ALTON — An author will talk about her efforts to document the Civilian Conservation Corps’ activities in southern Illinois at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11, at the First Unitarian Church, 110 E. Third St.
Kay Rippelmeyer’s presentation will be about the work and activities of the 28 Civilian Conservation Corps camps in southern Illinois, including the two camps at Giant City State Park from 1933 to 1941. She will also discuss information about the camp in Pere Marquette State Park near Grafton. She will bring copies of her two publications, “Giant City State Park and the Civilian Conservation Corps” and “The Civilian Conservation Corps in Southern Illinois, 1933-1942” to sell to interested members. Much of her writing is about the corps’ philosophy and its role in the country’s environmental history. She will also display archival photographs.
Rippelmeyer was born on a farm near Valmeyer in Monroe County. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from University of Illinois in English education, she went on to finish a master’s degree in literature at Southern Illinois University and completed coursework for a doctorate in American culture.
Attendees and friends are invited to have dinner and meet the speaker at 5:30 p.m. at Princivalli’s Restaurant, 602 E. Third St., Alton. The event is sponsored by the Piasa Palisades Group of the Sierra Club.