Category Archives: State government

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

Susan Lawrence Dana

Posted on November 16, 2013 by editor

Note: This entry was significantly expanded in July 2023. See “Hat tips” below. Susan Lawrence Dana (1862-1946) was a Springfield socialite, activist and philanthropist best known for commissioning architect Frank Lloyd Wright to transform her family’s Civil War-era home at … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Buildings, Historic Sites, Museums, Prominent figures, Schools and school districts, Social services, State government, Women | 2 Comments

Thornton Walker

Posted on November 4, 2013 by editor

Thornton Walker* (1912-45) was the Illinois State Journal’s part-time aviation columnist during the 1930s. A Flickr page set up by his son-in-law, Bill Strouse, contains many photos of Southwest Airport, along with reproductions of some of Walker’s columns for the Journal. … Continue reading →

Posted in Airport, Journalism, Military, Photos and photosets, Prominent figures, State government, Transportation | Tagged | Leave a comment

Women’s suffrage in Illinois

Posted on November 4, 2013 by editor

A carefully calibrated legislative strategy in Springfield led to Illinois becoming, in 1913, the first state east of the Mississippi to grant women the right to vote. On June 10, 1919, the state then became the first in the nation … Continue reading →

Posted in Illinois capital, Local government, Politics, Prominent figures, Schools and school districts, State government, Women | 5 Comments

Hall of Flags

Posted on October 26, 2013 by editor

Memorial Hall — still better known as the Hall of Flags, even though the flags have been gone for more than a decade — is the grand vestibule of the State of Illinois’ Michael J. Howlett Building, itself originally called … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Historic Sites, Illinois capital, Military, State government | Tagged | 2 Comments

Archer Herndon (1828 pioneers)

Posted on October 26, 2013 by editor

Archer G. Herndon Sr. (1795-1867) was one of the “Long Nine,” including Abraham Lincoln, who are credited with persuading the Illinois legislature to move the state capital from Vandalia to Springfield in 1837. Archer Herndon also was the father of William … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Early residents, Hotels & taverns, Illinois capital, Lincoln, Abraham, Local government, Maps, Politics, Prominent figures, State government | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Illinois Capitol Complex

Posted on October 23, 2013 by editor

Nine major buildings make up the heart of what is known as the Capitol Complex – the Statehouse and surrounding state government structures. Included are: *The Capitol itself *The Michael J. Howlett Building (formerly the Centennial Building), south of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Historic Sites, Illinois capital, State government | Leave a comment

Illinois Capitol

Posted on October 23, 2013 by editor

Today’s Illinois Capitol is the sixth building to have been so designated. The state rented the first, a two-story brick building in Kaskaskia, the first capital, for $4 a day. The next three capitols were in Vandalia, where the capital … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts and letters, Buildings, Historic Sites, Illinois capital, State government | Leave a comment

Illinois Executive Mansion, 1860 (lithograph)

Posted on October 23, 2013 by editor

The Illinois Executive Mansion is one of the three oldest continuously occupied governor’s mansions in the U.S. Since the lithograph above was done, the mansion has lost the cupola, the columns on the entrance portico and the balconies. (Reprinted in The … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Fever River, Historic Sites, Illinois capital, State government | Tagged | Leave a comment

Illinois governors (list)

Posted on October 23, 2013 by editor

Jay Robert “JB” Pritzker, a Democrat, took office as the 43rd governor of Illinois in 2019. Previous governors, with party affiliation and years in office (reverse order) Bruce Rauner (Republican), 2015-19 Patrick Quinn (Democrat) 2009-15 Rod Blagojevich (D), 2003-09 George … Continue reading →

Posted in Illinois capital, Politics, State government | Tagged | Leave a comment