Speaker Series
Forgotten Celebrities by Cindy Reinhardt

Due to an emergency, the June MCHS Speaker Series program has been changed. The speaker will now be local historian Cindy Reinhardt who will introduce listeners to Madison County”s “Famous but Forgotten.”

The event will be held at 2 p.m. at the Main Street Community Center, 1003 N. Main Street in Edwardsville, Illinois, and is free and open to the public.

Reinhardt has been researching and writing about Madison County history for more than thirty years. During that time, she has uncovered dozens of former Madison County residents who were at one time known across the country and beyond but are no longer remembered. The list of those forgotten includes inventors, politicians, authors, entertainers, and more.

Reinhardt’s publications on Madison County history include two books, “150 Years of Hometown News,” a book that celebrated the sesquicentennial of the Edwardsville Intelligencer, and “Leclaire,” a pictorial history of the Leclaire National Historic District from Arcadia Publishing. She has written hundreds of articles highlighting Madison County history for local, regional and state publications. In addition, she is the author and editor of the award-winning MCHS News, published by the Madison County Historical Society.

Reinhardt was originally scheduled to give this program in August, but the June speaker, historian Stacy Lynn, is unable to come at this time. The program dates were reversed, and Lynn has been rescheduled for August 11.

MCHS owns and operates the Madison County History Museum and Archival Library at 801 N. Main Street in Edwardsville, Illinois. The museum is currently hosting an exhibit on the Mississippi River Festival that is open Wed-Fri Noon – 4 p.m. and Sundays 1-4. Group tours are available on request. The Archival Library is open Mon-Fri. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sun. 1-4 p.m.

For more information on the 2024 Speakers Series or to learn more about Madison County history, visit the Society’s website https://madcohistory.org/, visit its Facebook page (Madison County Historical Society), or call 618-656-6579.