Little White School Museum 
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CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY
Today we highlight mystery author Lawrence L. Lynch, also known as Emily Murdock Van Deventer. At a time when it was not proper for females to pen sensational literature such as mystery and detective stories, Emily took to paper under the pen name of Lawrence L. Lynch. To date, 24 titles written by her have been discovered. The museum has copies of four of her novels including her first, Shadowed by Three, 1879, and reissued in 1885; along with Madeline Paine: The Detective’s Daughter, 1883; The Diamond Coterie, 1884; Out of a Labyrinth, 1886; and A Dead Man’s Step, 1893. Eager readers can also find some of these titles for checkout through the Oswego Public Library District! Click here for an interesting overview and mystery surrounding Lawrence L. Lynch!
With a warm hello With a warm hello, we are pleased to introduce Margaret Ruth Shepard Edwards, a pioneering business woman in the milliner’s trade, manufacturing ladies’ hats and fans. She went on to open her own milliner shop in March 1876. Click here for a biography and newspaper transcriptions highlighting her life!
Meet Christianna Harkness, an early educator in the community who began her teaching career at the age of 17. A rural school teacher during the mid-19th Century, Christianna taught at several one-room schools in the Oswego area until 1863 when she left the profession to marry and raise a family. Four generations of her family have continued the tradition of educating others with some still teaching today in the Oswego SD308 schools.
DISCOVER WAYS TO CONNECT TO WOMEN’S HISTORY
Smithsonian Women’s History – Discover stories, news, and online events.
National Women’s History Museum – Explore biographies, online exhibits, and articles. Participate from home in a historic journaling initiative by clicking here
A TASTE OF HISTORY – WINTER HOLIDAY COLLECTION
This past winter we delighted in specially curated recipes from the collections of the Little White School Museum. Try creating a sweet treat from the past, re-discover a family favorite or start a new tradition of tasting history! Throughout the season, we featured recipes from the compilation cookbook, Favorite Recipes Compiled by Oswego Schools Cafeteria Ladies, 1975.
Toffee Cookie 
Toffee Cookie Video Instruction Here
Toffee Cookie Printable Recipe
Quick & Easy Brownies
Quick & Easy Brownies Printable Recipe
Peppermint Delight Pie
Peppermint Delight Pie Instruction
Peppermint Delight Pie Printable Recipe
Peanut Butter Fingers
Peanut Butter Fingers Printable Recipe
Explore and Do
- Exhibit Scene Activities – Look and find, recreate, imagine a story, and more! Peek into the past with this exhibit scene and explore all the fun you can have with it!
- KidCitizen – Connect the past to the present through primary sources and engaging interactive activities for kids of all ages.
- Midewin At Home: #AllInIllinois Webinar Series – Gain information on natural resources & conservation topics with ties to the prairie.
- National Archives – Experience U.S. History through a variety of resources for research, learning or fun.
- Outdoor I Spy Heritage Park– Stroll through the park at the museum and try to see what you can spy with your detective eye!
- Smithsonian Digital Volunteer – Help transcribe historical documents and data while learning and making your mark in history!
- Smithsonian’s History Explorer – Dive into history from daily life to pop culture through through video, activities and more.
- Twisted Timeline – Untangle the historic events listed and match them with the correct year.
- Tour – Historic Downtown – Explore downtown Oswego virtually or by foot.
- Tour – Stonehouse Walking Tour – Discover local stonehouses virtually or by foot.
- U.S. Military Veteran photographs of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
History from Home – Virtual Visits
Little White School Museum Gallery
- American Battlefield Trust
- Anne Frank House
- Google Arts & Culture
- History of Science Museum
- Little White School Museum Gallery Tour
- The Museum of Flight
- NASA
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- National Women’s History Museum
- Oswegoland Remembers Those Who Served
- The Olympic Museum
- Smithsonian Museum of American History
Fun First Facts!
- Do you know when the first traffic light was installed in Oswego? How about the telephone? First business? Discover fun facts and interesting info in our Oswego Firsts Brochure.
Local History Resources
- Kendall County GenWeb (excellent local history site)
- Kendall County Historical Society
- Oswego Public Library
- Aurora Historical Society
- Illinois Trails History and Genealogy
- Batavia Historical Society
- Geneva Historical Society
- Naper Settlement
- St. Charles Heritage Center
- Joliet Area Historical Museum
- History on the Fox