McHenry County College (MCC) is proud to announce that The Luecht Historical Collection has been relocated to the College by Mike and Judy Luecht, friends of MCC. It will reside on the College’s Crystal Lake main campus.
The collection contains more than 160 historical documents, including official materials, images, and memorabilia highlighting moments of United States and world history and important moments in time.
“The pieces in this collection are presented in the most factual way possible, accompanied by inspirational stories of leadership and connection,” said Mike Luecht. “It is our hope that when individuals experience the collection, they will see character-based leadership in action—and become inspired as a result.”
Since its inception nearly 25 years ago, The Luecht Historical Collection (TLHC) has been a private collection and just recently has been shared to encourage constructive dialogue and civil discourse, the exchange of ideas, education, social interaction, leadership development, and gratitude for those who help others.
“With its focus on learning, MCC is central to creating an environment of curiosity, inspiration, and innovation,” Luecht said of their choice to move the collection to the College. “For us, there’s no better location in the Chicagoland area, not only because of the continued passion and admiration we have for MCC, but also because the collection is housed in the heart of education and critical thinking.”
“We have seen the impact these pieces have made on all age groups when they visit,” Luecht stated. “Most importantly, this space is all about history, not politics. This allows each visitor to consume it in their own way, preferably through their own lens of fairness.”
Nathan Raab, a historian and one of the world’s most knowledgeable and respected experts in historical documents, said about TLHC, “The Luechts have assembled a world-class collection of historical documents that would be an asset to any organization. This gift of exhibiting it on a long-term basis is a clear demonstration of their continued dedication to universal access to education.”
By sharing the collection, the Luechts hope to encourage learning and the civil exchange of ideas, ultimately resulting in more people seeking comprehensive solutions for the common good. They plan to continue growing the collection, including the addition of interactive elements.
“The College’s goal is to give our community access to the collection for inspiration, education, and engagement,” said MCC President Dr. Clint Gabbard. “It will be available to faculty for use with students, in special events and lectures, for community groups, and more. We are deeply grateful to the Luechts for sharing this collection with us and are truly excited for the ways in which it will foster meaningful dialogue and elevate teaching and learning in our community.”
The onsite collection allows MCC students to spend time with and research artifacts directly related to the content their instructors present in class, while MCC instructors and staff will benefit from professional development opportunities tailored to various items. The space also expands learning opportunities for a variety of outside groups, including K-12 students and teachers, local nonprofits, businesses, and more.
The collection is located in MCC’s new Community Partner Suite, Room A229 at the College, next to the recently announced McHenry County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) office.
The College received a generous donation from a community member to complete the installation within the dedicated space. A special preview of the collection will be provided to MCC employees in late January, followed by a variety of opportunities for students, faculty, and community organizations to engage with the collection and its pieces. Additional information about how to view the collection will be provided in the coming months.