Pope County Historical Society - The Packet

06/01/2026

05/25/2026

Reminder -
Join us at the Pope County Historical Society Museum in Golconda at 6 p.m. on
Tuesday, May 26 for a discussion of resources available to those researching family history and local history in the county. We will discuss published resources, the courthouse, the library, as well as demonstrate the growing collection of scanned
records, published and original, available to members on the Historical Society website (www.popecoilhs.org).
We will also discuss the application process to get your Pope County ancestor recognized as a Pope Pioneer.

Pope County Illinois was created in 1816. The society has worked since 1966 to collect artifacts and items of interest regarding the county's history. Family genealogy is important to the society.

05/14/2026

Get your Raffle tickets! We are having a Spring Raffle. Tickets can be purchased at the Museum (items on display there) or the Not-So-New (photos available). Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. You select the items you want to purchase tickets for. Drawing will be Sunday, May 31st, 3pm. You do not need to be present to win. Proceeds go to the Building Fund.

05/14/2026

If you want to have an interesting time this Sunday, come to the Vienna (IL) Cemetery for a lesson in grave witching with Funeral Director Brian Bailey! It will start at 2:30, and we will have witching sticks available. Postponed in case of bad weather.

05/11/2026

Join us at the Pope County Historical Society Museum in Golconda at 6 p.m. on
Tuesday, May 26 for a discussion of resources available to those researching family history and local history in the county. We will discuss published resources, the courthouse, the library, as well as demonstrate the growing collection of scanned
records, published and original, available to members on the Historical Society website (www.popecoilhs.org).
We will also discuss the application process to get your Pope County ancestor recognized as a Pope Pioneer.

Pope County Illinois was created in 1816. The society has worked since 1966 to collect artifacts and items of interest regarding the county's history. Family genealogy is important to the society.

04/24/2026

Reminder join us for our
Program on Miller's Grove Tuesday April 28th, 6pm. Mary McCorvie will discuss "The Miller Grove Community in Pope County"
Miller Grove represents the archaeological remains of a Black American farming community in southern Illinois. Established circa 1845, prior to the Civil War, the community flourished throughout the mid- and late-nineteenth century and experienced a gradual decline in the early twentieth century. The U.S. Forest Service acquired the land during the mid-1930s while a 20-acre parcel has remained in private property.
Although surrounded by forest and farmland, Miller Grove was not an isolated settlement. Rather, it was part of a regional network of similar communities bound by strong family, religious, and social connections. The remains of the community include 33 distinct archaeological sites and two cultural landscape features, 32 of which are located on federal land managed by the Shawnee National Forest (SNF), while one site is located on private property.
Among the earliest Black residents of the community were Harrison and Lucinda Miller, for whom the settlement is named. It is believed Miller Grove may have been part of the Underground Railroad between its settlement ca. 1845 to 1865.
Mary McCorvie worked as an archaeologist for 31 years and retired in 2021 as the Heritage Resource Manager, Shawnee National Forest. She has over 50 years of cultural resource management experience.
Programs are held at the Pope County Historical Society Museum Meeting Room. If you are unable to attend in person, the program will be Livestreamed on our page Pope County Historical Society – The Packet.