As of December 2020, this effort is rolled over to the 2021 Congress.  Letters are not needed at this time.  Do stay tuned. Longtime friend and Congressman Darin LaHood has introduced the New Philadelphia National Historical Park Act, H.R. 8224 to make New Philadelphia, Illinois, a unit of the National Park System.  Please add your […]

Gerald McWorter and Kate Williams-McWorter, who wrote the 2018 book New Philadelphia for the New Philadelphia Association, continue to attract audiences for the story even in the pandemic. Of two recent presentations, the first is still available online, so do help yourself.  And get in touch if you want a live/remote presentation to your group! […]

Join a nationwide “group watch” on July 4, 2020 at 10 am Illinois time, or plan your own Fourth of July viewing anytime.  New Philadelphia descendant Gerald McWorter and other representatives of the nation’s Underground Railroad sites will read the renowned Frederick Douglass speech, “What to the Slave is your Fourth of July?”  Mr. Douglass […]

Our third online Likes Lecture was a success like the first two with at least 50 people present; we’re just sorry that the recording failed and we cannot offer it here. On Tuesday, June 23 at 7 pm online, musician and music educator Bill Camphouse of Perry, Illinois spoke about American popular music across the […]

Our second online talk was a success like the first with at least 45 people present.  On Tuesday, June 16 at 7 pm online, Curator Erika Holst of the Illinois State Museum in Springfield spoke about the upcoming exhibit, Fashioning Illinois, 1820-1900. What was it like to make, wear and care for clothes? How did […]

Our June 9, 2020 speaker Charlotte E. Johnson shared new knowledge about the photo below.  It is in the McWorter family collection and perhaps others as well, but identities were not well known.  It is an 1880 photo of the Hinds family. Left to right, John Thomas, mother Lucy McKinney Hinds, Polly R. in her […]

Our first online Likes Lecture was a well-attended hit with 50 people present. New descendants of New Philadelphia showed up from Idaho.  More than a few people remembered Marvin and Tom Likes. Charlotte E. Johnson (shown at left) spoke for 30 minutes or so on “Family Ties in Pike County” and then there was discussion.  […]

To get the link to attend, send email to newphiladelphiail@gmail.com. As events are over, click the ALL CAPS links below for recordings/details.   With stay-at-home in effect, we have moved our annual Likes Lectures online and invite you to join us! Hear about freedom stories and cultural practices connecting to the remarkable abolitionist town of […]

The Barry Historical Museum memorialized the bicentennial of Frank McWorter’s manumission this last week. Dee Forshey, curator of the museum, presented  the certificate of commemoration to McWorter family members who have continuing ties to Pike County. Both Sandra McWorter Marsh and her brother, Gerald McWorter are on the New Philadelphia Association Board and have been […]

New Philadelphia Presents 2019 Likes Lecture Series at Sprague’s Kinderhook Lodge, located between Barry & Kinderhook on Hwy. 106. Tuesday, June 4th at 7:00 p.m. Swords of the Civil War by Dr. Korhan Raif Tuesday, June 11th at 7:00 p.m. Mother Priscilla Baltimore, founder of Lovejoy, IL Presented by Kathryn Harris of Springfield, IL Tuesday, […]