Naper Settlement’s History Speaks Lecture Series showcases a variety of prominent historical figures and topics. Lectures are held one to two times per month based on scheduling.
The Essential Great Chicago Fire
September 5, 2021, 4-5 PM | $10 per person.
2021 marks the 150th Anniversary of the fire! It started in a barn and, two days of flaming hell later, nearly destroyed a city. In The Essential Great Chicago Fire, William Pack weaves together technical details of the fire with vivid firsthand accounts from those who lived through the conflagration of 1871, bringing alive all the excitement and terror in a multi-media storytelling event that will not soon be forgotten.
Born and raised in Chicago, speaker William Pack is a magician, storyteller, and author. As a child, William spent much of his summer hanging around his local library. With free access to the book collection, he discovered a voracious desire to read everything. At 11 years old, William got his first job in a magic shop and has been performing ever since. He has used his passionate curiosity to create a diverse collection of programs, covering biography, history, and science. William has won numerous awards for his magic and comedy performances. In 2001, he taught actor Will Smith sleight of hand for his portrayal of Muhammad Ali in the film, Ali. William's performing and communication skills have elevated his programs from lecture to an event experience, making him one of the most "in demand" presenters in the market.
Goode Rebeka, Trial by Fire – “The Salem Witch Trials”
October 3, 2021, 4-5 PM | $10 per person.
It was a new world. The settlers from England had gained a foothold in the verdant land called “Amerika”. Old traditions would be laid aside, new ones instituted. Greed, jealousy, suspicion would still persist. Were these at the root of “The Salem Witch Trials”? Innocent residents of Salem, Massachusetts were tried and many were executed in perhaps the most infamous chapter in early American history. Meet Goode Rebeka, an elderly woman hanged as a witch in 1692, but was she one? Perhaps by the end of the program, you will be able to answer that question.
For more details and registration for the above events, please see here.
