Library News
Booth Library honored by Coles County Historical Society
Posted on July 1st, 2015
On June 15, 2015, the annual Coles County Historical Society’s Founder’s Day Dinner was held at the Stadium Grill in Mattoon.
The Society’s Annual Award was given to Dr. Allen Lanham, dean of library services, and Beth Heldebrandt, public relations director at Booth Library at EIU, to honor the work they have done in promoting and preserving local history through exhibits, particularly the “Quanah and Cynthia Ann Parker” exhibit.
Mike Watts, past director of Tarble Arts Center, EIU, was also given the award for his work in the transfer of ownership and restoration of the Charles and Hannah Morton portraits and for featuring exhibits of local history.
The awards were plaques placed on a marble square from the 1892 Coles County Jail.
Rick Riccio was the featured speaker for the evening. He provided a sneak preview of the exhibit now under construction at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The exhibit will include replicating water, aquatic plants and animals, a dugout canoe and a mural showing more wetland plants and terrain, in addition to cultural features. He shared interesting information about designing and installing the exhibit.
