State and Local Government
The 19th Century
Pre-Statehood
An Act Creating the County of Illinois, 1778
- The legal act creating the County of Illinois, Virginia in 1778.
- Citation: Walworth Alvord, Clarence, ed. Cahokia Records 1778-1790. Vol. II. Collections of the Illinois State Historical LIbrary. Springfield: Illinois State Historical Library, 1907.
A Speech by George Rogers Clark to the Residents of Kaskaskia, 1779
- George Rogers Clark was a famous American General from Virginia. In 1778, he captured the British outpost of Kaskaskia. In this speech, he promises loyalty and protection to the residents of Kaskaskia and presents their new governor, Colonel John Todd.
- Citation: Walworth Alvord, Clarence, ed. Kaskaskia Records 1778-1790. Vol. V. Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library. Springfield: Illinois State Historical Library, 1909.
Letter from Cerre to Clark, July 12, 1779
- Gabriel Cerre asks George Rogers Clark to settle a dispute involving stolen tools and reparations.
- Citation: Walworth Alvord, Clarence, ed. Kaskaskia Records 1778-1790. Vol. V. Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library. Springfield: Illinois State Historical Library, 1909.
Letter from Thomas Jefferson to George R. Clark, 1780
- Governor Thomas Jefferson advises Clark on military tactics.
- Citation: Walworth Alvord, Clarence, ed. Kaskaskia Records 1778-1790. Vol. V. Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library. Springfield: Illinois State Historical Library, 1909.
Petition to the Governor from the Residents of Kaskaskia, 1781
- The residents of Kaskaskia object to the governance of General Clark, among others.
- Citation: Walworth Alvord, Clarence, ed. Kaskaskia Records 1778-1790. Vol. V. Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library. Springfield: Illinois State Historical Library, 1909.
Early Statehood
- This constitution, which was adopted on 26 August 1818 in Kaskaskia, Illinois, was the first official constitution for the state of Illinois.
Hennepin Precinct Poll Book, 1832 / Typed Transcription
- Today we use the Presidential short ballot, which gives the names of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates, who are then voted for in the Electoral College by electors. In Illinois in 1832, voters' ballots listed electors rather than Presidential candidates. This poll book shows which voter voted for which elector in Hennepin Precinct, 1832. Andrew Jackson won the election.
- Citation: Turnbaugh, Dr. Roy C. Jr. and Robert E. Bailey. Windows to the Past: A Selection of Illinois County Records from 1818 to 1880. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1985. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
- Plat maps show the divisions of a piece of land, to scale. Creating a plat map is an important step in incorporating a town or city. This map, created in 1833, shows the streets and lots in the town of Monmouth, Ill.
- Citation: Turnbaugh, Dr. Roy C. Jr. and Robert E. Bailey. Windows to the Past: A Selection of Illinois County Records from 1818 to 1880. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1985. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Notice to Introduce an Act to Authorize Samuel Musick to Build a Toll Bridge, 9 December 1834 / Typed Transcription
- Abraham Lincoln wrote this note to inform the Speaker of the Illinois House that he intended to introduce legislation to allow Samuel Musick to build a toll bridge in Sangamon County. This was the first piece of legislation by Lincoln that became a law.
- Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illions State Archives, 2008. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
A Bill for an Act to Locate a State Road Between Springfield and George C. Miller's Ferry, 2 February 1835 / Typed Transcription
- Abraham Lincoln sponsored many bills similar to this document to help improve transportation in the state of Illinois. This one was to build a road connecting Springfield to a ferry twelve miles from New Salem.
- Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illions State Archives, 2008. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
A Bill for an Act to Relocate a Part of the State Road Leading from Springfield to Lewiston, 15 December 1835 / Typed Transcription
- Abraham Lincoln wrote this bill to relocate the state road from Springfield to Lewistown (or Lewiston). Not everyone liked the new route in this bill, so Lincoln proposed another bill that created a committee to decide on the best path for the road.
- Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illions State Archives, 2008. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Amendment to a Bill for an Act Supplemental to an Act to Incorporate Subscribers to the Bank of the State of Illinois, 22 December 1835 / Typed Transcription
- Abraham Lincoln wrote this amendment to an act to create a state bank because he thought the bank should be more accountable for its actions. Unfortunatly the amendment failed, and eventually the bank went bankrupt.
- Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illions State Archives, 2008. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Road Supervisor Report, 1835 / Typed Transcription
- Citation: Turnbaugh, Dr. Roy C. Jr. and Robert E. Bailey. Windows to the Past: A Selection of Illinois County Records from 1818 to 1880. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1985. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Assessor Book, 1836 / Typed Transcription
- Citation: Turnbaugh, Dr. Roy C. Jr. and Robert E. Bailey. Windows to the Past: A Selection of Illinois County Records from 1818 to 1880. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1985. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
An Act to Permanently Locate the Seat of Government of the State of Illinois, 7 February 1837/ Typed Transcript
- This act, written by Abraham Lincoln, was intended to move the state capitol from Vandalia to a new, permanent location. Lincoln's choice location was Springfield, but others wanted Alton, Vandalia, and Jacksonville.
- Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2008. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Report from a Select Committee Concerning the Division of Sangamon County, 13 February 1837 / Typed Transcript
- Abraham Lincoln was chairman of a committee created to decide on the division of counties in Illinois as the state population grew. In 1837, the committe recommended not dividing the county due to the number of residents in Sangamon opposing the split. Two years later, the county was divided into Sangamon, Logan, Menard, and Christian counties.
- Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2008. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Journal of the House of Representatives, 3 March 1837 / Typed Transcription
- Abraham Lincoln and Dan Stone, both legislators from Sangamon County, wrote this entry to protest a resolution from the General Assembly stating the Constitution guaranteed the right to own slaves in states that allowed it and that the Federal government could not outlaw slavery in Washington, D.C., and disapproving abolitionists. At the same time, Lincoln and Stone also stated that abolitionists were not entirely correct in their ideals either.
- Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2008. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
House Joint Resolution Concerning Purchase of Unsold Federal Lands, 17 January 1839 / Typed Transcript
- Abraham Lincoln introduced this piece of legislation to the General Assembly on behalf of the House Finance Committee. It required the United States federal government to sell its land holdings in Illinois to the state. Lincoln hoped his plan would give Illinois a source of income when it sold the land to new settlers. Unfortunatly the federal government chose to ignore the legistlation, and the state was unable to use the potential source of income.
- Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2008. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
A Bill for an Act Authorizing the Purchase of a House for the Use of the Governor, 24 January 1840/ Typed Transcript
- Abraham Lincoln wrote and introduced this bill to buy a house for the governor in the new state capitol of Springfield. He originally asked for $8,000, with an attempt for an amendment to raise the amount to $10,000 by the House of Representatives. Neither amount passed voting in the House of Representatives, but within fifteen years $31,000 had been spent for the same purpose.
- Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2008. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Certificate of Qualification of Lincoln's Election to the Twelfth General Assembly, 18 November 1840 / Typed Transcript
- This certificate verifies that Abraham Lincoln was elected to the General Assembly of the State of Illinois for Sangamon County.
- Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2008. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Resolution on Teachers' Examinations, 2 December 1840 / Typed Transcription
- Abraham Lincoln sponsored the Committe on Education to look into teaching qualification exams before a teacher could be hired. This led to local school teaching certificates required by state legislation, although they did not have any guidelines for the qualification exams.
- Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illions State Archives, 2008. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Communication from the Mayor of Buffalo, 27 December 1843 / Typed Transcription
- Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Early Chicago, 1833-1871 A Selection of City Council Proceedings Files. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1999. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Election Returns-Seventh Congressional District, 1846 / Typed Transcript
- Abraham Lincoln ran for the United States Congress in 1846 representing the Seventh Congressional District that included Putnam, Marshall, Woodford, Tazewell, Mason, Menard, Cass, Morgan, Scott, Logan, and Sangamon Counties. He ran as a member of the Whig Party against Peter Cartwright of the Democratic Party and Elihue Walcot of the Liberty Party, and won.
- Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2008. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
- Citation: Illinois Constitutional Convention 1847 Journal.
Resolution Regarding the Fugitive Slave Act, 29 November 1850 / Typed Transcription
- Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Early Chicago, 1833-1871 A Selection of City Council Proceedings Files. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1999. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
- This constitution, which was signed on 31 August 1847, replaced the 1818 constitution. It was taken out of the Illinois Constitutional Convention 1847 Journal.
Series of Laws regarding "Alien Landlords"
- This series of acts tracks laws regarding alien, or absentee, landlords.
- Citation: Laws of the State of Illinois, 1851, 1887.
- This constitution was adopted in convention on 13 May 1870, and ratified by the people on 2 July 1870. It received 154,227 votes against 35,443 votes.
- Citation: Poore, Ben Perley. The Federal and State Constitutions, Colonial Charters, and Other Organic Laws of the United States. Washington D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1878.
The Civil War
The Late 19th Century
Women May Vote at School Elections, 1891 / Typed Transcription
- Women earned the right to vote for school officials in the state of Illinois in 1891.
- Citation: Laws of the State of Illinois, 1891
Resolution to Investigate the Civil Service Commission, 11 January 1896 / Typed Transcription
- Citation: Bailey, Robert E.and Elaine Shemoney Evans. From the Ashes, 1872-1900 A Selection of Documents from the Proceedings Files of the Chicago City Council. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1990. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Resolution to Recognize the Cuban Patriots as Belligerents, 22 February 1896 / Typed Transcription
- Citation: Bailey, Robert E.and Elaine Shemoney Evans. From the Ashes, 1872-1900 A Selection of Documents from the Proceedings Files of the Chicago City Council. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1990. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
The 20th Century
The Early 20th Century
- Photograph depicts the Illinois State Capitol Building in Springfield in 1905.
- Citation: Illinois State Capitol Building. January 9, 1905. Photographs from the Chicago Daily News, 1902-1933, Chicago History Museum, Chicago. In Library of Congress American Memory.
World War I
Mattoon City Council Minutes, April 17, 1917
Mattoon City Council Minutes, June 4, 1918
- During the Influenza of 1918, cities in Illinois and across the United States took measures to combat the flu. Use these sets of minutes to explore the ways that Mattoon, IL city leaders dealt with the Influenza pandemic.
- Citation: Mattoon City Council Minutes. (n.d.). Unpublished typescript, University Archives, Eastern Illinois University.
The Great Depression
- Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
- Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Letter Concerning Prosecution of an Illinois Prohibition Law Violation, 21 June 1933
- Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Executive Order Activating Selected Units of the National Guard, 5 October 1933
- Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Telegram Protesting the Omission of the Communist Part from the November Ballot, 1 October 1934
- Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
