Illinois State Historical Society facts for kids
The Illinois State Historical Society (ISHS) is a group that helps people learn about the history of Illinois. It is a nonprofit group, which means it uses its money to help its cause, not to make a profit. The ISHS was started in 1899. It works to share historical information across the state.
Discovering Illinois History
The Illinois State Historical Society began with a clear goal. Its first job was to collect and publish old papers about Illinois' early days. People who had fought in the American Civil War and the families of early settlers wanted to know more. They were especially interested in how Illinois became a state before Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860.
Over time, the ISHS changed how it shared history. Instead of just publishing books, it started making magazines and holding special meetings. These meetings are called symposia. They gave historians a place to share their new discoveries. As more roads were built in Illinois in the early 1900s, the ISHS also began putting up historic markers along highways. These markers help people learn about important places as they travel. The Society mostly focused on the state's pioneer days and the 1800s.
ISHS Today: Sharing the Past
The Illinois State Historical Society used to be closely connected to the Illinois state government. However, in 1997, it became fully independent. This means it now operates as a private group.
Today, the ISHS continues its important work. It publishes two main things:
- The Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society: This is a serious magazine for historians. It comes out four times a year.
- Illinois Heritage: This is a newsletter with shorter history stories. It comes out every two months.
The Society also holds regular meetings and symposia. These events bring people together to discuss Illinois history. The ISHS also gives out small awards and scholarships. These help students and researchers continue to study the state's past. The group is now looking more at the social history of Illinois in the 1900s. This includes how people lived and worked during that time.
See also
- List of historical societies in Illinois
