Insight

              The Illinois State Library hosted two special
exhibits over the summer — one that brought to
life the legacy of President George Washington and
another showcasing a collection of antique Illinois
inventions.
George Washington exhibit
“The Great Experiment: George Washington and
the American Republic” — a 1,000-square-foot,
30-panel traveling exhibit — offers a fresh
perspective on Washington’s life and his new
American Republic. The exhibit is based on
original manuscripts, rare books, prints, engravings
and historic artifacts covering Washington’s early
life, the American Revolution, the Constitutional
Convention, his presidency and his life after the
presidency.
Springfield is one of only 40 cities nationwide to
host the exhibit, which was made possible through
a $1,000 grant from the National Endowment for
the Humanities. The exhibit runs though Sept. 26,
after which it heads to the St. Louis Public Library.
September/October
in
this
issue
State Library
hosts exhibits
“Earn Your Stripes
Read-a-Thom”
New Reading
Program
White hosts PNG
State Fair events
Library wins
ILA award
State Library hosts Washington,
antique Illinois inventions exhibits
2002
Jesse White • Secretary of State & State Librarian
A Newsletter from the Illinois State Library
INSIGHT
Above: “The Great Experiment: George Washington and the
American Republic” drew visitors to the State Library to learn
more about our first president.
Bottom Right: Library employees Ron Leesman and Helen
Knecht examine two of the antique Illinois inventions on
display. Leesman is holding a pair of hog tongs patented in 1873,
while Knecht checks out a popcorn popper made in 1892.
Antique Illinois inventions exhibit
Illinois’ own Abraham Lincoln drew the spotlight in
the State Library’s exhibit of antique Illinois
inventions in honor of National Inventors Month in
August. Lincoln was the only U.S. president to be
issued a patent for his 1849 design of a device to
help buoy vessels over shallow waters. A print of
Lincoln’s design and a copy of his patent were part
of the exhibit, along with a series of panels
discussing the project.
Other antique Illinois inventions were loaned to
the State Library by an anonymous collector,
including:
• a 1906 pencil sharpener manufactured in Rockford;
• an 1881 corn sheller made by S.C. Schofield of
Freeport;
• an antique washboard manufactured by P.A.
Wetzel of Springfield;
• a 1919 eggbeater made in Chicago;
• an 1867 washing machine manufactured by John
Warden of Normal;
• corn huskers made in Chicago and Kewanee in
the late 1800s/early 1900s;
• an 1880 dead duck decoy holder made in Monmouth;
• a device used to de-horn cattle manufactured in
Modesto by J.M. Mills in 1892.
The State Library is one of 88 patent and trademark
depository libraries in the country. For more
information on patents and trademarks, please call
217-782-5659.