News Archive

Congratulations to Robert Sampson, Ph.D., the new editor of the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, who replaces Dr. Mark Hubbard, former history professor at EIU, who served in this post for six years. Dr. Sampson, recently retired from the faculty at Millikin University, has been a member of the ISHS for more than 30 years and has written many articles for the Journal and Illinois Heritage. His dedication, expertise, and experience make him an excellent choice for this important responsibility. The Journal, established in 1908, is published for the Society by the University of Illinois Press.

Welcome, Bob! We look forward to long and productive partnership.

The William G. Pomeroy Foundation of Syracuse, New York, has awarded the Illinois State Historical Society a $40,000 grant to erect 25 new historical markers over the next three years. The markers, which were outlined in an ISHS initiative last summer, will commemorate African-American, Native American, and women’s history around the state.

Charlotte E. Johnson, Alton, has received the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Illinois State Historical Society (ISHS). The award was presented via Zoom on Friday, April 23, with ISHS Director William Furry and Cindy Reinhardt of the Madison County Historical Society (MCHS) delivering the award to her home Tuesday. MCHS nominated Johnson for the award which is given to individuals for sustained and varied contributions to state and local history.

Congratulations to this year’s achievers. You have given all of us much to discover. Thanks for your hard work and dedication to Prairie State history!

The COVID-19 pandemic was, despite the nationwide lockdown, a banner year for Prairie State history, as this year’s “Best of Illinois History Awards” attest. Nominations came in from all over the state and quite a few from beyond our perimeters, suggesting that Illinois “Wondrous Story” has wings.

This year’s Best of Illinois History harvest includes teachers and students, scholars and researchers, volunteers and professionals, writers and editors, and young and old—people from all walks of life who have broadened our knowledge of what it means to be an Illinoisan and to call this landscape home.

Click on the "Read More" button to view the full list of award winnters.

This issue of Illinois Heritage is delighted to share Prairie State history by some of our favorite contributors—John Hallwas, James Cornelius, Kristan McKinsey, Mark Sorensen, Beth Young and Bill Kemp—as well as a few new ones, including Dean Karau, whose original piece on Richard Carroll is a fascinating portrait of an African American man’s journey up from slavery to post-Civil War Illinois.

We also meet Christina M. Shutt, the new executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM), explore several central Illinois cemeteries, and contemplate the possibilities of the nation’s 250th birthday, which John Dichtl, CEO and President of the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), shares with us in his “Guestwork” piece. Also included in this issue is the Illinois Humanities (IH) Executive Summary, “On Wisdom and Vision: humanities organizations in Illinois during COVID-19,” which reflects on this past pandemic year and how more than 177 Illinois humanities-focused organizations weathered the storm.

Enjoy Illinois. Read Illinois history. Share your Heritage. Better yet, buy a membership for a friend. Some gifts never stop giving.

The Fall/Winter 2020 issue of the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society is printed. The Journal, the scholarly publication of the ISHS, is published quarterly and is a benefit of membership in the Illinois State Historical Society. Each issue includes articles, essays, book reviews, and documents about history, literature, art technology, law, and other subjects related to Illinois and the Midwest. Visit our Membership page for membership options and information. Click on the “Read More” button for a list of articles and reviews included in this issue.

The slate of new ISHS officers, directors, and advisers was approved by the ISHS Board at the February 20, 2021, board meeting. Our thanks to the Nominating Committee, shepherded by director Brian Mullgardt, for bringing the following qualified members forward for elected office. Nominees will be voted on at the 2021 Annual Meeting, scheduled for April 23, 2021. All Society members are invited to attend the virtual Annual Meeting, which will be held over the Zoom platform. Details will be available after April 5.

The ISHS has a new mailing address. Please address all correspondence to:

Illinois State Historical Society
PO Box 1800
Springfield, IL 62705-1800

Our physical location is still located at 5255 Shepherd Road, Springfield, IL.

Illinois History Day is a state-wide program that encourages students in grades 6-12 to create a variety of exciting research projects related to the annual theme. This year’s theme, selected by National History Day, is Communication in History: The Key to Understanding. Students from across the state spend months conducting extensive research and sharing their findings through exhibits, dramatic performances, documentaries, websites, and research papers. The students prepare their findings and present them at regional and state competitions in hopes of advancing to the national competition.

The Madison County Historical Society has donated to the Illinois State Archives original Civil War muster rolls, enlistment papers and miscellaneous documents related to the 144th Infantry Regiment, a state militia unit based out of Madison County.