Events & Programs
Open House
Celebrating our first Open House showcasing our new location in the Fine Arts Building, suite 403 on Sunday March 17 from 2pm to 4pm. Founded in 1971, CWHC celebrated its 50th anniverary recently and embarked on an exciting new era for the organization. During the past year we have undergone many changes including establishing a more public space for the organization and hiring an Executive Director for the first time.
50 and Forward, Chicago Women’s History Center’s 50th Anniversary Celebration
Celebrate our 50th Anniversary with us on Thurs. Oct. 27, 5:00 - 7:30 pm at Columbia College’s Film Row Cinema, 1104 S. Wabash Ave. This fundraiser for CWHC includes a special program, speaker, printed anniversary book, appetizers, wine, live music, fun, festivities, and lots of friends and supporters of CWHC. We will follow the masking suggestions of the CDC. The speaker for 50 & Forward will be Esther Nieves a vision driven leader in the non-profit sector with experience working with grassroots, statewide, and national organizations.
Purchase your reservations for this event at: chicagowomenshistory.org/store/50forward
Illinois' Reproductive Health Act & the War on Women's Choice: History, Policy, and Practice
Join us for a panel discussion focused on the Reproductive Health Act passed in Illinois in 2019 which protects safe and legal abortions for women even if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Illinois is one of only six states to pass legislation maintaining access to legal abortion services while other states legislated restrictions. What is the history of this act and its implications for the future?
Co-sponsored by Chicago Women’s History Center and Chicago Public Library.
To view this event online go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2qs1WvpXTU&t=32s
The Legacy of Hazel Johnson, Mother of the Environmental Justice Movement
This Women’s History Month program will feature Cheryl Johnson, pictured here, who will speak about her mother, Hazel Johnson’s work as the Mother of Environment Justice in Altgeld Gardens Housing Project on Chicago’s Southeast Side.
A Neighbor Among Neighbors: Erie Neighborhood House, 150 Years as a Home Without Borders
Join Chicago Women’s History Center board member and V.P. Maureen Hellwig for this online presentation and discussion of her new book on the history of Erie Neighborhood House, Chicago’s oldest settlement house. This online event will be presented via Zoom. Registration is now closed.
Strength in Suffrage: Tracing 100 Years Through 100 Women’s History Stories
CWHC hosts this virtual program on our new "Twitch" channel to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the passage of the Woman Suffrage Amendment in 1920. On August 26th at 7:00 pm click on https://www.twitch.tv/cwhc to join the broadcast.
Exhibit: 100 Women: Collaborations Beyond the Veil
CWHC is sponsoring the exhibit of a selection of banners from this project, depicting contemporary Chicago African American women, at the Woodson Regional Library. In addition to the banners, the exhibit includes a videotaped interview with Sykes as well a a video montage of the photographs of all 100 banners.
AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN and the VOTE: A Centennial Review
Join CWHC for this 100th anniversary event featuring Michelle Duster speaking on Black Suffragists: Representation in Public Spaces, and Kathleen Thompson on Always There: Black Women and Suffrage.
Lesbians and Feminism in Chicago in the 1970s and 80s
Panel discussion on Lesbians and Feminism with activists involved in the community in the 1970s and 80s. Moderated by Tracy Baim.
The World of Juliette Kinzie, Chicago Before the Fire, by Dr. Ann Durkin Keating - Book Launch
Book launch for The World of Juliette Kinzie, Chicago Before the Fire by Dr. Ann Durkin Keating at the Chicago Women’s History Center. Reception with refreshments and book signing will follow.
Lavender Women and Killer Dykes: Lesbians, Feminism & Community in Chicago
Join us at the opening of this new exhibit at Gerber Hart Library and Archives, co-sponsored by the Chicago Women’s History Center, featuring Dr. A. Finn Enke, Professor of History and Gender and Women’s Studies at University of Wisconsin. “Lavender Women and Killer Dykes” reflects the creative and dynamic culture that lesbian feminists created in Chicago during the 1960s - 80s, During this time Chicago Lesbians organized community centers, music festivals, bookstores, newspapers, publishing presses, health centers, literary societies, coffee houses and bars that created spaces that centered women’s issues. CWHC helped develop this exhibit and lent documents, photographs and artifacts from our collection that are displayed here for the first time.
Unless otherwise noted, all programs are free and open to the public.
Reservations may be required. Please check each program description for details.
Programs are made possible by membership and donations.