"The Historic Alexander Robinson Family Native American Cemetery" Presented by Dan Melone

Name: "The Historic Alexander Robinson Family Native American Cemetery" Presented by Dan Melone
Start: 2025-12-07T14:30:00-06:00
End: 2025-12-07T16:00:00-06:00
Location: Evanston Public Library

Schedule

Sun Dec 07 2025 at 02:30 pm to 04:00 pm

UTC-06:00

Location

Evanston Public Library | Evanston, IL

Doors to this FREE hybrid event open at 2:00pm in person and 2:15pm via Zoom Webinar (the login link will be posted here. Please check back).
"The Historic Alexander Robinson Family Native American Cemetery: A Discussion of Site Chronology, Landscape, and Vandalism Utilizing Photographic and Documentary Evidence" presented by Dan Melone
Join us for a discussion on one of the more important historical finds in Chicago's recent years. In August of 2015, the original headstones of Chief Alexander Robinson-an early Chicago leader, Catherine Chevalier, and David Robinson were recovered by archaeologist Dan Melone (The Robinson Family Historian), descendant Verlyn Spreeman, and historian/author Scott Markus. Originally marking family graves in Robinson Woods which is located in a forest preserve in Chicago, the stones have been returned to Robinson family descendants after having been missing for generations. Using photographic and documentary evidence, Melone will explore changes in cemetery boundaries and use through time. His lecture will outline a chronological framework for understanding cultural and natural impacts to the cemetery and surrounding landscape, and will identify grave occupants and the physical layout of the cemetery.
BIOGRAPHY
For over twenty years, Dan has conducted archaeological research within the Chicagoland area, Great Lakes Region, and Kenya. His research focuses on urban archaeology, history, and environmental studies, including pre-contact and post-contact periods, 18th & 19th Century Euro-American and Indigenous trade, urbanism, and Indigenous removal. Dan has personally documented hundreds of sites over the years, which he has compiled into a large geospatial database. This includes Indigenous and settler sites within Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.
Dan's M.A. thesis: 1) examined the interaction between culturally distinct groups and identified the socio-cultural impact these forces had on past Indigenous identity; and 2) identified how colonialism, settlement, and removal influenced 20th & 21st Century heritage memory and its continued impact on current social issues, making it relevant to First Nation groups today.
Dan works with Menominee and Potawatomi descendants of Chief Alexander Robinson (Che-Che-Pin-Qua), documenting the history of the Chief, his family, and cemetery, and is their appointed Family Historian. Dan was honored to be named the City Archaeologist of Palos Hills and a Board Member for the Chicago Archaeological Society.
In Kenya, Dan’s research focuses on prehistoric site survey and ethnographic studies. He also own a coffee farm in Western Kenya.

Final Note: CAS board members are currently planning our annual holiday party, held on December 7th before this presentation begins. Please visit our website for more details on upcoming events and lectures, as well as how to become a member. www.chicagoarchaeologicalsociety