Stories in Place: Coal and Land in Vermilion County at Vermilion County Museum

DANVILLE, Ill. – Community members are invited to take part in Stories in Place: Coal and Land in Vermilion County, a one-day memory mapping and scrapbooking workshop that honors Vermilion County’s connection to coal. The free event will be held on Saturday, October 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Vermilion County Museum.

The workshop offers a space to reflect on the past, document the present, and imagine the future of life in Vermilion County. Participants will map their memories of coal and land in Vermilion County – from family histories in the mines and plants, to life on reclaimed coal lands, to community transitions and visions for the future.

Each participant will create one-to-three scrapbook pages that will become part of a Vermilion County Scrapbook focused on the county’s connection to coal. Participants are encouraged to bring photographs, newspaper clippings, tickets, letters, or other ephemera that connect to their stories. These materials can be scanned and copied on-site to preserve originals while allowing them to be included in the scrapbook. All craft materials will be provided.

This is a writing, mapping, and scrapbooking workshop. No prior experience is necessary, just bring the stories you want to share and any items you would like to include. No story is too small.
The workshop will be led by Jordan Woodward, postdoctoral researcher at the Humanities Research Institute at the University of Illinois, and co-sponsored by the Vermilion County Museum.

Details:
● Date/Time: Saturday, October 4, 2025, 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
● Location: Vermilion County Museum, 116 N. Gilbert Street, Danville, IL 61832
● Lunch provided
● No cost

How to Participate:
To sign-up please fill out this survey (https://forms.gle/QJgUhk5vtAkv8qBJ6). Free and open to the public! However, space is limited to 25 attendees, which are accepted on a first come, first serve basis.

This workshop is an opportunity to reflect on Vermilion County’s shared history and the many ways coal has shaped community life, whether through mining and plant work, family traditions, living on reclaimed mining land, or environmental change.

About the Illinois Coal Workers & Communities Listening Project
The Illinois Coal Workers & Communities Listening Project at the University of Illinois is gathering stories from coal workers, families, and communities across the state. By preserving these voices and experiences, the project aims to honor Illinois coal heritage, inform smarter policy, and help build stronger, more resilient communities for the future.

Contact:
Jordan Woodward, jordanpw@illinois.edu, (918) 402-4899