"New Beginnings & Fresh Perspectives" Summer Speaker Series, Installment 2 of 4

At this time, historian and living history interpreter Allen Reed of Leaf River, Illinois, will discuss changing views of well-known Sauk warrior Black Hawk.
 
Mr. Reed will provide an overview of the events that led to Black Hawk’s permanent place in American history—namely the 3 months-long Black Hawk War in 1832, in which venerable warrior Black Sparrow Hawk led close to 1,000 men, women and children of the Sauk and Fox Indian nations across the Mississippi River from Iowa to Illinois in a desperate gamble to retain traditional lands and way of life. 
 
The bloody battle that ensued between Black Hawk’s warriors and the militia sent to find them caused Black Hawk to be reviled by white settlers on the frontier as a villain and murderer—yet within a short time, Black Hawk became an icon used to name and advertise businesses and a mascot for school and professional sports teams. 
 
When and why did this fundamental shift in perception occur?
 
Reed has previously shared his research and findings on Sauk warrior Black Hawk and the Black Hawk War with audiences at the Lincoln-Douglas School in Freeport, Illinois, at the Byron Museum of History in Byron, Illionis, and, most recently, at the March 2013 Midwest Open Air Coordinating Council Conference.
 
Reed holds a B.A. in anthropology from Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin, and has extensive experience as a historical interpreter. He has lent his talents to living history events at both Apple River Fort in Elizabeth, IL (actual site of an 1832 Black Hawk War battle) and at the Historic Indian Agency House.
 
The museum and visitor’s center exhibits, always free to the public, will be open 5pm until the lecture begins at 6:30pm.  A guided tour of the 1832 Winnebago Indian Agency will be available at 5pm. (Minimal fee applies; free for Supporters members). Light refreshments will be provided for lecture guests.
 
This is the fourth annual Summer Speaker Series hosted by the Historic Indian Agency House at Fort Winnebago (HIAH), with one lecture a month from June to September. The 2013 series, entitled “New Beginnings & Fresh Perspectives,” explores Wisconsin events, people, or other historical happenings that have undergone an interpretive change.  This theme is in honor or HIAH’s newly expanded guided tour that strives to better highlight the many roles and duties of Indian Agent John Kinzie, and a more nuanced interpretation of the Indian removal period and its effects on the indigenous population.
 
Each installment of this 4-part speaker series will be held on the final Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm.
For the fourth year in a row, this speaker series is free to the public and made largely possible by generous grants from the The Great Circle Foundation Inc. of East Northport and the City of Portage Tourism Promotion Committee.
 
The Historic Indian Agency House hosts a variety of children’s and adult programming throughout the year, including book-your-own Scout workshops! Visit www.agencyhouse.org for a full listing of events, or call 608-742-6362 with any questions.