Local History Program Coordinator at the Pekin Public Library. I oversee the library’s local history room collection, write a weekly local history column/weblog for the library, and present local history programs at the library and in the community.

Author's Articles

One of the most prominent of Pekin’s community leaders in the earliest...

Jared L. Olar

July 28, 2022

This is a reprint of a “From the Local History Room” column...

Jared L. Olar

July 22, 2022

In September 2013 and January 2014, we recalled a dramatic story that...

Jared L. Olar

July 14, 2022

Earlier this year, another important part of the life of Nance Legins-Costley...

Jared L. Olar

June 23, 2022

Last week we reviewed the history of the 29th U.S. Colored Infantry,...

Jared L. Olar

June 16, 2022

With the approach of the Juneteenth holiday, it is a fitting time...

Jared L. Olar

June 9, 2022

The 1870-71 Sellers & Bates Pekin City Directory has a duplicate entry...

Jared L. Olar

June 2, 2022

This is a reprint of a “From the Local History Room” column...

Jared L. Olar

May 25, 2022

This is a reprint of a “From the Local History Room” column...

Jared L. Olar

May 19, 2022

This is a reprint of a “From the Local History Room” column...

Jared L. Olar

May 12, 2022

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