Sangamon Sun

Six Illinois graduate students will explore diverse subjects in depth thanks to the largesse of the late King Hostick, who was a Springfield manuscript dealer, history lover and scholar.

A total of $15,900 in scholarships was recently allotted to the researchers hailing from various locales and universities to support their work about Illinois history, carrying out their research specifically at Illinois institutions such as libraries, museums or archives.

“It’s an honor for us … to help carry on (Hostick’s) legacy by awarding these scholarships,” Heidi Brown-McCreery, director of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, said.

Elizabeth Jean Stigler of Berwyn will write her dissertation on Chicago’s Czech-American community; Brady Winslow of Fort Worth, Texas, will write on the 19th century Hancock County Mormon-founded community of Nauvoo. 

Marcos Reynolds from Ashmore will research wage garnishing’s effect on Chicago’s minorities in the mid-20th century, while Joseph Otto of Norman, Oklahoma, will focus on Midwestern agricultural water management. 

Morgan Shahan from Baltimore, Maryland, plans a project on deviancy among parolees in the early 20th century. Finally, David Tiedemann of London will write about Britain and the U.S. at World’s Fairs in the late 19th century.

"It is a delight to have so many qualified candidates from around the nation – and sometimes from around the world – seek out Illinois research institutions to complete their graduate studies,” William Furry, executive director of the Illinois State Historical Society, said. “We look forward to meeting these young scholars and to reading about what they discover."