Greater Chicago Region
About Us
Promoting the study and appreciation of Jane Austen, whose works transcend time.
Greater Chicagoland Chapter
As a local chapter of this esteemed society, we are dedicated to celebrating the life, works, and enduring legacy of Jane Austen. Our vibrant community brings together Austen enthusiasts from all walks of life, united by a shared passion for the beloved author and her captivating novels.
At the Greater Chicagoland Chapter, we strive to create an inclusive and welcoming environment where Austen devotees can gather, connect, and engage in all things Austen. We organize a variety of events throughout the year, including our highly anticipated Spring Gala and our charming Birthday Tea in December 8, commemorating Austen's birth.
Our chapter offers a range of activities and resources for Austen enthusiasts of every level, whether you are a lifelong fan or just discovering the magic of Austen's world. From engaging book clubs and thought-provoking discussions to lectures by esteemed scholars and Austen-themed outings, we provide a platform for deepening your understanding of Austen's works and fostering meaningful connections with fellow enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
The History of JASNA's Greater Chicago Region
By Duwanna Wall, Greater Chicago Region Archivist | 2012
The Greater Chicago Region of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) dates back all the way to the founding of the North American organization. At the very first Annual General Meeting (AGM) in October 1979, two Austen enthusiasts from Chicago, Cappie McQuarrie and Harriet Rylaarsdam, were inspired to form a region with Harriet becoming our first Regional Coordinator.
The JASNA Chicago Area Chapter, as we were first named, had a small membership of twenty and meetings were mostly held in people’s homes, discussing books and the theme of the Annual General Meeting. But soon Maggie Hunt Cohen became our second Regional Coordinator and seeing great potential for the Chicago region, proposed a Jane Austen Gala Day, a December birthday tea and a regional newsletter.
Just five short years after our founding, the regional membership stood at around one hundred and we needed to move out of people’s homes and to find full-service facilities, such as hotels, to accommodate the number of people wishing to attend our events. Because of these added expenses, annual dues were then instituted.
Banner at the 1988 AGM
This attention to organization was the foundation for our region to consider hosting an Annual General Meeting, and in 1985, our formal offer to be the host city in 1988 was enthusiastically accepted.
1988 Program
1988 Speaker List
We welcomed a record 325 members from all over North America and England to Chicago’s Palmer House Hotel on October 14-16, 1988 for our first hosted Annual General Meeting, “Jane Austen’s England.”
Attendees had fifteen breakout sessions available to select from, which you can read more about at 1988 Annual General Meeting.
​
The quilt, the pride and joy of our region was first unveiled at this AGM. Lovingly stitched by fifteen of our members, its design is based on the one displayed at the Jane Austen House Museum, Chawton.
Members of the Quilt Committee Pictured Here:
Hilary Bagnato, Marilyn Packer, Sherry Leonchik, Tammy Bretscher, Karen Fredrickson, Carol Sheldon, and Maggie Cantrall
1993 Flyer
After the AGM, we continued to grow in membership, and not content to rest on past successes, we continued to seek innovation in both programming and administration. In 1993, now known as the Illinois-Indiana Region, we hosted 300 attendees for a mini-AGM at a multi-regional meeting at the Drake Hotel.
Almost twenty years to the day after our first AGM, on October 2-5, 2008, the renamed Greater Chicago Region hosted Chicago’s second Annual General Meeting, “Jane Austen’s Legacy: Life, Love, & Laughter,” at the Westin Michigan Avenue Hotel.
This time the record-breaking attendance was 670 attendees, including guests traveling from all over North America, plus friends from the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and New Zealand. Members had a choice of 35 breakout sessions and something totally new for AGMs, 20 poster sessions.
.png)
2008 Program
As of 2012, the Greater Chicago Region numbers over 200 active members, and we continue to grow and present imaginative programming. In redesigning this website for the third time, our goal was not only to appeal to Austen enthusiasts but to expand our scope by providing learning resources and programming for those unable to come to our events.