Join the Addison Historical Society  and the Illinois Humanities  for a special Bicentennial Lecture on "How Corn Changed Itself and Then Changed Everything Else".  Illinois history is corn history-yet today, many Illinoisians have little direct experience with the sources of their food and the people who produce it.  Corn sustained early European settlers and then the early United States.  It virtually created the Midwest-a region settled faster than any other in history-thanks to corn.  The state of Illinois was built on corn and continues to be sustained by it.  At present, Illinois is the second-place corn growing state in the nation, and McClean County is the first-place corn growing county in the nation. Even if you think you know corn well, there is much to learn about its historic impact, and why it is so vital today.

Our speaker is Cynthia Clampitt.  Ms. Clampitt has studied food histsory over three decades. She delights in introducing people to the remarkable, fascinating, vital, but often overllooked impact food has had on human history-and on our everyday lives.  Her publications include "Midwest Maize: How Corn Shaped the U.S. Heartland (University of Illinois Press, 2015.

This free program is made possible through the Road Scholars Speakers Bureau of  Illinois Humanities. This program provides organizations statewide with affordable, entertaining and thought-provoking humanities events for their communities.  Illinois Humanities is an independent, non profit statewide affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, dedicated to fostering a culture in which the humanities are a vital part of the lives of individuals and communities.  Illinois Humanities creates programs and funds organizations that promote greater understanding of , appreciation for, and involvement in the humanities by all Illinoisans, regardless of their economic resources, cultural background or geographic location.  Illinois Humanities is supported by state, federal and private funds.