Newsroom

Prairie State history is seldom as pristine as our cover might suggest.

Sometimes it is downright gritty…and then there are the horseflies and gnats. But it is always interesting and sometimes downright fascinating. The September-October issue offers so many examples, from the profiles of Ethel Mars, John Dos Passos, Harriett Rendall, and Ada Miser Kepley to the fascinating essay on Illinois Senator Stephen A. Douglas, author of the 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act, which propelled Abraham Lincoln into the White House, provoked a Civil War, and led to the Emancipation Proclamation. Douglas biographer Reg Ankrom opens a window to our past, where we can reflect on the unresolved conflicts that have contributed to our social unrest today. It’s all good reading in your Illinois Heritage.

Thanks again, to all of you who contributed to our COVID 19 appeal, which helped get us through a difficult summer. May you all stay well, and may the autumn fall colorfully, and gently, in Illinois.

Alexander Hesler’s companion portraits of presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln, taken in   Springfield on June 3, 1860, are stunning photographs. Exposed on 8” x 10” light-sensitive glass plates, the images are among the most eloquent and revealing of Illinois’ greatest statesman before he left Springfield for Washington.

Grayslake celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. Watch as Grayslake Historical Society board member Jane Trump shares stories and photos from Grayslake’s past and Bill Chapin of Chapin Jazz Studio plays popular tunes from each decade. Please enjoy this video presentation of the celebration of Grayslake's125th year. https://youtu.be/tP1mgLW26dA

The Spring 2020 issue of the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society is printed and should be arriving to members’ mailboxes in the next few days. 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 option under the "Support Us" tab for membership options and information. Click on the “Read More” button for a list of articles and reviews included in this issue.

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the state’s efforts to curtail the spread of the virus, we have opted not to host our Sesquicentennial House of Worship Awards Luncheon on September 26, but will, instead, hold an invitation for those to attend the next gathering, should our public health officials clear our path to do so in 2021. We regret having to cancel this important gathering of Illinois houses of worship, as it has become one of our favorite events. Letters confirming this will be sent out shortly to all who have applied.