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About the Palatine Historical Society

Our Mission

The primary purpose of the Palatine Historical Society is to collect, preserve, study, interpret and exhibit significant materials relating to Palatine and Palatine Township, and to provide related educational services for the purpose of increasing and enriching public knowledge.

An important secondary objective is to operate Clayson House as a house museum in which the decoration and furnishing of its period rooms, and to some extent its library collections, illustrate the lifestyle of a middle class family in the Victorian period (1850-1900). In meeting this objective the Society will give precedence to objects with Palatine Township connections only when they are substantially as representative as others that can be acquired and used.

George Clayson

Who We Are

The Palatine Historical Society is dedicated to the collection, preservation and exhibition of local history and memorabilia. The Society raised $200,000 from 1976 to 1986 to restore the Clayson House Museum at 224 E. Palatine Road. Programs are offered free to the public at the Palatine Public Library the third Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm.

The Palatine Historical Society was organized in December of 1955. The Palatine Chamber of Commerce chose that year to celebrate the Palatine Centennial. The Centennial marked the 100th year since the building of the first Palatine railroad station. The celebration received wide coverage in the Herald newspapers. The year also saw the publication of the Palatine Centennial Book.

Our Board of Directors & Officers

President, Kathie McCarthy

First Vice President, (Open)

Second Vice President, Nancy Cairns

Corresponding Secretary, (Open)

Recording Secretary, Tracy Seebacher

Treasurer, Greg Langer

Long Range Goals, Marlee Buenrrostro

Palaver and Social Media, Lesley Hansen

Publicity, Sue Minott

Ways and Means, Open

Webmaster, David Hammer

Archives, Ken Gorham

Collections and Inventory, Bev Keagle

Exhibitions, Open

History, Joe Petykowski

Library, Open

Textiles, Holly Petersen

PHS Board of Directors

Museum Caretaker, David Hammer

Palatine Public Library Liaison, Art Krull

Palatine Park District Liaison, Alec Owens

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.

– Marcus Garvey