Dean Karau, Kewanee historian and Kewanee Voice columnist, will be speaking on Friday, May 30, at noon at a Lunch & Learn sponsored by Chicago’s DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, a Smithsonian Institution affiliate.
Karau is speaking on his new book, Walter Thomas Bailey: Staring into the Yawning Gulf of Eternity. The event is being broadcast live via video on the museum’s Facebook page.
Karau has written nearly 200 Kewanee-centric history columns over the last five years and has been publishing his columns in The Kewanee Voice since its inception. He also is the author of three other books on Kewanee: The History of Wethersfield 2.0: From its Beginning until the Railroad Extinguished the Vision of its Founders: A Brief History of the First years of Kewanee Parks; and Dusty Roads-A Collection of Columns Previously Published in the Kewanee Star-Courier: Volume 1-Kewanee & Baseball.
He has also produced numerous videos about Kewanee. Karau’s columns and videos can be found at the Kewanee Historical Society’s website. He has donated 100 copies of each of his first three books to the Kewanee Historical Society for sale to the public, while he has donated 100 copies of his last book to the Kewanee Public Library for sale to the public. All of his books are also available on Amazon.com.
The DuSable Museum is the first and oldest independent Black History Museum in the country. In 1961, at a time when Black culture was overlooked by most museums and academic establishments, Dr. Margaret T. Burroughs founded the nation’s first museum devoted entirely, and specifically, to the history and culture of the African American community, to celebrate, preserve, and amplify the historical experiences and achievements of African Americans.
The Museum is proud of its diverse holdings that number more than 15,000 pieces and include paintings, sculpture, print works and historical memorabilia. Special exhibitions, workshops and lectures are featured to highlight works by particular artists, historical events or collections on loan from individuals or institutions.
