Elizabeth Donoghue

Fuller Visionaries: From Illinois to the World

What can bold lives from the past teach us about navigating an uncertain future, from right here in Illinois?

Fuller Visionaries: From Illinois to the World explores the legacy of two remarkable relatives: Margaret Fuller, a groundbreaking 19th-century writer whose 1843 journey in Illinois inspired reflections on nature, Native history, and justice; and her great-nephew Buckminster Fuller, a pioneering futurist who patented the geodesic dome, built his career in Chicago and launched a global design revolution from Southern Illinois to work for solutions for “100% of humanity.”

Though separated by nearly a century, both lived beyond the limits of their time. Margaret laid the groundwork for the feminist movement; Bucky is widely considered a father of modern sustainability.

Centered around the work and unique archives of the Fuller Dome Home Museum which restored and now stewards the only geodesic dome Fuller ever lived in, this presentation offers more than history. It’s a call to consider how legacy is transmitted, how bold ideas take root, and what it means to live with imagination and purpose when the world needs both now more than ever.

Audience Recommendations

This presentation is ideal for audiences ranging from college students to lifelong learners. It is especially well-suited for adult and intergenerational audiences, and may be adapted for high school juniors and seniors with a strong interest in history, ideas, or civic engagement. 

Program Logistics

This 75-minute program includes a 45-to-50-minute talk, followed by an open Q&A and discussion lasting up to 25 minutes, depending on audience interest and engagement. The host should provide a microphone, projector, screen, podium, a computer capable of running a PowerPoint presentation, and, if available, a stool for the Q&A and discussion portion. Optionally, the host may provide a table for printed materials related to the Fuller Dome Home Museum, though the presentation is effective without it.

Audio or video recording is permitted by the host only, for non-commercial purposes or for attendees who are unable to participate live. Any additional use requires advance approval in writing by Elizabeth Donoghue.

Audience members will be offered a QR code linking to further reading and archival resources related to Margaret and Buckminster Fuller. A PDF version will also be available for those who prefer print formats.