Sunday December 7, 2025
Holiday Potluck and Speaker Program
Evanston Public Library
“Chief Robinson, Robinson Family Cemetery:
History of a Native American Cemetery and
Land-scape Changes Due to Vandalism and Environmental Impact”
Speaker: Daniel T. Melone
Illinois State Archaeological Survey
CAS Board Member
In-Person and via Zoom
https://us06web.zoom.us/ j/85462501184?pwd=BTLgQexnvNf5DOAazGpa xkHh2ASRt2.1
Passcode: 076636
Doors open at 1:00 or 1:30 for Potluck
Zoom opens at 2:15pm CST
Announcements and Program start at 2:30pm CDT
BIOGRAPHY
For over twenty years, Dan has conducted archaeological research within the Chicagoland area, Great Lakes Region, and Kenya. His research focuses on urban archaeology, history, and environmental studies, including pre-and post-contact periods,18th &19th Century Euro-American and Indigenous trade, urbanism, and Indigenous removal. Dan has personally documented hundreds of sites over the years, which he has compiled into a large geospatial database. This includes Indigenous and settler sites within Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.
His M.A. thesis: 1) examined the interaction between culturally distinct groups and identified the socio-cultural impact these forces had on past Indigenous identity; and 2) identified how colonialism, settlement, and removal influenced 20th & 21stCentury heritage memory and its continued impact on current social issues, making it relevant to First Nation groups today.
Dan works with Menominee and Potawatomi descendants of Chief Alexander Robinson (Che-Che-Pin-Qua), documenting the history of the Chief, his family, and cemetery, and is their appointed Family Historian. Dan was honored to be named the City Archaeologist of Palos Hills and a Board Member for the Chicago Archaeological Society.
In Kenya, Dan’s research focuses on prehistoric site survey and ethnographic studies. He also owns a coffee farm in Western Kenya.
Our CAS Sunday meetings are free and open to the Public
supported by our paid membership and other donations
