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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Evanston History Center
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260203T183000
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DTSTAMP:20260506T163127
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UID:10015643-1770143400-1770147000@evanstonhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Talks@EHC: Gatherings: The History and Activities of the Emerson Branch YMCA
DESCRIPTION:<strong>Gatherings: The History and Activities of the Emerson Branch YMCA</strong>

<strong>Tuesday, February 3, 6:30 PM</strong>

<strong><span class="OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">Free &amp; Open to all. Sc</span></strong><strong style="background-color: var(--wpex-surface-1); font-family: var(--wpex-body-font-family, var(--wpex-font-sans));"><span class="OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">roll down to RSVP</span></strong>

<span class="OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">In-person event*
At the Evanston History Center
225 Greenwood Evanston, IL</span>

The Emerson Street Branch YMCA served as a segregated facility for fifty-five years in
Evanston, Illinois, providing activities and services during the era of Jim Crow. Known locally as the Emerson Y, this branch not only served the local Black community but fast became the place to be. It served as a community meeting space for numerous organizations and congregations and provided needed social services. Its closing in 1969 and the eventual destruction of the building left a collective open wound within the community, while its history began to fade with each passing decade.

Join us as<em> Gatherings </em>author and founder of Shorefront Legacy Center Dino Robinson shares his in depth research into the Emerson Y’s establishment, impactful history, the path to its closing and demolition, and the current resolve of the Evanston Y towards healing.

<b style="font-size: 22px;">About Morris E. (Dino) Robinson</b>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1896574811208233/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D"> </a><img class="wp-image-15624 alignleft" src="https://evanstonhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Robinson-237x300.jpg" alt="" width="173" height="219" />Morris E. Robinson Jr. is the author of <em>A Place We Can Call Our Home</em> (1996), <em>Through the Eyes of Us</em> (1998), the first edition of <em>Gatherings</em> (2004), and <em>A Decade to Remember</em> (2023, Shorefront Press). Robinson’s work in gathering oral histories, artifacts, and documents since 1995 led to his founding of Shorefront in 2002 and the <a href="https://shorefrontlegacy.org/">Shorefront Legacy Center</a> in 2010, an archive and research center that documents the local Black communities along

<a style="color: #155ebf; text-decoration: underline solid #155ebf; text-underline-offset: auto;" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1896574811208233/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D"><img class="alignnone  wp-image-15623" src="https://evanstonhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ShorefrontPress-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="88" height="88" /></a> <em>Gatherings</em> is a publication of Shorefront Press.

This in-person event will also be available on Facebook Live and recorded for those who cannot attend in person.

<span class="OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">Through our community's g</span><span class="OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">eneros</span><span class="OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">ity, we</span><span class="OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none"> can offer these free programs! </span><span class="OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">Please consider donating $10 to support our ongoing free public programming.</span>

<a href="https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/evanston-history-center-/ehc-donation-form"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-6209" src="https://evanstonhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Green-Minimalist-Modern-Font-Circle-Candle-Label-300x300.png" alt="" width="167" height="167" /></a>

Please click the blue "Going" button below to RSVP. A confirmation email will be sent to the email you registered with.

If you don't receive a confirmation email, please email Erin Hughes at <a href="mailto:ehughes@evanstonhistorycenter.org">ehughes@evanstonhistorycenter.org</a>.

&nbsp;
URL:https://evanstonhistorycenter.org/event/talksehc-gatherings-the-history-and-activities-of-the-emerson-branch-ymca/
LOCATION:Evanston History Center\, 225 Greenwood Street\, Evanston\, IL\, 60201\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks@EHC,Upcoming Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://evanstonhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Gatherings26Simple.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260206T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260206T203000
DTSTAMP:20260506T163127
CREATED:20250917T193043Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260205T171433Z
UID:10015483-1770404400-1770409800@evanstonhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Ragtime Pianist Reginald Robinson
DESCRIPTION:<b>Virtuoso Ragtime Pianist Reginald Robinson</b>

<strong>Friday, February 6, 7:00pm</strong>

<strong>SOLD OUT</strong>

<span class="OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">In-person event
At the Evanston History Center
225 Greenwood St, Evanston, IL</span>

Back by popular demand after a mesmerizing sold-out concert in 2025!
<p data-start="148" data-end="420">Experience the brilliance of MacArthur “Genius” Award–winning pianist Reginald R. Robinson, a virtuoso celebrated worldwide for his groundbreaking ragtime compositions and his dedication to preserving African American history through this uniquely American art form.</p>
<p data-start="422" data-end="809">In this unforgettable evening, Robinson will perform a captivating mix of ragtime classics and original works—woven together with fascinating historical insights—inside the atmospheric Dawes House. Adding to the magic, the program will be performed on one of the mansion’s greatest treasures: a rare Steinway concert grand piano built for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition.</p>
<p data-start="811" data-end="914">Seating is limited—secure your tickets today for a night of music and history you won’t want to miss.</p>
<strong>About the artist: </strong>

<span class="il">Reginald</span> Robinson is a virtuoso ragtime pianist, performing in concerts, lectures and collaborative arts programming. His compositions are featured on five albums, as well as in theater and film. In 2004, Robinson was awarded the rare and distinguished John D. &amp; Catherine T. MacArthur Award for his innovative ragtime piano works and music research. The independent film <em>Compensation</em> (2000), for which Robinson scored the ragtime piano soundtrack, was recently inducted into the National Film Registry in 2024. In addition to performing, Robinson is internationally known for his lectures at colleges and universities, which have aided in preserving the legacy of African American history.

All tickets are general seating.
URL:https://evanstonhistorycenter.org/event/ragtime-pianist-reginald-robinson/
LOCATION:Evanston History Center\, 225 Greenwood Street\, Evanston\, IL\, 60201\, United States
CATEGORIES:Concerts,Upcoming Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://evanstonhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Robinson2026.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Evanston History Center":MAILTO:kfabian@evanstonhistorycenter.org
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260211T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260211T130000
DTSTAMP:20260506T163127
CREATED:20260127T201928Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260127T201928Z
UID:10015654-1770811200-1770814800@evanstonhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Curiosity Cafe: Draining Evanston
DESCRIPTION:<strong>Lunchtime Curiosity Cafe</strong>

Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
<span class="OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">In-person event
At the <a href="https://evanstonhistorycenter.org/">Evanston History Center</a>
225 Greenwood St, Evanston, IL</span>

<strong>About the event:
</strong>Join us in the historic Dawes House for our casual lunchtime conversation series.

Why did they call it Ridgeville? Or Frogtown? Do you live on the marsh or on the ridge? Depends on whether you flood. In February Dick Lanyon, retired Executive Director of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago will lead us through a unique conversation on Draining Evanston.

Feel free to bring a brown bag lunch; coffee and tea will be provided.

FREE, no RSVP needed.

<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-15667" src="https://evanstonhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Evanston-Pumping-Station-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" />
URL:https://evanstonhistorycenter.org/event/curiosity-cafe-draining-evanston/
LOCATION:Evanston History Center\, 225 Greenwood Street\, Evanston\, IL\, 60201\, United States
CATEGORIES:Upcoming Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://evanstonhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/FebCafeSimple.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Evanston History Center":MAILTO:kfabian@evanstonhistorycenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260221T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260221T130000
DTSTAMP:20260506T163127
CREATED:20251230T000706Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260121T205513Z
UID:10015611-1771675200-1771678800@evanstonhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Welcome to the Research Room: How to Begin Your Home Research
DESCRIPTION:<strong>Welcome to the Research Room: How to Begin Your Home Research</strong>

Saturday, February 21, 2026 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
<span class="OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">In-person event
At the <a href="https://evanstonhistorycenter.org/">Evanston History Center</a>
225 Greenwood St, Evanston, IL</span>

<strong>About the event:</strong>

Curious what our Research Room has to offer? Begin your explorations in 2026 with our Welcome to the Research Room series. For our February session, we will share steps, resources, and more information to get you started researching the past inhabitants, architectural, and historical details of your Evanston home.  FREE, but space is limited to 15 people.*

*Due to limited space, please only RSVP if you know you can make it. If you RSVP and your plans change, please email info@evanstonhistorycenter.org so we can give your spot to someone else.

&nbsp;
URL:https://evanstonhistorycenter.org/event/welcome-to-the-research-room-how-to-begin-your-home-research/
LOCATION:Evanston History Center\, 225 Greenwood Street\, Evanston\, IL\, 60201\, United States
CATEGORIES:Holiday,Upcoming Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://evanstonhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Archives-SImple.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Evanston History Center":MAILTO:kfabian@evanstonhistorycenter.org
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