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
• Moderator: Angela Wolfgram, Tourism Marketing Specialist, Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau

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"
• Moderators: April Anderson-Zorn, University Archivist, Illinois State University, and Maria Mears, Curator of Historical Interpretation, McLean County History Museum

11:45 am - 1:15 pm

Lunch

Lunch

Notes from the Field: Public Historian Roundtable

• Nathan Cooper, Assistant Editor, Papers of Abraham Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
• Adam Krall, Historic Sites Interpreter, Illinois Department of Natural Resources
• Beth Kruse, Assistant Professor of History, Harris-Stowe State University
• Stephanie Martin, Manager, Sangamon Valley Collection, Springfield Lincoln Library
• Catheryne Popovitch, Director, Illinois State Archives

• Moderator: Brian Mitchell, Public Humanities Fellow, UIS Center for Lincoln Studies and UIS History Department

Sponsored by the UIS Center for Lincoln Studies

1:30 pm - 2:45 pm

UIS Capital Honors Program Student Roundtable: Mapping Local Hidden Histories

• Ashlee Brown
• Adriana Eveland
• Kennedy Finney
• Andy Reed
• Hailey Thompson
• Mikaili Williams
• Moderators: Anne Moseley, Director of Engagement and Curator, UIS Sangamon Experience, and Evie Rodenbaugh, Graduate Assistant, UIS Sangamon Experience

Sponsored by UIS Sangamon Experience

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Site Tour: Old State Capitol

526 E. Adams
Springfield, IL 62701

(One block southwest of conference site)

Parking

Free parking is available in the surface lot directly north of the Horace Mann Building (enter on Jefferson, 7th Street, or 9th Street)

Organization Representation (Information Tables, Personnel, and/or Brochures)

• Illinois State Historical Society
• National Park Service: Lincoln Home National Historic Site, 1908 Springfield Race Riot National Monument, and New Philadelphia National Historic Site
• Illinois Department of Natural Resources--State Historic Sites of Springfield Volunteer Program
• Illinois State Archives
• Illinois Regional Archival Depository (IRAD) Internship Program
• Sangamon Valley Collection--Springfield Lincoln Public Library
• UIS History Department
• UIS Center for Lincoln Studies
• UIS Sangamon Experience
• UIS Graduate Assistantship and Graduate Public Service Internship Programs

Thanks to Our Sponsors and Supporters