2026 UIS Undergraduate Student Public History Conference

Saturday, March 28, 2026
UIS Innovate Springfield
1 Horace Mann Plaza, 3rd Floor
Springfield, IL 62715

Meet the next generation of public historians from around the Midwest, as they present student work related to museum studies, historic preservation, local history, education, and library and archival studies.

Registration

Registration is required for all presenters and attendees (March 23 deadline). While the conference is free, we ask that non-students consider a donation to off-set our costs and to help us plan for next year.

Schedule

8:30 am - 9:00 am

Registration and Refreshments

9:00 am - 10:30 am

Illinois State University Internship Roundtable

• Will Bernico
• Lucas Chase
• Aidan Coyne
• Tucker LaHaie
• Raquel Mancias
• Alivia Mani
• Jameson Warfield

Sponsored by the Illinois State Historical Society

10:45 am - 11:30 am

Public History Project Panel

• Kyah Sturm, Purdue University, "French Colonial Jewelry of Indiana's Fort Ouiatenon: Archaeology and Exhibit"
• Evan Dunams, Harris-Stowe State University, "First-Person Narrative Performance Art as a Public Historical Tool"
• Alison Bishop, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, "'Til We Meet Again: The Stories of Fort Atkinson's Local World War II Veterans"
• Kalina Dickinson, DePauw University, "A Coke, a Blanket, and a Watchful Eye: Dating at DePauw during the 1950s"
• Moderator: April Anderson-Zorn, University Archivist, Illinois State University

11:45 am - 1:15 pm

Lunch

Sponsored by the UIS Center for Lincoln Studies

1:30 pm - 2:45 pm

UIS Capital Honors Program Roundtable: Local Hidden Histories

Sponsored by UIS Sangamon Experience

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Illinois State Historic Site Tour

Parking

Free parking is available in the surface lot directly north of the Horace Mann Building (enter on Jefferson or 7th Street)

Thanks to Our Sponsors and Supporters