Who we are
The Luecht Historical Collection began twenty-seven years ago, originating from Mike Luecht’s interest in acquiring items relevant to the history of the United States and beyond.
At The Luecht Historical Collection, our aim is to present history factually and without opinion. Ideally, our collection is experienced by each individual in their own way, through a lens of fairness and with respect for historical accuracy.
For many years, The Luecht Historical Collection grew while housed in a private location. Over time, we began inviting individuals, students, and groups to visit the collection. During that period, there was also increasing frustration across our country with the lack of civility and the general decline in constructive collaboration.
An opportunity emerged. With TLHC as a platform, we expanded gatherings designed to encourage learning and the exchange of ideas, allowing people to engage with and draw inspiration from the collection. These efforts have proven successful, and notably, in a nonpartisan manner. Just as importantly, they have been enjoyable, bringing together individuals from all walks of life, exactly as we envisioned.
We have also developed and led leadership programming, which is a central focus of TLHC, particularly for young people.
In 2025, The Luecht Historical Collection was relocated to McHenry County College, where programming continues to grow. We are watching this growth help advance our enduring goal: that we all strive for comprehensive solutions for the common good while recognizing that every life on this earth is of equal value.
Mike Luecht, Founder
Mike Luecht’s passion for history, education, and community is the driving force behind making The Luecht Historical Collection available to students, community groups, researchers, and others.
Luecht is also passionate about encouraging civility, the productive exchange of ideas that lead to solutions, and advocating that collaboration is inherently powerful. The collection and its programming is a platform for people to experience those beliefs.
Luecht spent more than 17 years as founder and CEO of Illinois-based ML Realty Partners, a commercial real estate ownership company that has been active in various markets throughout the country. Previously, he worked for 14 years at the McShane Companies, where he served as a company president.
He has also served on various corporate and community boards, as well as advised leadership at numerous organizations. Beyond the business world, Luecht focused on agencies assisting victims of domestic violence, organizations providing mental health services, and others serving people in need of basic resources.
His greatest focus, however, has been education access initiatives. These have ranged from scholarship and mentoring programs he founded in Chicago and elsewhere to the Luechts being an integral part of the Promise Program, which offered free tuition to McHenry County College students during the global financial crisis in the late 2000’s. It is in that same spirit, a belief in access and opportunity, that The Luecht Historical Collection now resides at MCC.
Luecht has been inducted into the Chicago Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame, is a requested speaker on leadership, and was a Fellow at Leadership Greater Chicago.
We would like to thank Mr. Brandon Cipolla for his excellent research and overall extraordinary efforts.
Additionally, we would like to thank Sarah Sullivan, Lisa Pettinelli, Michelle Obrochta, Christina Haggerty, Carrie Schirmacher, Lisa Waggoner, Helen Mora, Sue Dobbe, Morgan Leahy, Larry Turner, Jay Thompson, among many others, for their impactful work furthering the mission of The Luecht Historical Collection.
To contact The Luecht Historical Collection:
info@thelhc.org