Illinois Heritage, May–June 2023

Volume 26, Number 2

To our readers:

In this issue we welcome Dr. John Hallwas as the Society’s 72nd president, succeeding Dr. Dan Monroe, who served the ISHS in two consecutive terms, shepherding us through the COVID pandemic and helping us celebrate our 120th year as the state’s premiere non-profit historical association. We thank Dan sincerely for his good work and leadership, and we look forward to John’s stewardship. As an ISHS member for decades and the state’s most widely published author on Illinois history (more than 30 titles), John is already working to bring the Society to new audiences through a new statewide memoir writing project, “The Land and the People Hold Memories.” (See pages 9 and 10 in this issue for more information.

In this issue we meet another Illinois woman artist, learn about another “Forgotten Voice from Illinois History,” are unsettled by the history of lynching in Illinois, and challenged to explore the stories of Illinoisans (Minnie Vautrin) whose courage under fire humbly inspires us to selfless acts of heroism. We also meet the recipients of this year’s “Best of Illinois History” awards, including Glennette Tilley Turner and Greg Koos, our remarkable Lifetime Achievement award winners, whose passion for truth-telling will be paying dividends to all of us for years to come.

Our thanks to Darrell and Susanne Holmquist of New Lenox, who recently sponsored 18 new social studies students and teachers as members of the ISHS, and to Bound to Stay Bound Books in Jacksonville, for helping sponsor a new  historical marker in Jacksonville. We value all the gifts and donations we receive to support the work of the Society. If you’d like to make a tax-deductible gift to the ISHS, please call me at 217-525-2781. I would love to talk to you about the future of Illinois history. 

Share your Heritage!

William Furry
Executive Director