An Illinois Humanities group will visit Galesburg tonight to share a program with residents that certainly has historical ties to the area.
Boxcar communities will be the focal point of discussion at the Galesburg Public Library.
This isn’t the first history lesson on boxcar culture to come to the area. In 2013, filmmakers Luz and Will Shick first presented their documentary “Boxcar People” to a sold out crowd at the Orpheum Theatre.
Since then, another screening and multiple discussions have returned to discuss the segregated and often difficult lives of early immigrants from Mexico who established railroad in the area.
Tonight, Irene Ponce with The Hispanic Latino Resource Group Inc. tells Galesburg’s Evening News on WGIL that Dr. Antonio Delgado will present his program.
“He will focus primarily on the railroads that were essential to growth of the development of the United States since the 1910’s throughout the U.S.,” Ponce says. “Particularly in the Midwest, very large populations of Mexican immigrants were employed by railroads and as you know, Galesburg is a railroad hub.”
Ponce adds that the group felt because of Galesburg’s rail history, the program could “capture the audience.” The program begins at 6 p.m.
