Don

Don has been a McHenry County resident all of his life. His parents moved to the area in the late 1940s. His mother served as McHenry County Home Advisor in the early 1950s and, for more than 25 years, taught fourth grade and developed gifted education programs within the Johnsburg School District. His father taught sixth grade in Antioch and other Lake County schools. Don has contributed to the museum's collection and served as an MCHS volunteer since 2008. He joined our board in 2011. He coordinates our use of technology and provides support in other areas including strategy. Don retired from Follett in 2003 after more than 20 years helping school and special libraries throughout the U.S. automate their collections. In the 1970s and ’80s Don worked as a professional photographer, later owning a photo-finishing center and camera shop in Crystal Lake. It also housed a commercial studio, rental darkrooms, and a small photographic museum. Today, he's partner with Chuck Follett in Bulldog Antiques, LLC of Marengo, Illinois.
Don has been involved with many organizations over the years, including the Society of American Archivists, American Association of State and Local History, Illinois Association of Museums, Software Publishers Association, Certified Photographic Counselors, Chicago Area Photographic Collectors, Boy Scouts of America, Smithsonian Institution, American Library Association, Chicago History Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, Lake County Discovery Museum, Photopeople, Applepeople, Macadamia and is past President and Director of the Northwest Area Arts Council.
Don is an award-winning photographer and has published articles related to photographic preservation and technology progress. He consults in these areas.
Don was attracted back to our historical society by the opportunity to help educate residents about the significance of local history. His wife, Tracie, served on the McHenry County Historic Preservation Study Committee with former administrator Nancy Fike, working to create the MCHP Commission in the early 1990s.
He is energized by our educational potential, our great core of volunteers and the care our staff takes along the way.