here drawn by affordable property values, the Mississippi River as a nearby transportation system, generally rich soils, a slave-free state, and distance from most regulatory forces. McWorter’s community of New Philadelphia, the Mormon community of Nauvoo, and later the Icarian Community on the same site, settled here. Their stories provide insights into the variety of motives that stirred numbers of similar groups to seek their own form of sanctuary in the western territories. Artifacts unearthed by archaeologists at the New Philadelphia site, as well as McWorter family objects, and artifacts from nearby sites presented in the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History’s Many Voices, One Nation exhibition will be illustrated in the lecture. Video | Slides
June 21: Women of New Philadelphia, Claire Martin
Claire Martin will present stories of some of the women who lived in the New Philadelphia community during the 19th Century. Beginning with New Philadelphia’s “First Lady” Free Lucy McWorter and her daughters, the women gradually gained property, legal status, and access to education throughout the century. They owned much of the town and surrounding farmland. Martin will introduce women like Free Lucy and Kezia Clark who escaped slavery; Civil War widow Cordelia Taylor Racy; Louisa McWorter who built the largest house in New Philadelphia and fostered an abandoned child; Louisa Stewart, the first married woman to own property in her own right; the mysterious Mary Cox and Alvira Miles; and Mary Ann Shaw, who chose to leave the community forever. Video
June 28: The New Phil AR 2 mobile app at the New Philadelphia National Historic Landmark, Jon Amakawa
Jon Amakawa creator of the New Phil AR 2 mobile app will give a talk about the app, its innovative use of Augmented Reality technology, and how it can help tell the story of Free Frank McWorter and the town of New Philadelphia. He will also discuss some of the new features that have been introduced over the past few months. Video
The Likes Lectures are named to honor surveyors Marvin Likes (shown below) and his son Tom who donated so much time and talent to New Philadelphia.