The Forgotten Eldorado Story: One Town’s Journey to “Sundown” - Sterling/Rock Falls Historical Society

A free public history talk co-presented by Sterling Public Library and the Sterling/Rock Falls Historical Society, given by Clifton Jackson, a member of the Illinois State Historical Society. In the library’s own words: “The presentation on the forgotten story of Eldorado, Illinois, involves the story of a man named Jefferson Douglass Alston. He was born a slave, became an educator and teacher and community leader, and set out on a lifelong career of advancing education for black youths in the community. The heart of the story involves his mission and a school he started in Eldorado, Illinois, based on the Tuskegee model.” The library adds that the talk “will start promptly at 2 pm and will last 90 minutes” and that the event “is co-presented by the Illinois Humanities Road Scholars Speakers Bureau”, whose speakers give “free, dynamic presentations” at no cost to host organizations.