Media Library

Galena, Illinois sent nine generals to the Civil War, including Ulysses S. Grant. This talk highlights the lesser-known John Eugene Smith, a Galena silversmith who befriended Grant and helped return Grant to the army, influencing key moments of the war. Presented by public historian Robert I. Girardi, author and editor of several Civil War works.

Learn about the history of early baseball, how the game differs from the game we know today, the organizations that existed locally and even where the game was banned!

Just in time for Halloween, the Illinois State Historical Society is proud to present its very first program of the ISHS History Happy Hour. This first presentation, “Stories in Stone: Decoding the Sentiment Behind Cemetery Symbolism,” is presented by our very own board member Debra Dudek.

This is the true story of Lincoln’s first freed slave, Mrs. Nance Legins-Costley (1813-1873) in Illinois Supreme Court in 1841; beginning of the end of slavery in Illinois and the United States. Nance’s master, state senator Thomas Cox, wanted to make slavery legal by constitutional amendment in Illinois. Forty years later, Lincoln reversed that and made slavery unconstitutional by the 13th Amendment. 

Carl Adam’s book about this fascinating topic may be purchase at www.nancebook.com.

This program is part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum’s Illinois History Forum series. ALPLM Oral History Director Dr. Mark DePue talks with Springfield author Mark Flotow about his book, “In Their Letters, in Their Words: Illinois Civil War Soldiers Write Home.”

Sangamon County Historical Society presents Mark Flotow’s “I think that we will Soon Be in Springfield” which focuses on Illinois Civil War soldiers’ quotations about Sangamon County from their personal letters.

The November ISHS History Happy Hour program is entitled Native Americans of the Illinois Country and is presented by Mark Walczynski. Mark is the Park Historian for the Starved Rock Foundation located at Starved Rock State Park, Utica, Illinois. Mark’s studies focus on the Franco-Amerindian history of the Western Great Lakes and the Illinois Country during the last 40 years of the 1600s. He is also an affiliate with the Illinois Archaeological Survey.

Join us for a new ISHS History Happy Hour – January 2021 Edition with Tina Beaird and her lecture ‘Pandemic 1918! Battling Influenza During the Great War.’ Tina Beaird, owner of Tamarack Genealogy, is a genealogy & local history librarian at the Plainfield Public Library. She lectures nationally on topics including genealogical methodology, military records, Scottish research and photo and archival preservation. ISHS History Happy Hour events and webinars are free and open to everyone.

Sherry Williams, President, Bronzeville Historical Society Andrea Aggert, Architect of the Capitol Walt Williams, Economic/Community Development Director, City of Edwardsville Dr. David Joens, Director, Illinois State Archives (Moderator)

Sherry Williams, President, Bronzeville Historical Society Walt Williams, Economic/Community Development Director, City of Edwardsville Moderator: Dr. David Joens, Director, Illinois State Archives

Jenn Edginton, Director of Interpretation, Illinois State Museum Heather Bruegl (Oneida/Stockbridge Munsee), Director of Cultural Affairs at Stockbridge-Munsee, Wisconsin, Community David O’Connor (Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa), Education Consultant, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction