Everyone is welcome at our monthly meetings

NOTICE: We're meeting at the Blossom Cafe Restaurant, 8349 West Lawrence, Norridge, for 2025-26.


January 9th
Guy Fraker on Lincoln the Lawyer

Consulting with Lincoln scholars, Guy Fraker realized that Lincoln's formative years on the Eighth Judicial Circuit had never been deeply explored. This led him to the counties of the circuit, examining the nature of his cases, the identity of his clients, opponents, associates, and the towns to which he regularly traveled. From this came his Lincoln's Ladder to the Presidency, the Eighth Judicial Circuit, which was published in 2012, with a paperback edition reissued in October 2023. The second book, Looking for Lincoln in Illinois - a Guide to Lincoln's Eighth Judicial Circuit, was published in 2017. Fraker has written and spoken extensively about Lincoln on the Circuit, not only in the State of Illinois, but at various other venues around the country.

Retired Bloomington, Illinois lawyer Guy Fraker was consultant on and participant in Abraham Lincoln: Prelude to the Presidency, an award-winning nationally distributed documentary produced by WILL-TV (PBS) He was Co-curator of Prologue to the Presidency, a permanent exhibit at the David Davis Mansion, a state historical site in Bloomington, IL.

For our 2025-2026 program year, we proudly welcome these outstanding speakers:

Sept. 12th: James Pula on "Dan Butterfield"
Oct. 10th: Kim Harris as "Libby Custer"
Nov. 14th: Chris Kolakowski on "Civil War to World War: Simon Bolivar Buckner Sr. and Jr."
Dec. 12th: Brian Jordan on "Marching Home: Union Veterans and Their Unending Civil War"
Jan. 9th, 2026: Guy Fraker on "Lincoln the Lawyer"
Feb. 13th: Keith Bohannon on "Wheeler's Cavalry in the Atlanta Campaign"
Mar. 13th: Clifford Roberts on "Castle Pinckney"
Apr. 10th: Wayne Motts, The Nevins-Freeman Address
May 8th: Chris Mackowski on "A Tempest of Iron and Lead: The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House"
June 12th: Alex Rossino on "Confederate Plans for Maryland"

Copies of recorded meetings are available for a small charge. Click here for a printable list of recorded meetings. More current meetings can be viewed on Youtube.

Our meetings are held at:

Blossom Cafe
8349 West Lawrence, Norridge (corner of Lawrence and Cumberland)
Parking at the Blossom Cafe is FREE
Map and Directions

Dinner $50.00 Members and Non- Members
Cocktails at 5:30, Dinner at 6:30

Presentation only is $10 per person.
Payable at the door, cash or check. Be there by 7:15. For those attending the presentation only, your reservation is appreciated but not required.
Dinner reservations should be received by Sunday evening prior to the meeting.
Please make your reservation in advance by emailing DinnerReservations@ChicagoCWRT.org with the names of your party or by calling (630) 460-1865
Cancellations: email us at DinnerReservations@ChicagoCWRT.org  or call (630) 460-1865
Copyright 2009, The Civil War Round Table of Chicago.