Lifetime
Achievement
Award

From 1979 until his retirement in 2016, John M. Hoffmann served as Director of the Illinois Historical Survey at the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign, which today is the Illinois History and Lincoln Collections. John was known among faculty, graduate students, and researchers as "a walking bibliography of Illinois history" for his ability to remember relevant articles and books from the early 20th century forward. He was born and raised in Springfield and earned his Ph.D. in American Studies at Harvard University in 1972. His work has appeared in the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, the Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association, and other scholarly periodicals. His research topics included Robert Todd Lincoln, the Battle of Gettysburg, and other Civil War battles, as well as his ongoing work about sculptor Leonard Volk. In 1991, Dr. Hoffmann edited A Guide to the History of Illinois, which became the standard reference source into archives and secondary reading; and in 2010, he wrote the book, Lincoln Hall at the University of Illinois, an illustrated architectural history that also explained the fourteen friezes of Lincoln and his era that adorn that building. All of these establish him as an important scholar of Illinois history.

For decades, John Hoffmann's fingerprints appeared on numerous projects heightening our understanding and appreciation of Illinois history. John M. Hoffmann's career, his service, represent the never-foot-noted pillar of enlivening and preserving Illinois history-inspiration. In his extensive career, he has inspired new generations to take up the cause, continuing to tell with new perspectives, the "wondrous history" of Illinois.

Emily Lyons grew up in Kaskaskia, the first Illinois state capital. Generations of her family have made that place home since 1710. That Kaskaskia is almost gone now, washed away over the years by two huge Mississippi River floods. Ms. Lyons, the town's de facto historian. has spent countless hours restoring historic buildings on the island. She oversaw the reconstruction of the Immaculate Conception Church at Kaskaskia after the 1993 flood.

A retired schoolteacher, Ms. Lyons serves as curator of the Randolph County Archives and Museum in Chester. ln 2014, she applied for and received a grant to process, rehouse, and index the Randolph County Court Case Files, 1809-1859, that were folded and stored in 1860-era metal storage boxes.

She is a founding member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Liberty Bell of the West chapter. She also serves as a board member of the Randolph Society, an honor society devoted to the recognition of prominent persons who have lived .in and contributed to Randolph County. She regularly volunteers at Fort Kaskaskia, the Pierre Menard Horne, the Creole House, and Fort de Chartres.

Lee Slider has devoted more than sixty years to the study, research, and promotion of historical understanding not only in Decatur but throughout Illinois and beyond. As a youth in the 1940s, Slider developed an interest in the Civil War, perhaps in part because of the presence in his family tree of participants in the conflict. Upon discharge from the Navy his goal was to become a history teacher and he pursued that vision at Millikin University but life-a wife and four children-provided new opportunities. Lee Slider never lost his love for the past and, perhaps more importantly, understanding and the ways it influences the present.

He helped revitalize the Macon County Historical Society, the Decatur Civil War Roundtable, and he was active in preserving several historic sites in his community, including the Governor Oglesby mansion. Among these efforts was the development of the Macon County Conservation District, which led to the Homestead Prairie Farm being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Mr. Slider led the effort from the late 1970s to 2000 to save a humble, five-room farmhouse from possible destruction and restore it to its mid- 19th century appearance. Lee Slider's interest in archaeology and indigenous peoples, environmental preservation, and Illinois history in general has inspired students of all ages, and his contributions to his com­munity's knowledge of central Illinois and American history continue to delight-and challenge-his many admirers.

Originally hired in 1977 as an archivist and site manager by McLean County Museum of History under the federal Comprehensive Employment and Training Act, Greg Koos turned that employment opportunity into a lifetime career. Greg quickly learned exhibit planning and display, public promotion, archival and artifact preservation, fundraising, and all the activities that a museum needs, eventually becoming the museum's director. Permanent exhibits were created for the museum’s new home in the former county courthouse. Under his leadership an endowment was created to sustain the MCMH, and he spearheaded a 21st century capital campaign to completely revamp and modernize those originalexhibits. Greg Koos has dedicated his life to McLean County history, knowing its value as more than amusing local lore. Knowledge of our common undertakings is a foundation for understanding who we are today. This has been Greg Koos' life mission. In his retirement years he has written not only one of the best of the "new" county histories but opened a new, oft-neglected field in ethnic studies focusing on rural Irish immigrant communities. Greg is not resting on his laurels, instead plunging into forgotten nooks and crannies of our past that can tell us much about our present and future."

Wheaton teacher, author, lecturer, consultant, and community activist who has researched the Underground Railroad for most of her life,Glennette Tilley Turner has had a long, prestigious career as the pre-eminent scholar of the Underground Railroad in Illinois. She has received countless accolades and honors for her work-DuPage County's Outstanding Woman Educator; an Illinois General Assembly citation for teaching; the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Honor Book for Excellence in Children's Literature; and the Wilbur Henry Siebert Award from the National Park Service for excellence in the field of the Underground Railroad, just to name a few. But it is her passion for sharing the history of Wheaton, Illinois's historic Black community that has endeared her to generations of neighbors in her community. As one letter writer wrote, "Her passion for educating children is endless and her impact is far reaching. Her many decades of service to the Vilheaton community have encouraged, fostered, and challenged so many of us to understand and think about Illinois history differently." "At 90-years young she continues to be a valuable resource to the community to help shed light on the Black history of Wheaton, beyond the Underground Railroad."

Mary Barringer has been a genealogist, cemetery plotter, and researcher for most of her adult life, seeking out and identifying the graves of central Illinois veterans who I ought in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Black Hawk War.

Larry McClellan Crete has researched and written about stations on the Underground Railroad in northeastern Illinois for decades, and has helped tell the story of Freedom Seekers, earning him a lifetime achievement nomination.

Mark Wyman served 35 years as a professor in the Department of History at Illinois State University. Wyman’s scholarly focus is on labor, cultural, and social history. He also assisted with research alongside the Bloomington-Normal Black Project regarding the history of de facto segregation in the area.

Wyman is the author of eight books and numerous essays and articles. Areas of 

Wyman’s writing range from his acclaimed transnational studies of return migration and displaced persons to more targeted work on the history of Illinois State and of the Parklands Foundation. The Mark Wyman Scholarship was established in 2004 in honor of Mark Wyman by family, friends, and colleagues. The scholarship is awarded to a student beginning his/her second semester majoring in history.

Charlotte E. Johnson of Alton has cast her shadow across southwest central Illinois for nearly 50 years as a researcher, genealogist, historian, teacher, and "encyclopedia of African American history." Nominated by the Madison County Historical Society, Johnson is recognized for her knowledge and expertise but also for her reputation as a historical resource and her generosity as researcher -hallmarks of her nomination letters of support. Ms. Johnson taught choral music in Chicago and Minneapolis before moving to Alton and becoming involved with the Black Pioneers of the Alton Museum, and later with the 20th Century African American Leaders of Alton exhibit. These contributions led to her work with the Springfield Bicentennial Commission's exhibit "If the Truth Be Told," and with the National Park Services and its Underground Railroad Freedom Project. According to SIU-School of Medicine's W.G. Robinson-McNeese, Director of Diversity Initiatives, "Charlotte's body of work is extensive. Her reputation in research is impeccable, and she is well respected by her peers."

Ann Darrow became a life member of the Waukegan Historical Society in 1989. Ann has been a dedicated volunteer for the organization for more than 30 years, serving on the Board of Directors as corresponding secretary from 1990-1998. She has put in countless hours for the Society. More importantly to the community, Ann has dedicated over 25 years to the research of Waukegan’s Oakwood Cemetery She took it upon herself to create a database of records She has been the driving force for creating and maintaining accurate records of the cemetery and she is the primary contact for the city regarding cemetery. Ann is a pillar in the successes of the Waukegan Historical Society and Oakwood Cemetery Walk. Her dedication to preservation as well as showcasing Waukegan’s history is truly amazing.

Janice Petterchak’s personal and professional contributions to Illinois history are nothing less than remarkable. Director of the Illinois State Historical Library (Now the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library) from 1987-1995, she has mentored and inspired dozens of young men and women to pursue careers in public history and helped many younger students get published in Illinois History, a magazine for junior historians. Ms. Petterchak held several key positions with the Illinois State Historical Society and for six years directed a project of the National Endowment for the Humanities to catalog newspaper collections in Illinois repositories. She is the author of more than 20 books about Illinois people, places, and businesses, including ISHS’s Historic Illinois: An Illustrated History (2005). She was also co-editor of Illinois History: An Annotated Bibliography (1995). She has served as a historical consultant for numerous projects and presented dozens of papers and lectures at conferences around the nation. For many Illinoisans, Janice has been the face of Prairie State history, and her contributions are more than deserving of this award.

Roland Harris is well known throughout his community as the author of a local history column, "Thoughts to Remember," published in the Highland News Leader from 1967-1977, and from 2001 to the present (more than years). In 1970, he founded the Highland Historical Society and has since been instrumental in restoring and preserving local cemeteries. When Harris and his wife of more than 70 years moved to the Highland Home a few years ago, he made arrangements to move his lifetime collection of 6,000 artifacts, documents, and photographs with him. Rooms in the old section of The Highland Home were made available as museum space, and volunteers helped him create a museum showcasing the history of Highland and surrounding communities. The museum is open by appointment, with 91 -year old Roland as a guide. According to Highland mayor Joseph R. Michaelis, "There just isn't another individual in Highland that is more deserving of a lifetime achievement award relating to our local history."

Prior to joining the staff at the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, Young served as the last director of the University Museums at Illinois State University, where she fostered a new era in museum programming, marketing and collections management.

After joining the Clover Lawn (David Davis) mansion staff, Young worked with countless area schools. museums, and various organizations to provide quality education and entertainment programs. She developed numerous fund-raising initiatives and supervised dozens of events— Christmas at the Mansions, the Bountiful Feast, Civil War Days, Afternoon Teas, and Garden Walks developing lasting partnerships with area businesses and organizations. Under her leadership, the story of the Davis Mansion has been greatly expanded to include Sarah Davis and others who lived and worked at this remarkable Victorian-era home. She has mentored countless students and interns from area universities, and generously assisted scholars, authors, and filmmakers in understanding the history of the mansion and Illinois.