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

Following the conclusion of George Rogers Clark’s Illinois Campaign in 1779 during...

Jared L. Olar

February 9, 2018

On Friday, Feb. 2, at 11 a.m., the Pekin Public Library will...

Jared L. Olar

January 26, 2018

Viewers of the the PBS genealogy series “Finding Your Roots,” hosted by...

Jared L. Olar

January 22, 2018

French colonists were the first Europeans to settle in the Illinois Country...

Jared L. Olar

January 20, 2018

As we saw in this column last time, the vast Illinois Country...

Jared L. Olar

January 12, 2018

The British had possession of the Illinois Country for a mere 12...

Jared L. Olar

January 5, 2018

Previously in this column, we reviewed the period from the early 1600s...

Jared L. Olar

December 29, 2017

When French missionaries and explorers first came to the Illinois Country in...

Jared L. Olar

December 22, 2017

As we continue our series on the early history of Illinois, here’s...

Jared L. Olar

December 15, 2017

Last week we reviewed what Illinois was like during the latter 1600s,...

Jared L. Olar

December 8, 2017

Cities, towns, and counties across the state of Illinois held ceremonies today...

Jared L. Olar

December 4, 2017

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