The Prairie Landscape

The Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award - 2006


JoAnn Rayfield

Nominated By The Honorable Chris Koos


Normal


JoAnn Rayfield

JoAnn Rayfield, Archives Specialist for Illinois State University (ISU)'s Milner Library, has taken on the task of preserving and sharing the rich history of the University, founded in 1857, and the community that grew up around it. Ms. Rayfield has the ability to show how the past matters to the present. She develops projects to create wider access to ISU's collections. For example, she edits and posts online the text of letters, news clippings, and other historical documents related to the 29 ISU students who served in World War I. Her work on the history of Normal is exemplified by her service on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Soldier's and Sailor's Children's Home Historical Society, a (former?) state orphanage for children orphaned or economically displaced due to war service by their parents. Ms. Rayfield is currently assisting with oral history, photo-collecting, and exhibit projects as well as the publication of an illustrated history of the Home. She is also busy preparing for the 150 anniversary of ISU, "enabling," as Mayor Chris Koos puts it, "the dissemination of memory—memory that builds community."

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