Pekin book club members find oasis in community of readers Follow Us
Question of the Day In this undated photo, from left, Next Chapter adult book group members Sue Meisner of Forest City, Gordon Petry of Pekin, Bonnie Dentino of Pekin, Mary Ann Russell of Pekin, and Connie Lenox of South Pekin discuss Jeanine Cummins’ 2020 . more > By MIKE KRAMER - Associated Press - Saturday, April 10, 2021
PEKIN, Ill. (AP) - The origins of the Next Chapter Adult Book Group go back far enough, the current facilitator is not quite sure how long the club has been in existence.
“I know it’s been at least 15 years,” said Beth Bradford, head of information services at the Pekin Public Library.
Enterprising group of Pekin women helped create city s library
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Preserving COVID-19 history a new mission for Peoria area libraries
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PEORIA, Ill. – The name of Nance Legins-Costley could resonate amid the likes of Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and other abolitionist figures.
But her story is hardly known. Not in Illinois, where – despite anti-slavery laws – she was born into bondage. Not in the city of Pekin, where – despite anti-Black attitudes – she became a beloved community figure. And certainly not in Peoria, where – despite her impressive life – she is buried in ignominy.
Perhaps her story is more subtle than those of high-profile abolitionist leaders, yet her fortitude was astounding. Barely a teen, she first stood up for her civil rights in a court of law that was stacked against Black people. Even amid legal defeats, she kept seeking the most basic of rights: freedom.