Preserving Chicago Southland's
History Through Research & Education
Projects
The Southland History Collective presents a showcase of projects created through a collaboration of students, faculty, and community members at Governors State University. Explore the innovative and creative works that highlight Southland Chicago history. Each project is a testament to the evolving identity that makes this region unique and meaningful.
A place-based primary source reader for the Southland History Collective website that aligns with typical history curricula, offering diverse materials and teaching resources to engage students in exploring the American story through the lens of Chicago Southland's rich historical narrative.
This project focuses on the lead water crisis in University Park, IL. The project explores the history and development of University Park, the activities of Aqua Illinois, the private company that provides water for University Park, and how residents have been impacted by the crisis.
Centered on Southland sites, this mapping project provides a visualization of the pathways to freedom forged by formerly enslaved men and women between the 1830s and 1860s.
Peotone Mill Exhibit
A capstone History project by Justin George.
Monee Oral History Project
Initiated in 2024, this project explored public perception and memory surrounding the town's namesake, Marie Lefevre Bailly, a French Odawa woman.
This project explores the decades of water contamination in Crestwood and the role of government officials in the cover up.
