Centennial Business Awards
Honoring a century of industrial and economic innovation in Illinois.
Since 1984, the Illinois State Historical Society (ISHS) has presented Centennial Awards to Illinois businesses and not-for-profit organizations that have operated continuously in the state for 100 years or more. Previous ISHS Centennial honorees number more than 1,400 and have included banks, businesses, corporations, cemetery associations, libraries, private utility companies, country clubs, funeral homes, newspapers, union organizations, and municipalities.
Application Criteria & Excellence
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In order to participate in this event, the enclosed application should be completed and returned to the ISHS, along with appropriate documentation and a non-refundable payment of $50 (administrative fee). This fee supports the work of the ISHS, a private not-for-profit organization that receives no tax dollars from state government bodies.
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Applications may also be submitted by email or fax, accompanied by a Visa or MasterCard charge authorization.
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Photographs and press releases of all award winners will be sent to community and statewide media outlets. Recognition will also be found on the ISHS website.
Submission & Inquiries
Deadline for application submission is June 30, 2026
Please take this opportunity to complete the application, include copies of your appropriate documentation, and return it to the office of the Illinois State Historical Society.
Illinois State Historical Society
PO Box 1800
Springfield, IL
62705-1800
We look forward to recognizing you and the outstanding achievement of your Illinois centennial business or organization as part of our state’s history.
For more information, please call 217-525-2781 or email kim.jones@HistoryIllinois.org
Previous Recipients
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COMPANY
CITY
COUNTY
FOUNDED
A A S R Valley of Chicago
Warrenville
DuPage
1856
A B Dick Company
Chicago
Cook
1884
A C Steiner Shop
Plainfield
Will
1858
A Finkl and Sons Company
Chicago
Cook
1879
A L Randall Company
Prairie View
Lake
1888
A Lange Florist Inc
Oak Park
Cook
1887
A Lucas & Sons
Peoria
Peoria
1857
A M Castle Company
Franklin Park
Cook
1890
AAA-Chicago Motor Club
Aurora
Kane
1902
AT&T Technologies
Rolling Meadows
Cook
1872
Abbott Laboratories
Abbott Park
Lake
1888
Abraham Lincoln Association
Springfield
Sangamon
1908
Abramson & Fox
Chicago
Cook
1892
Acme Industrial Company
Carpentersville
Kane
1914
Acme Steel Company
Riverdale
Cook
1880
Addison Farmers Mutual Insurance Company
Lombard
DuPage
1852
Advocate
Clifton
Iroquois
1893
Ahlgrim and Sons Ltd
Schaumburg
Cook
1897
Albert F Amling Company/Amling ‘s Flowerland
Hinsdale
Cook/DuPage
1889
Albert J Wagner & Sons Inc
Chicago
Cook
1894
Albion District Mutual Windstorm & Cyclone Insurance
Albion
Edwards
1893
Albion Journal-Register
Albion
Edwards
1869
Aldon Company Inc
Waukegan
Lake
1904
Alexander Lumber Company
Aurora
Kane
1891
Allan & Otter Creek Mutual Insurance Company
Streator
LaSalle/Livingston
1874
Allendale Association
Villa Grove
Douglas
1897
Alliance Francaise de Chicago
Chicago
Cook
1897
Alphonsus Academy and Center for the Arts
Chicago
Cook
1882
Althea Chapter #206 Order of the Eastern Star
Naperville
DuPage/Will
1892
Alton Telegraph Printing Co
Alton
Madison
1836
Altschuler Funkey Loats Pilmer
Aurora
Kane
1879
Alvord Burdick & Howson LLC
Chicago
Cook
1886
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 241
Chicago
Cook
1902
Amboy News
Amboy
Lee
1854
Amcore Bank National Assn
Pekin
Tazewell
1887
Ameren CIPS
Springfield
Sangamon
1902
American Library Association
Chicago
Cook
1879
American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago
Chicago
Cook
1906
American Medical Association
Chicago
Cook
1847
American Messianic Fellowship
Lynwood
Cook
1891
American Savings Association
Springfield
Sangamon
1872
American School
Chicago
Cook
1897
American Union of Swedish Singers
Rockford
Winnebago
1892
American Wilbert Vault Corporation
Forest Park
Cook
1880
Anderson-Shumaker Co
Chicago
Cook
1902
Anderson’s Candy Shop Inc
Richmond
McHenry
1919
Anker Florist
Danville
Vermilion
1890
Anna L Parker Club
Macomb
McDonough
1899
Anti-Cruelty Society
Chicago
Cook
1899
Apollo Chorus of Chicago
Chicago
Cook
1872
Archbishop Quigley Preparatory School
Chicago
Cook
1905
Arcola Carnegie Public Library
Arcola
Douglas
1904
Arnstein & Lehr
Chicago
Cook
1893
Art Association of Jacksonville/David Strawn Art Gallery
Jacksonville
Morgan
1875
Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago
Cook
1879
Art Resources in Teaching
Chicago
Cook
1894
Arthur Graphic-Clarion
Arthur
Douglas
1887
As You Like It Club
Peoria
Peoria
1901
Ashland Sentinel
Ashland
Cass
1882
Ashton Gazette
Ashton
Lee
1895
Association House of Chicago
Chicago
Cook
1899
Auburn Citizen
Auburn
Sangamon
1874
Aucutt’s Inc
Montgomery
Kane
1897
Augustana College
Rock Island
Rock Island
1860
Augustana Hospital and Health Care Center
Chicago
Cook
1882
Aurora Beacon News
Aurora
Kane
1846
Aurora Historical Society
Aurora
Kane
1906
Aurora Metals Division LLC
Montgomery
Kane
1899
Aurora Public Library (Carnegie 1904)
Aurora
Kane
1881
Aurora University
Aurora
Kane
1893
Avon Sentinel
Avon
Fulton
1879
B F Kinder & Sons Inc
Des Plaines
Cook
1873
Baby Fold
Normal
McLean
1902
Bachrach Clothing Inc
Decatur
Macon
1877
Bainbridge Jewelry Company
Marion
Williamson
1882
Baird & Warner Inc
Chicago
Cook
1855
Baker Fentress & Company
Chicago
Cook
1891
Bakers Fine Furniture Inc
Dwight
Livingston
1855
Ball Horticultural Company
West Chicago
DuPage
1905
Bank One – Springfield
Springfield
Sangamon
1851
Bank of America NT & SA
Chicago
Cook
1857
Bank of Bluffs
Bluffs
Scott
1893
Bank of Dwight
Dwight
Livingston
1855
Bank of Edwardsville
Edwardsville
Madison
1868
Bank of Kampsville
Kampsville
Calhoun
1908
Barker Pharmacy
Rochelle
Ogle
1857
Barkett Funeral Home
Cairo
Alexander
1858
Barrett Heating & Cooling Inc
Alton
Madison
1896
Barrett Varnish Company
Cicero
Cook
1870
Barretts Inc Ace Hardware
Joliet
Will
1850
Barry Mutual Insurance Company
Barry
Pike
1875
Barry Public Library
Barry
Pike
1876
Batavia Public Library District
Batavia
Kane
1869
Baum’s Inc
Morris
Grundy
1874
Baxter Vineyards
Nauvoo
Hancock
1857
Beard & Stovall Inc
Woodstock
McHenry
1885
Beardstown Savings and Loan Association
Beardstown
Cass
1880
Becker Clothing Store
Morrisonville
Christian
1908
Becvar & Son Funeral Home Inc
Chicago
Cook
1907
Beidelman Furniture Inc
Naperville
DuPage
1861