Do Everything
Each year in September we honor Willard’s birthday by exploring some aspect of her Do Everything leadership model. In past years, we have gathered on the front lawn of the Willard House to listen to guest speakers (including Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, pictured below) and held open houses and special tours. Cake is always a feature. During the pandemic we have hosted virtual events and highlighted the new digital projects completed by summer interns.
Jan Schakowsky, our keynote speaker in 2017 
Views: New Work in Women’s History
The Views program series explores new research and writing in women’s history. We have hosted in-person and virtual book talks and conversations with many authors on a wide range of topics. See below for some recent highlights.
Arts at the Willard House
The Arts at the Willard House program series activates and shares Evanston’s unique history and legacy of women’s artistry and activism. Through these in-person and virtual events, we connect the past to the present and highlight local artists of all ages and genres. Programs have ranged from performances of storytelling pieces and music to Handicraft Hours, where participants work on their craft of choice while discussing stories related to women’s handwork and viewing relevant items from our collections.
Youth Workshops and Field Trips
The Willard House gives tours for school field trips, clubs, Girl Scout troops, and more, as well as specialty youth workshops. In-person and virtual programs include an exploration of the house (complete with scavenger hunt!) followed by theatre games, storytelling and public speaking exercises, and craft projects.
