STOCKTON — Stockton Heritage Museum will host a presentation by Diana Dretske at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 16, at the Stockton Heritage Museum, 107 West Front Street, Stockton.

Dretske will discuss her recently published book, “The Bonds of War: A Story of Immigrants and Esprit de Corps in Company C, 96th Illinois Volunteer Infantry (Southern Illinois University Press)”. The book has been awarded a “Best in Illinois” Certificate of Excellence from the Illinois State Historical Society, and a finalist for the 2021 Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Awards. 

The book is a collective biography inspired by a portrait in the collections of the Bess Bower Dunn Museum of five immigrants from Britain and Ireland, who served in the American Civil War. The presentation will include the formation of the 96th Illinois Volunteer Infantry as a joint venture of Jo Daviess County and Lake County, her research to identify the men in the portrait, and the significance of immigrants’ voluntary military service and their desire to be recognized as American citizens.

This program will include time for questions and answers.

Diana Dretske is the senior curator and Lake County historian for the Lake County Forest Preserves’ Bess Bower Dunn Museum. She has researched the history of northeastern Illinois for over 30 years, and published three books on Lake County, Illinois. Dretske is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Illinois State Historical Society for her outstanding contributions in promoting, preserving and commemorating Illinois history.

The event is free and open to all audiences. For more information, visit www.stocktonheritagemuseum.org; on Facebook: Stockton-Heritage-Museum-309324911534; email info@stocktonheritagemuseum.org; or leave a message at 815-947-2220.  

Stockton Heritage Museum is a not-for-profit entity dedicated to the preservation and teaching of Stockton area history. Visit the museum May-October, on Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., or by appointment. For more information, email info@stocktonheritagemuseum.org.