BISHOP HILL — The Bishop Hill Heritage Association will host a program on Women’s Baseball in Illinois and the Midwest on May 2, 2026, as part of events marking America’s 250th birthday. Historian and librarian Anna Sielaff will present a look at the history of women’s baseball and Illinois’ role in the formation of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League. She will discuss the development of the sport from the 19th century through the league’s creation in 1943, along with teams that included the Rockford Peaches, Springfield Sallies, Peoria Redwings, and Chicago Colleens. The presentation will also cover uniforms, Charm School, and promotional efforts used during World War II.
The free one hour program will begin at 1 p.m. at the Steeple Building Museum, 103 North Bishop Hill Street. The event is co presented by the Illinois Humanities Road Scholars Speaker Bureau, which offers public programs across the state on a range of cultural and historical topics for nonprofit organizations. For more information, contact the Bishop Hill Heritage Association at 309 927 3899 or bhha@mymctc.net.