Discovering New Philadelphia: An Evening with Jeff Williams

Name: Discovering New Philadelphia: An Evening with Jeff Williams
Start: 2025-03-13T18:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-03-13T19:00:00-05:00
Location: Illinois State Museum Research and Collections Center

Schedule

Thu Mar 13 2025 at 06:00 pm to 07:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

Illinois State Museum Research and Collections Center | Springfield, IL

1836 – Following the Flower to New Philadelphia, IL, winner of the 2024 NoirIV exhibition celebrating Black art and creativity, shows a vivid artistic representation of New Philadelphia, a village founded by Free Frank McWorter in 1836. What makes New Philadelphia so special is that it was the first town to be founded and platted by an African American prior to the Civil War. Built on a foundation of freedom, hope, entrepreneurship, and peace, New Philadelphia was a bustling integrated community that is now lost to time.
ISM invites you to join graphic designer Jeff Williams, the creative mind behind 1836 – Following the Flower to New Philadelphia, IL as he discusses his inspiration for the piece, the story of Free Frank and New Philadelphia. Join us on Thursday, March 13th from 6pm – 7 pm at the ISM Research and Collections Center located at 1011 E. Ash St. in Springfield, IL.