DeKalb County History Center

### Context Profile for DeKalb County History Center

1. **Organization Mission & Cause**:
   The DeKalb County History Center is dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of DeKalb County, Illinois. Their mission is to engage the community through educational programs, exhibits, and events that highlight the rich cultural heritage of the region. They aim to foster an appreciation for local history and encourage community involvement.

2. **Type of Activities**:
   - **Educational Programs**: The center hosts various programs, including historical lectures, workshops, and themed events such as "1950s Tasting History," which explores culinary traditions of the past.
   - **Exhibits**: They feature rotating exhibits that focus on different aspects of local history, such as the award-winning exhibit "Food: Gathering Around the Table."
   - **Community Events**: Regular events and activities designed to engage the public and promote local history.
   - **Fundraising Campaigns**: They conduct campaigns to support their programs and initiatives, often highlighted in their email communications.

3. **Tone of Voice**:
   The tone of the DeKalb County History Center is friendly, inviting, and informative. Their language is accessible and engaging, aiming to connect with a diverse audience. They use descriptive and vivid language to evoke interest in historical topics, making their communications feel warm and community-oriented.

4. **Emoji Usage**:
   The organization does not prominently use emojis in their communications. Their email campaigns and website content maintain a professional and straightforward tone, focusing on clarity and engagement without the use of emojis.

5. **Key Facts**:
   - **Founding Info**: Specific founding details were not available on the website; further research may be needed to determine the exact founding date.
   - **Scale**: The organization has a total of 36 forms and has conducted 48 email campaigns, indicating an active engagement strategy.
   - **Impact Metrics**: While specific metrics were not detailed on the website, the organization emphasizes community involvement and educational outreach as key components of their impact.
   - **Volunteer Info**: The website encourages community members to get involved, suggesting opportunities for volunteering, although specific details were not provided.

6. **Writing Guidelines**:
   - **Style**: Use a friendly and engaging tone that reflects the organization's commitment to community and education.
   - **Language**: Avoid jargon; use clear and accessible language that can be understood by a broad audience.
   - **Content Focus**: Highlight historical significance and community impact in messaging. Use storytelling techniques to connect with the audience emotionally.
   - **Call to Action**: Encourage participation in events and programs, emphasizing the benefits of engaging with local history.

This context profile provides a comprehensive overview of the DeKalb County History Center, enabling AI assistants to generate personalized and relevant content that aligns with the organization's mission and values.

General admission

<p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 20px;color:rgb(97, 97, 97);font-size:14px;line-height:1.8;font-weight:300;font-family:Quicksand, sans-serif;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">The history of Mexicans who worked for local area railroads and lived in railroad boxcars will be brought to light in an upcoming program. Dr. Antonio Delgado will discuss the reasons behind and the processes used to recruit Mexican railroad workers to the United States during the turn of the century and well into the 1950s. As there were Mexican boxcar communities in Kirkland, Cortland, and Maple Park, his program will provide a better understanding of this little-known part of DeKalb County’s history. This discussion will take place on October 18, 6:00 p.m. at the DeKalb County History Center, 1730 N. Main St., Sycamore<p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 20px;color:rgb(97, 97, 97);font-size:14px;line-height:1.8;font-weight:300;font-family:Quicksand, sans-serif;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">“We are honored to have Dr. Delgado make the trip to DeKalb County to share his research about Mexican Boxcar communities. Our local connection to this story surfaced as volunteers searched census records and local histories. We are excited to learn more about a little known part of our local past,” explained Michelle Donahoe, DeKalb County History Center’s Executive Director.<p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 20px;color:rgb(97, 97, 97);font-size:14px;line-height:1.8;font-weight:300;font-family:Quicksand, sans-serif;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">Delgado was born in Monterrey, México. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in Urban Planning/Public Policy Analysis, specializing in public policy as it impacts minorities in the United States. He also holds a Masters Degree in History from the University of Texas Austin and a Masters in Public Administration from Baruch College, City University of New York. His interest in the history of Mexicans in the United States began when he interviewed his grandmother in 1975. Delgado is a former Executive Assistant in the Mayor’s Office, City of Chicago. He retired as Dean of Economic Development for the City Colleges of Chicago. At the age of five he entered the United States as an undocumented immigrant.<p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 20px;color:rgb(97, 97, 97);font-size:14px;line-height:1.8;font-weight:300;font-family:Quicksand, sans-serif;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">Deldago’s presentation is part of the fall Arts in Action programming, a partnership between the DeKalb County History Center and Ellwood House Museum. The Arts in Action program series is possible through a grant from the DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board. Upcoming Arts in Action programs include “Too Close to Home: Tim Egan’s ‘Fever in the Heartland’” with Dr. Amy Levin and Dr. Stan Arnold on November 9; and Illinois Humanities Road Scholar Ted Williams II will present “1619: The Journey of a People, the Musical” on November 16. For more information visit dekalbcountyhistory.org or call 815-895-5762.

Hello <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip " style="background-color:rgb(248, 248, 255);border:1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255);border-radius:4px;color:rgb(42, 42, 196);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:1px 8px;font-size:11px;line-height:16px;overflow-wrap:anywhere;user-select:none;box-sizing:inherit">First name <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{lastname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip " style="background-color:rgb(248, 248, 255);border:1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255);border-radius:4px;color:rgb(42, 42, 196);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:1px 8px;font-size:11px;line-height:16px;overflow-wrap:anywhere;user-select:none;box-sizing:inherit">Last name, Your registration for virtual  attendance of "The History of the Mexican Railroad Boxcar Communities in Chicago and The Midwest"is confirmed.⌚   On <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{date-variable-a9e11128-f31c-49d0-8459-a49bb822b3b8}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip " style="background-color:rgb(248, 248, 255);border:1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255);border-radius:4px;color:rgb(42, 42, 196);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:1px 8px;font-size:11px;line-height:16px;overflow-wrap:anywhere;user-select:none;box-sizing:inherit">Date Please use this Zoom Link to join at 6 PM on October 18.

<p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 20px;line-height:1.8;font-weight:300;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;max-width:100%">The history of Mexicans who worked for local area railroads and lived in railroad boxcars will be brought to light in an upcoming program. Dr. Antonio Delgado will discuss the reasons behind and the processes used to recruit Mexican railroad workers to the United States during the turn of the century and well into the 1950s. As there were Mexican boxcar communities in Kirkland, Cortland, and Maple Park, his program will provide a better understanding of this little-known part of DeKalb County’s history. This discussion will take place on October 18, 6:00 p.m. at the DeKalb County History Center, 1730 N. Main St., Sycamore<p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 20px;line-height:1.8;font-weight:300;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;max-width:100%">“We are honored to have Dr. Delgado make the trip to DeKalb County to share his research about Mexican Boxcar communities. Our local connection to this story surfaced as volunteers searched census records and local histories. We are excited to learn more about a little known part of our local past,” explained Michelle Donahoe, DeKalb County History Center’s Executive Director.<p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 20px;line-height:1.8;font-weight:300;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;max-width:100%">Delgado was born in Monterrey, México. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in Urban Planning/Public Policy Analysis, specializing in public policy as it impacts minorities in the United States. He also holds a Masters Degree in History from the University of Texas Austin and a Masters in Public Administration from Baruch College, City University of New York. His interest in the history of Mexicans in the United States began when he interviewed his grandmother in 1975. Delgado is a former Executive Assistant in the Mayor’s Office, City of Chicago. He retired as Dean of Economic Development for the City Colleges of Chicago. At the age of five he entered the United States as an undocumented immigrant.<p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 20px;line-height:1.8;font-weight:300;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;max-width:100%">Deldago’s presentation is part of the fall Arts in Action programming, a partnership between the DeKalb County History Center and Ellwood House Museum. The Arts in Action program series is possible through a grant from the DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board. Upcoming Arts in Action programs include “Too Close to Home: Tim Egan’s ‘Fever in the Heartland’” with Dr. Amy Levin and Dr. Stan Arnold on November 9; and Illinois Humanities Road Scholar Ted Williams II will present “1619: The Journey of a People, the Musical” on November 16. For more information visit dekalbcountyhistory.org or call 815-895-5762.

DeKalb County History Center

In-Person: The History of the Mexican Railroad Boxcar Communities in Chicago and The Midwest (1)

1730 N Main St

General admission

Free

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