Author Archives: editor

NAACP Webster Plaque

Posted on January 8, 2014 by editor

The Springfield Branch of the NAACP annually awards its Webster Plaque to “a Black citizen of Springfield, who has contributed toward the uplifting of the Black race in any field of honest endeavor. …” The plaque recognizes Dr. D.E. Webster (1897-1973) and … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Prominent figures | 2 Comments

Jessie Palmer Weber

Posted on January 4, 2014 by editor

Jessie Palmer Weber was Illinois state librarian from 1898 until her death in 1926 and also helped organize and served as the first secretary of the Illinois State Historical Society. She also was involved in creating the Journal of the Illinois … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Education, Prominent figures | Leave a comment

Destruction of the Lincoln Tomb sarcophagus

Posted on January 3, 2014 by editor

How did the marble sarcophagus that covered the coffin of Abraham Lincoln in the early years of the Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site come to be broken?  Was it a workmen’s accident? Or was it done on purpose by souvenir … Continue reading →

Posted in Historic Sites, Lincoln Tomb, Lincoln, Abraham, Museums, State government | 2 Comments

Brother James Court

Posted on December 29, 2013 by editor

Brother James Court is an intermediate-care institution for developmentally disabled men. The facility formerly was St. James Trade School. 

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St. James Trade School (closed high schools)

Posted on December 29, 2013 by editor

St. James Trade School trained boys, originally orphans, for such jobs as mechanic, baker, the building trades, butcher and others from 1930 until 1972. St. James was a boarding school from 1930 to 1963 and then became a day school. … Continue reading →

Posted in Churches, Education, Schools and school districts | 5 Comments

Brother James Court

Posted on December 29, 2013 by editor

Brother James Court is an intermediate care home for mentally disabled men. The facility previously was St. James Trade School. 

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

St. James Trade School

Posted on December 29, 2013 by editor

St. James Trade School trained boys, originally orphans, for such jobs as mechanic, baker, the building trades, butcher and others from 1928 until 1972. St. James was a boarding school from 1930 to 1963 and then became a day school. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Emmet Pearson

Posted on December 29, 2013 by editor

Dr. Emmet Pearson, a Springfield physician, was instrumental in the restoration of what now is the Broadwell Inn/Clayville Historic Site. He was named Springfield’s First Citizen in 1992, partly because of his historic preservation activities. See Broadwell Inn.

Posted in First Citizens, Historic Sites | Leave a comment

Howard B. Austin

Posted on December 29, 2013 by editor

Howard B. Austin (1886-1962) was Illinois’ unofficial poet laureate for 36 years. See Sangamon County poets.

Posted in Arts and letters | Leave a comment

Sangamon County poets

Posted on December 29, 2013 by editor

For a time in the early 20th century, central Illinois was famed across the country as the home of important poets, writers who were inventing new forms of verse that spoke in the voices of a new age. If it … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts and letters, Lindsay, Vachel, Prominent figures, Sangamon River | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment