“Don your red, white and blue to join us for a Celebration of Liberty.” —Connie Barkley and Erica Meyer, co-chairs of the June 19 gala hosted by the Guild at the Chicago History Museum
The team of Connie Barkley and Erica Meyer means magic for Chicago History Museum Guild events and we are betting on their revolutionary touches to make the evening unforgettable. The Guild, founded in 1948 by women civic leaders, planned the gala in anticipation of the grand re-opening of the “Facing Freedom” exhibition on July 4 and “US at 250: Civic Action in Chicago” when visitors are invited to engage in their own lived experiences through artistic interpretation, exhibitions and educational programming throughout 2026.
“A Celebration of Liberty” begins with a dialog between Sarah Botstein, Executive Producer of Ken Burns’ The American Revolution and Chicago Public Television’s Geoffrey Baer, followed by cocktails and dinner with an Americana theme.
Barkley and Meyer could write the book on how to be a gala co-chair. Barkley shared that she only agreed to chair if Meyer agreed to co-chair. Remembering when they led an event featuring the former CIA agent Valerie Plame and the co-chairs dressed in trenchcoats and asked servers to pass hors d’oeuvres in open attaché cases, I had to ask their secrets of success which of course begin with the Guild itself.
“The Guild is a lovely group of women who are interested in history and are committed to serving the Museum,” Barkley said. “The Museum is small enough to really get involved, and it is a wonderful place. It is combining both U.S. and Chicago history in celebrating America250.”
To Meyer, the secret to their party partnership is that they are a good team, each with complementary skills. “Connie has just a fine visual eye. No one creates a more beautiful table. I think I am better at coming up with quirky ideas,” she said.
Meyer shared some secrets of a gala co-chair.
“I was delighted to have been asked by Connie to co-chair the Guild’s gala on June 19th celebrating our country’s 250th birthday and in anticipation of the grand re-opening of the Facing Freedom exhibition.
“It is particularly special for me because I have had such wonderful experiences working with Connie on past events and programs involving the Guild. In fact, if memory serves, this will be the fourth gala event we have co-chaired over the past 20 years!
“Our most recent effort was the evening celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire in 2021, where Connie persuaded the CFD to station a fire truck in front of the Museum to welcome guests, decked out the Museum in fire-themed décor… including the Museum’s rarely seen Chicago Cow in honor of the exonerated Mrs. O’Leary! She even recruited involvement with stars of NBC’s Chicago Fire and persuaded Fire Chief Annette Nance-Holt to join in the fun!
“Another memorable evening was when Connie’s magic worked for the gala celebrating the opening of an exhibition devoted to spies entitled ‘An Evening of Intrigue’ — for which guests were greeted by young people dressed as historically famous (actually, infamous) spies! Different levels of tickets and sponsorships featured ‘Intriguing’ titles and even the dinner menu was punctuated by delights like ‘Chocolate Bomb(e)’ for dessert. The stars of this show were MaryAnn Ahearn interviewing former CIA agent Valerie Plame who regaled guests with secrets from her past. How Connie scored such a double coup is just another example of her expanse of ideas and persistence in bringing them to fruition!
“I was also fortunate to work with her on the gala opening of ‘Big Picture,’ an exhibit highlighting Chicago artists of yore in which the painting of a showgirl known as ‘Lotta Crabtree’ provided a visual theme for the evening which served up a silent auction of donated art along with an ‘artistic dinner’ and even hors d’oeuvres served on painters’ palettes printed depicting the lady herself: ‘Lotta Crabtree!’”
Barkley’s and Meyer’s designs combine beauty and whimsy and are guaranteed to be unforgettable. Meyer reports that artistry came at a young age from her mother who loved colorful surprises. “My sister and I were walking home from school and she turned to me when we were almost there to ask: ‘Was our front door yellow when we left for school?’ The answer was no, our mother had just painted it and it looked beautiful. She always encouraged us to let our imagination run wild.”
Jill Kirk serves as President of the Guild Board of Directors and gala committee members are Melissa Babcock, Rebecca Bathke, Darcy Evon, Rhonda Marcucci, Lynn Orschel, Scottie Perry, and Sally Sprowl. Liz Stiffel serves as Honorary Chair. Michael Anderson is Interim President and CEO of the History Museum. Guests are encouraged to come on their own or with friends, “revolutionary garb optional.”
For further information about “A Celebration of Liberty” contact Kimberly Bill at (312) 799-2112 or kbill@chicagohistory.org.
