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By Kent Larsen
LDS Reporter's History Articles Win Illinois Award
MORRIS, ILLINOIS -- Vickie Speek, a reporter for the Morris Daily
Herald, was recognized, along with her co-author Jo Ann Hustis, by
the Illinois State Historical Society for their contributions to
local history. Speek and Hustis wrote four newspaper articles,
published last September, on a young civil war soldier, Hamilton
Peterson, and his family.
The Illinois State Historical Society's president Rand Burnette said
that the articles gave readers an idea of how historians work, "By
showing how historians can piece together stories from fragmentary
evidence, Ms. Hustis and Ms. Speek have encouraged average citizens
to become involved in local history. Their enthusiasm and their
efforts to use sound methods are salutary." The society each year
recognizes individuals and groups across the state who have
contributed to the knowledge of state and local history through
historical scholarship, education and preservation work. Speek and
Hustis received their award at the Society's annual meeting April
28th.
The award-winning articles arose from an old letter discovered in the
wall of an old house being renovated. The letter had been written by
Peterson at the time of the civil war, leading Hustis and Speek to
try and find out more about him. Their research led them to research
records at the Illinois State Archives and the National Archives in
Washington DC. They also researched local court and civil records,
tracing the lives of Peterson and his family.
The articles, including Speek's genealogy column for the same week,
which also covered researching Peterson's history, got a great
response from the public. Both reporters received phone calls and
email messages from readers who enjoyed the series. "You were able to
take a seemingly insignificant piece of Civil War memorabilia and
turn it into a fascinating piece of local history and intrigue. Not
only did you trace the war life of Mr. Peterson, but you also
provided, to anyone who read the articles, the knowledge of how to
uncover facts concerning their own ancestors who fought in the Civil
War or were early pioneers in the Grundy County area," wrote Ronald
E. Slack, president of the Starved Rock Civil War Round Table.
The two reporters still plan to write a follow-up article on Peterson
once they have uncovered how he died and whether or not he had
children.
Speek is also a regular contributor to Mormon News.
Source:
Historical Society honors MDH reporters
Morris Daily Herald 10May01 P2
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