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The Odell Public Library is bringing history to life for the students and adults of Odell! Ten nationally recognized historic impersonators will visit the Odell Grade School on each scheduled date at 1:50 p.m., followed by an evening program at the Odell Grade School for the general public at 7:00 p.m. on each each scheduled date.

The dates have all been scheduled:

• Abraham & Mary Todd Lincoln on Wednesday January 9
• Mark Twain on Wednesday February 6
• Thomas Jefferson on Wednesday February 13
• George Washington on Monday February 25
• Amelia Earhart on Wednesday March 5
• Theodore Roosevelt on Wednesday March 12
• Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross on Wednesday April 2
• Franklin D. Roosevelt on Wednesday April 9
• Thomas Edison on Monday April 21
• Harriet Tubman on Monday April 28.

"The ’Bringing History to Life’ grant is designed to instill the love & learning to the students of Odell. By bringing different historical impersonators who will do fun and engaging performances for the children, we hope that the kids will have an experience & educational experience that they will always remember!" said Eric Colclasure, Director of Odell Public Library District. "The library & schools are excited about this grant---it’s especially important to note that these impersonators aren’t mere look-alikes; they are all extremely knowledgeable about their characters, and are willing to answer questions from children & adults alike, and will do so in fun & entertaining ways!"

To prepare the students for each of these programs, the library will purchase documentary videos, which will be played in the classrooms just days before each impersonator is scheduled to visit the school. In addition, the library will purchase juvenile & adult biographies of each person being represented. "We are really excited about the potential of this program--we feel we’re getting some of the most knowledgeable & entertaining historical impersonators available. Several of the presenters have visited the White House & have been played their characters in numerous documentaries; it’s also fun to note that the gentleman playing George Washington will also play George Washington in the new National Treasure movie! Also, some of our speakers are willing to visit local nursing homes, Mark Twain will do a creative writing class for the kids, & Theodore Roosevelt will rededicate Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Pontiac (which was originally dedicated by Roosevelt while he was President in 1903).

This grant is a collaboration with the Odell Public Library District, Odell Grade School (OGS), St. Paul Grade School (which will bus its students to the afternoon assemblies at OGS, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. As part of this grant, the library will take 2 buses to the Abraham Lincoln Museum in Springfield on Saturday May 17.

The Odell Public Library is located at 301 E. Richard St. in Odell; the Odell Grade School is located 2 buildings east of the library. Please call the library for more information at (815) 998-2012.

Funding for this grant was awarded by the Illinois State Library (ISL), a Division of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), under the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

This article originally appeared in  ALS Today.