Peoria Historical Society's Salute to Women

November 1, 2003 found a sell-out crowd gathered at the Scottish Rite Cathedral for a style show of historic proportions. Eighteen models showcased the fashions worn by early Peoria women while narrator Rebekah Bourland explained the styles and each woman's role in influencing the city's history.  This event also marked the release of Women of Peoria, 1620-1920 by Channy Lyons, which contributed greatly to the historical accuracy of the presentation.  The luncheon that followed featured foods prepared from recipes developed by Peoria women and found in cookbooks that dated back to the 1880's.  The Society's first Guardian Award, presented to a tri-county woman who has made a significant contribution to preservation of local history, was presented to two outstanding recipients, Gloria LaHood and Alice Roffe.

The popularity and appeal of Salute to Women greatly influenced the Peoria Historical Society in developing the following educational programs for classrooms and community groups. 
 

Five women from Peoria's past visited local fourth grade classrooms during Women's History Month in March of 2004.  Costumed volunteers assumed the identities of Catherine LaCroix, Emma Abbott, Julia Lindsay Gibson, Lydia Moss Bradley, and Bertha Boutin, teaching the history of Peoria in a spirited monologue.  Focusing on national, state, and local events, these women presented an entertaining and educational view of Peoria's growth during their lifetimes.   

Three local educators, Alice Brophy, Amy Kelly, and Linda McMullen, chose the women to include, researched the historical events of each time period, developed the scripts, and aligned the presentation to the Illinois Learning Standards for Social Studies.  PHS volunteers then piloted the program on Tuesdays in March in fourth grade classrooms of various Peoria schools.

This special presentation by costumed PHS volunteers was featured at the annual Clean Water Celebration held at the Peoria Civic Center on March 22, 2004.  In keeping with the theme "Exploring Our River Roots," the five women showcased in Step (Back) into Peoria told their stories and related how the Illinois River influenced business, recreation, the arts, and the medical community in Peoria.  Tri-county students discovered the importance of the Illinois River to the development of their communities.