A renowned children’s author, a World War I doctor and the first licensed woman architect in Illinois are among the trailblazing Winnetka women featured in a Nov. 12 virtual event presented by the village’s historical society.
Moderated by longtime Winnetka resident and historical society member Holly Marihugh, “Smart & Gutsy Winnetka Women in History” will be presented via Zoom at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12.
While 2020 marks the 100-year anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted American women the right to vote, Marihugh said the timing of the virtual event was coincidental, especially as she has long hoped to highlight the accomplishments of local women who led extraordinary lives.
“One of the main reasons I wanted to put this together was to get people thinking about these six singular women whose accomplishments touched not only the village, but the rest of the world,” Marihugh said.
The virtual presentation, which is sponsored by the Winnetka Historical Society, will give viewers a glimpse into the lives of six local women, including:
Marion Mahony Griffin (1871-1961) Griffin, who is said to be the first licensed woman architect in Illinois and one of the first in the world, once worked with Frank Lloyd Wright, before partnering professionally with her husband, Walter Burley Griffin.
Anita Willets-Burnham (1880-1958) An American Impressionist artist and founding member of the North Shore Art League, Willets-Burnham traveled across the world in the 1920s with her husband and four children (Alfred Burnham, Anita’s husband, was related to Daniel Burnham). The author of a popular book, “Round the World on a Penny” about her family’s travel experiences, she lived in the Schmidt-Burnham Log House on Tower Road before it was a museum.
Olive Beaupre Miller (1883-1968) A publisher and editor of children’s books, Beaupre Miller founded a publishing company, My Book House for Children. Her books are still popular today in homeschooling community, Marihugh said.
Lola Maverick Lloyd (1875-1944) In her role as peace activist and suffragette, Maverick Lloyd helped to establish the Woman’s Peace Party and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.
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Dr. Alice Barlow-Brown (1869-1957) A physician who treated civilians in France during World War I, Barlow-Brown was supported by the American Red Cross and Winnetka residents through sales at the village’s “Dr. Alice Barlow-Brown Gift Shop.” Her letters detailing her war experiences were published in the Winnetka Talk.
In addition, Marihugh’s presentation will include the story of longtime resident Joan Evanich, 65, the current vice president of the historical society’s board of directors. In 2003, Evanich led a team to move the Schmidt-Burnham Log House from Tower Road to Crow Island Woods.
The project involved fulfilling all requirements to make the Log House into a Museum, which opened to the public in 2006. Constructed in 1837, the Log House is said to be one of the oldest houses in Cook County, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
For more details, visit: winnetkahistory.org/
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