Many of its words were improvised, and some were not even original. But Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech summarized the struggles of millions and inspired people of all backgrounds, then and now.

Sometimes one individual can make a difference. In the case of Sarah Raymond Fitzwilliam, she took on segregation in the schools of one of Illinois’ most important cities – and won.

Back in the 1800s, the selection—not to mention the quality—of the meats consumers could buy was a lot slimmer. But the constant has always been that meat has offered farmers an easier, more compact way to get their grain to market.

Bowls were originally envisioned as a tourist draw, a way for cities, primarily in warm climates, to market themselves. The oldest bowl games were the brainchild of city planners, who saw dollar signs – only different ones than today.

Record stories that captured people's attention in years passed.

Twisters in Illinois in the winter months are not entirely rare. While the majority of the state’s tornadoes occur between March and May, a surprising number of tornadoes have struck in the months of meteorological winter, December, January and February.

Now days, we take it for granted that the United States flag belongs in front of our schools, post offices, and other public structures—not to mention in front of so many private homes.

Dec. 31 marks the 250th anniversary of the death of Richard Montgomery, who was killed in the frontal assault on Quebec City on New Year’s Eve 1775.

In recent years, Christmas decorations have been coming out immediately after Halloween, and by Thanksgiving we’re bombarded with demands that we buy this or that gift. Unfortunately, I suspect some of my ancestors might be responsible for this holiday excess.