Illinois State Historical Library

Illinois State Historical Library
Name	Illinois State Historical Library
Established	1889
Location	Springfield, Illinois, U.S.
Collection size	Over 16 million items
Director	Illinois Secretary of State (ex officio)
Parent organization	Illinois State Library
Website	https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/ishl/home.html

Illinois State Historical Library. It is the principal repository for materials documenting the history of Illinois and the Old Northwest Territory, operating as a division of the Illinois State Library under the constitutional authority of the Illinois Secretary of State. Founded in the late 19th century, its mission is to collect, preserve, and provide public access to a vast array of historical resources, serving researchers, educators, and citizens. The library's extensive holdings include manuscripts, newspapers, maps, photographs, and published works central to understanding the state's development from the era of French exploration through the American Civil War and into the modern industrial age.

History

The institution was established by an act of the Illinois General Assembly in 1889, championed by figures like state historian Elliott Anthony and supported by the growing historical consciousness of the post-Centennial Exposition era. Its early years were spent in the Illinois State Capitol, where it began assembling a core collection focused on Abraham Lincoln, the American Civil War, and early statehood. A significant early acquisition was the extensive personal library and papers of Henry Horner, a noted Lincoln collector who later became Governor of Illinois. The library's purview and collections expanded dramatically throughout the 20th century, absorbing important materials related to Ulysses S. Grant, Stephen A. Douglas, and the political history of the Republican Party in the Midwestern United States. In 2004, its operations were consolidated with those of the Illinois State Library under the administrative umbrella of the Illinois Secretary of State.

Collections

Its collections are renowned for their depth and breadth, encompassing over 16 million items. The cornerstone is the world's premier collection of Abraham Lincoln materials, including original manuscripts of the Lincoln–Douglas debates, the Gettysburg Address, and his presidential papers. Other major holdings feature extensive archives on Illinois in the American Civil War, the papers of governors like Richard J. Oglesby and John Peter Altgeld, and records of organizations such as the Grand Army of the Republic. The library preserves a massive newspaper collection spanning titles from Chicago to small-town weeklies, one of the largest assemblages of Sanborn maps for Illinois cities, and vast photographic archives documenting everything from the Great Chicago Fire to the Herrin massacre and the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Building and location

From 1990 until 2021, it was housed in the purpose-built William G. Stratton Building, located at the corner of Springfield's South Second Street and East Adams Street, directly across from the Illinois State Capitol. This modern facility featured specialized climate-controlled stacks, a reading room, and exhibition spaces. In 2021, the collections and staff were relocated to the newly renovated Margaret Cross Norton Building, a former warehouse adapted into a state-of-the-art archival center on Springfield's North Grand Avenue. This consolidation with the Illinois State Archives created a centralized hub for historical research adjacent to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum complex.

Services and access

It provides critical services to a global community of historians, genealogists, students, and the public. The main reading room offers supervised access to original manuscripts, newspapers, and rare books, supported by expert reference librarians and archivists. While the physical collections are non-circulating, the library facilitates extensive interlibrary loan programs for published materials and provides digital access through its online catalog and partnerships with platforms like the Internet Archive and the Library of Congress's Chronicling America project for historical newspapers. It also offers photocopy and digital reproduction services, hosts workshops on historical research methods, and mounts public exhibitions highlighting its treasures.

Governance and funding

The library operates as a division of the Illinois State Library, with the Illinois Secretary of State serving as the state librarian and therefore its nominal director, a structure defined by the Illinois Constitution. Day-to-day management is overseen by a professional state historian and library administrators. Its primary funding is allocated through the state budget by the Illinois General Assembly, with additional support derived from the Illinois State Library's budget, federal grants from institutions like the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and private donations channeled through affiliated non-profit foundations. An advisory board of historians and citizens, often appointed by the Illinois Secretary of State, provides guidance on collection development and public outreach.

Significance and impact

The library is indispensable to the scholarly study of Illinois and the Midwestern United States, providing the foundational primary sources for countless academic works, biographies, and documentaries. Its collections have been essential for major projects like the Papers of Abraham Lincoln and histories of the Mormon Trail and the Illinois and Michigan Canal. By preserving the records of political movements, labor unions like the United Mine Workers, and social organizations, it ensures the documentary history of the state's diverse population is maintained. Its public services and educational outreach directly support historical literacy, civic engagement, and genealogical research for residents across the state and nation.

Category:State libraries of the United States Category:Illinois state agencies Category:Buildings and structures in Springfield, Illinois Category:Archives in Illinois Category:1889 establishments in Illinois