Newsroom

Before Lincoln. . .
Before Lindsay. . .
There was John Hancock, the “Mysterious Bard of Sangamo,” a prolific and accomplished poet from the land of King Arthur who roamed the Sangamo Country from 1831-1847.

The Madison County Historical Society (MCHS) has added a gallery to the Archival Library so selected items from the Museum Collections can be available for public viewing while renovations continue at the Weir House.

Hi. I’m Bob Sampson, the new editor of the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society. Many of our individual and institutional subscribers have had questions about the Journal. Specifically, why has it not appeared regularly in the past two years?

The Jackson County Historical Society is excited to announce it has added more than a dozen new indexes to its website. The indexes contain more than 159,000 names including vital records (births, marriages and deaths thru 1925) early courthouse records (divorces, criminal complaints and insanity petitions) and obituaries/death notices through 2020. Copies of the records can be ordered through the Historical Society’s website. Visit us today at www.jchsil.org.

In this issue of Illinois Heritage, our contributors—Kristan McKinsey, John Hallwas, Beth Young, Martin Joyce, Greg Koos, James Cornelius, Cindy Reinhardt, Mark Sorensen, and others—offer a banquet of delights across the Prairie State, a sampling of art and literature, travel and letters, and history in the making.

The Illinois Heritage is just one of the benefits of being member of the Illinois State Historical Society. Members also receive the quarterly Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, a 20% discount on most Society publications, invitations to Society events, tours at a discounted rate, and are eligible to participate in Society elections and serve on the Society Board, Advisory Board, and Committees. 

Become a member today and help preserve and promote Illinois history.