Seeming to never tire, Marilyn Leyland was awarded a 2010 Women’s History Month award for her extensive work to impact the Peoria community. While history is clearly her love, she is committed to creating a better future for everyone.
She is currently in her second year as president of the Peoria Historical society. She is a John C. Flanagan House Museum Guide and Historical Trolley Tours . Leyland has a personal history she loves to share. Her father attended grade school with Betty Friedan and Leyland’s son was born on women’s equality day.
Leyland is a graduate of Peoria’s Bradley University. She received a master’s in journalism from Northwestern University. For five years, she wrote a column for Peoria’s Arts Alive magazine focusing not only fine arts, music and literature, but also on the manual and domestic arts. She has worked with Channy Lyons on the Illinois Women Artists Project.”
She is a member of the planning committee of the Peoria Riverfront Museum, the board of Library Friends of Cullom Davis Library, the Peoria Medical Alliance, and the Illinois State Medical Society Alliance.
She was named a Woman of the East Peoria Women’s Club for her involvement with the East Peoria Riverfront Development Commission. She has worked on ten Biennial Governor’s Conferences on the Management of the Illinois River System.
She was a member of the East Peoria centennial commission. She has been a member of the first East Peoria Festival of Lights Commission. She has served on the grade school board for a number of years.
Leyland called on her journalistic background and her love of history to produce pamphlets about Betty Friedan and Lydia Moss Bradley pamphlets for NOW—Peoria. These pamphlets are one of the most recent examples of the educational programs NOW—Peoria has carried out over the years in local schools.
To read about this year's recipients, click on the links below.
Comments