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Illinois Humanities is excited to announce two new traveling exhibitions, Voices and Votes: Democracy in America — which highlights America’s history of civic action and the results of that action — and the Illinois Freedom Project — an exhibition highlighting the pursuit of civil rights by and for African Americans in Illinois. These concurrent, complementary exhibitions, sponsored by Illinois Humanities, will visit six Illinois communities starting this July!

Four projects recently received grants from the Sangamon County Historical Society to fund special projects that help preserve and promote local history.

The ISHS is now offering this beautifully handcrafted snowflake ornament. It is made in the U.S.A. from solid brass with a gold finish. The ornament is digitally printed in several colors, includes the Illinois State Historical Society logo, and is packaged in an elegant gold box.

Voices and Votes: Democracy in America, the newest Museum on Main Street (MOMS) exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution will open to the public at the Madison County Administration Building, 157 North Main Street in Edwardsville, on Monday, July 19. Hours are 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. The exhibition, cohosted by the Madison County Historical Society (MCHS) and Madison County Government, is made possible in cooperation with Illinois Humanities. It will remain in Madison County through Friday, August 20.

To our readers:

In this issue of Illinois Heritage we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Illinois State Archives, the venerable institution that houses the state’s most important government records. We also announce the winners of the 2021 “Best of Illinois History” awards.

Contributor Clark “Bucky” Halker, labor historian and former director of Illinois Humanities, explores Illinois’ rich history of songwriting and labor activism for the earliest days of coal mining through the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), focusing on the strong religious roots of the movement. In his “Forgotten Voices of Illinois History” essay, John Hallwas reintroduces us to John Hay, the poet, biographer, diplomat, and statesman who had the ear of presidents from Lincoln to Roosevelt. Candace Summers writes about the relatively unknown Bloomington artist Emily Howard, and Todd Carr of Elizabethtown takes us on a spring waterfall hike in the Shawnee National Forest.

Thanks to all of you for renewing your membership in the Illinois State Historical Society. You sustain the great work that began in 1899, to “foster awareness, understanding, research, preservation, and recognition of history in Illinois.” With your continued support, Illinois history will always have a great future.