The Early History of Bicycling in Illinois

About this event

Adults: 18 and up, Seniors: 55 and up, Teens: 13 to 19 years. Illinois Wesleyan University professor Chris Sweet will lead a talk on the role of the bicycle in Illinois history based on his new book: A History of Bicycling in Illinois: 160 Years of Booms and Busts (University of Illinois Press). This talk will focus primarily on the bicycle boom of the 1890s and will examine the intersections of bicycling with social issues, politics, religion, sport, technology, and economics. Attendees will have an opportunity to view antique bicycles (including a penny-farthing!) and bicycle artifacts from the author's collection. Chris Sweet is the Scholarly Communications and Information Literacy Librarian at Illinois Wesleyan University. He has written extensively about American bicycle history and topics within the field of library science. His experiences as a former professional triathlete and competitive cyclist helped to shape his bicycle history scholarship. Accessibility Need sign language interpretation or other accessibility assistance for this event? Please call (312) 747-8184 or email [email protected] to request accommodations. Requests must be made at least 14 business days before the event. Image: Western Wheel Works (bicycles), 1893, Box: 26, Folder 4 Trade Catalog Collection