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To our readers:

Traveling around Illinois is my job and my joy. Last month I visited Oregon, Princeton, Carbondale, Ottawa, Downers Grove, East Peoria, Pullman, Decatur, Centralia, and a zillion towns in between.  I chatted with librarians, church organists, receptionists, a couple of cops, and folks on the street and, guess what—the topic wasn’t the pandemic, it was Illinois history. I passed out copies of Illinois Heritage to dozens of potential new ISHS members, handed out business cards, showed off our new flashy holiday ornament, presented the Society’s new Lincoln-Douglass statuette (designed by sculptor John McClarey) to worthy donors, and even delivered poles to communities planning historical marker dedications.

But the thing that gives me more pleasure than traveling the state is sharing the latest issue of Illinois Heritage with you. This modest little magazine, now nearly 25 years old, is written by some of our most dedicated historians who continue to seek out and share new stories from our Prairie State past. Our family of history tellers grows with each issue too. These are extraordinary folks; I hope you’ve come to value them as I do. 

Thank you for being members of the Illinois State Historical Society. Thanks for being part of our history, and for letting us be part of yours.

Share your Heritage, be “Lincoln-hearted,” and have a safe and joyous equinox. 

William Furry
ISHS Executive Director

The Spring 2021 issue of the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society is printed and in the mail. 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 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.

Nine months into the state's bicentennial year, the Illinois State Historical Society continues to make the commemoration as memorable as possible. So far this year we have placed or scheduled 71 Lincoln portraits in county courthouses around the state; eight historical marker dedications will be carried out between now and October 30; the Society's 2018 Centennial Awards will handed out on Saturday, November 3 at the newly restored Illinois Governor's Mansion, and our 2018 Illinois History Symposium is scheduled for December 3.

The Illinois Heritage magazine gives our members and friends a chance to share their deep passion for Prairie State history. This issue includes article from contributors all across the state: Herbert Russell from Carbondale; Kathleen Spaltro from Woodstock; Mark Flotow from Springfield; John Hallwas from Macomb; Reg Ankrom from Quincy; Will Shannon from Belleville; and Keith Sculle from Williamsville and Steve Leonard from Rochester. Each article will bring you closer to the essence of Illinois and, perhaps, stoke your own creative fires.

Thank you for reading Illinois Heritage. Your membership and gifts keep this organization vital and relevant. We cannot serve Illinois history without you.