Illinois State Society of Washington, DC

03/04/2022

Illinois State Society of Washington, DC updated their information in their About section.

Illinois State Society of Washington, DC updated their information in their About section.

03/04/2022

This Day in Illinois History - March 4th.

3.4.1837 -- The charter incorporating city of CHICAGO was issued at Vandalia Courthouse. Wm. B. Ogden chosen first mayor. In 1830 population was 50. FIRST CHICAGO SETTLER was Jean Baptiste Point du Saible, educated free negro from Santa Domingo. FIRST WHITE SETTLER was John Kinzie from Niles, Michigan, called the "FATHER OF CHICAGO".

3.4.1851 -- First frame building erected in CHICAGO. The Sauganash Hotel, burned. Later at the site, Lake and Market Streets, the Republican Convention Hall, the "Wigwam", was built.

3.4.1861 -- Abraham Lincoln inaugurated 16th president - body guards were necessary because of constant threats against his life.

3.4.1865 -- Lincoln inaugurated for second term - gave famous speech, "… with malice toward none, with charity for all …" Johnson, vice-pres.

3.4.1881 -- James Garfield inaugurated president, his cabinet included Robert Todd Lincoln as Secretary of War.

3.4.1893 -- Adlai E. Stevenson of McLean County took office as U.S. vice-president.

03/04/2022

Foxtrot’s Old Town market and cafe is now open | WTOP News

The Chicago based Foxtrot Market just opened their 4th DC area location in Alexandria Virginia with more planned to open.

https://wtop.com/business-finance/2022/03/foxtrots-old-town-market-and-cafe-is-now-open/?fbclid=IwAR0kUzk8PTQwaFikG6AAlW72TGKqGwZQhVpQPIGKNmEn2mcSi6msz9GO7gU

Chicago-based Foxtrot Market continues its D.C.-area expansion, opening its first location in Northern Virginia in Alexandria’s Old Town.

03/04/2022

Congratulations to the 2022 Board of the Illinois State Society of Washington DC! The complete list of Board Members and their positions are listed in the comments below the picture. :-)

03/03/2022

This Day in Illinois History (March 3rd) --

3.3.1837 -- Lincoln protested in the legislature about the riots and mobs against Abolitionists - speech was recorded in the Journal of the House. His was an isolated position in the legislature.

3.3.1847 -- The U.S. government built a lighthouse off WAUKEGAN shore.

3.3.1857 -- On a riotous election day, "Long John" Wentworth elected mayor of CHICAGO. He introduced first successful steam fire engine to city.

3.3.1863 -- Congress passed draft act. In proportion to her population, Illinois raised more soldiers for Northern cause than any other state. CHICAGO had 1/5 of state's population when war began - she had 1/2 at end. George Root of Chicago wrote "The Battle Cry of Freedom". Illinois had 5, 857 killed in action, 3,051 dead of wounds and 19,934 dead of disease as a result of the Civil War. 256,297 of her men served.

03/03/2022

This Day in Illinois History (March 2nd) --

3.2.1805 -- District of Louisiana, which had been part of Territory of Indiana (included Illinois for 1 year) changed to Territory of La.

3.2.1819 -- In 1812, Territory of Louisiana had become Territory of Missouri but this day southern part was set off as Arkansas Territory.

3.2.1821 -- Congress passed act to ease land buyers' situation, permitting all who had purchased speculatively to relinquish such portion as corresponded to their indebtedness with no interest charges.

3.2.1868 -- University of Illinois opened - now has over 15,000 students. It is situated between URBANA and CHAMPAIGN. Its Memorial Stadium was scene of Harold "Red" Grange's rise to national fame in 1925. By 1938, it ranked among the 10 largest in the U.S.

Happy 154th Birthday to the University of Illinois and the DC Illini Alums! :-)

03/03/2022

This Day in Illinois History (March 1st) --

3.1.1784 -- Virginia completed cession of Illinois land in the Northwest Territory which she had claimed, to the United States.

3.1.1830 -- Lincoln's family began to move by ox team from Gentryville, Spencer County, Indiana to Macon County, Illinois. He was 21. Census showed the state's population to be 157,445.

3.1.1832 -- Lincoln, at 23, announced his candidacy for the legislature.

3.1.1839 -- Lake County established by Act of General Assembly with Burlington (now LIBERTYVILLE) as county seat. Here Samuel Insull, utilities magnate, built a $3 million mansion.

3.1.1911 -- Robert McCormick, Joseph Medill's grandson, became president of the Chicago Tribune Company.

03/03/2022

This Week in Illinois History: Carl Sandburg named state Poet Laureate (February 28, 1962)

This Week in Illinois History (Feb 28-March 6th)

https://www.northernpublicradio.org/wnij-news/2022-02-28/this-week-in-illinois-history-carl-sandburg-named-state-poet-laureate-february-28-1962

Carl Sandburg, author, journalist, folk singer, and poet of the people, appointed Poet Laureate of Illinois.

03/03/2022

The Illinois State Society would like to wish a Happy Birthday Week to two former Illinois Members of Congress who had a Birthday on March 1st - Debbie Halvorson (D-11th CD 2009-2011) of Crete, IL and Randy Hultgren (R-14th CD 2011-2019) of Plano, IL. :-)

02/15/2022

The Illinois State Society of Washington DC (ILSS) celebrated Illinois President Abraham Lincoln's 213th Birthday Anniversary at the National Commemorative Event at The Lincoln Memorial on February 12th 2022. The ILSS Membership Chair Richard Chalkey attended the event and took the accompanying photos.

02/12/2022

The Illinois State Society of Washington DC (ILSS) will again be honoring Abraham Lincoln's Birthday at the National Commemorative Ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. The Ceremony will take place at 11am on Lincoln's Birthday on Saturday February 12th. The ILSS will present a Birthday Memorial Wreath for Illinois -- The "Land of Lincoln" as stated on the Illinois license plates.

02/11/2022

Happy 111th Anniversary of the Birth of President Ronald Reagan -- the only President to have been born, raised and educated in Illinois. The Board Members and Friends of the Illinois State Society of Washington DC honored Ronald Reagan's Birthday on Feb 6th, 2022 with the annual wreath presentation at the Reagan Statue at the DC Area Airport named after him.

10/05/2021

University of Illinois Homecoming Football Game Celebration for DC Area U of I Alums & Fans this coming Saturday October 9th at 3pm at The Union Pub at 201 Massachusetts Ave NE in Washington DC 20002. Please join in on the fun and meet some Illinois Friends! :-)

09/22/2021

Illinois Alumni Tailgate Reception

There are still tickets available for next Tuesday's Sept 28th Illinois Alumni Tailgate Reception at The Dubliner. The menu is set and includes shrimp cocktails, smoked salmon on cucumber, mini shepherd's pie, mini Reuben sandwiches, chicken tenders, meatballs, fruit & cheese platter, veggie platter. Drinks include Goose Island Beer, Guinness, wine & soda. Reserve your ticket on the attached Eventbrite link.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/illinois-alumni-tailgate-reception-tickets-169573991373?fbclid=IwAR1coRDwAMWq68TQsFhoceVAM9KA6MmFtYuq4heEsp35ez5fzhsf316phFo

Join us for our 2021 Illinois Alumni Tailgate Reception celebrating Illinois Universities and Colleges!

09/11/2021

Illinois State Society of Washington, DC updated their address.

Illinois State Society of Washington, DC updated their address.

09/11/2021

Illinois Alumni Tailgate Reception

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/illinois-alumni-tailgate-reception-tickets-169573991373

Join us for our 2021 Illinois Alumni Tailgate Reception celebrating Illinois Universities and Colleges!

09/11/2021

07/13/2021

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: "Memory and Monuments" with Kathryn Allamong Jacob, Author of Testament to Union: Civil War Monuments in Washington, D.C.. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

The final program in the Illinois State Society series about historic monuments of important people in Illinois history will be today at 5pm on Zoom. There is a sign-up link in this update.

What were the objectives and the outcomes in erecting Civil War monuments as a means of influencing the collective understanding of the past?

07/12/2021

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: "Memory and Monuments" with Kathryn Allamong Jacob, Author of Testament to Union: Civil War Monuments in Washington, D.C.. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

Tuesday July 13th the Illinois State Society will present the concluding webinar of a four-part series. Its impetus was a Chicago committee’s decision to declare 41 of the city’s statues as “problematic.” The previous three webinars discussed why it is appropriate to continue to honor three sons of Illinois — Abraham Lincoln, General John A. Logan and Ulysses Grant. The July 13th webinar will feature Kathryn Allamong Jacob, author of “Testament to Union: Civil War Monuments in Washington, D.C.” Her “Memory and Monuments” presentation will provide a framework for understanding the significance of the current debate over statues.

Title: Memory and Monuments
Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Time: 5 - 6 PM EDT
Cost: Free
Register by July 13, 2021
Presenter
Kathryn Allamong Jacob, Ph.D., author of “Testament to Union: Civil War Monuments in Washington, D.C.”

Registration Info is in the attached link -
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_x3h8KojcSkS4mtrRYPUfDQ

What were the objectives and the outcomes in erecting Civil War monuments as a means of influencing the collective understanding of the past?

05/25/2021

Live web Interview with Illinois Congresswoman Robin Kelly Tuesday May 25th at 2pm. Please register on the attached link at the end of this posting.

Congresswoman Robin Kelly has dedicated her career to public service as an advocate for Illinois families. Since being elected to serve the 2nd Congressional District in 2013, she has worked to expand economic opportunity, community wellness, and public safety across the state, championing numerous initiatives to generate job growth, reduce health disparities, and end gun violence.

Congresswoman Kelly is the Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and serves on the Health, Energy, and Consumer Protection and Commerce subcommittees. Her Energy and Commerce work is focused on expanding access to healthcare, consumer protection for American families, and economic development.

The daughter of a small business owner and postal worker, Congresswoman Kelly moved to Illinois to attend Bradley University in Peoria, where she earned her B.A. in psychology and an M.A. in counseling. She later received a Ph.D. in political science from Northern Illinois University. She lives in Matteson with her husband, Dr. Nathaniel Horn, and has two adult children, Kelly and Ryan.
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dA97LgHaR7e-2GPwHYayaA

04/14/2021

Why We Honor Lincoln - ILSS Panel April 13, 2021

Why We Honor Abraham Lincoln - A Lincoln Statues in Chicago Discussion Webinar presented by several Lincoln Historians.

https://youtu.be/EQ9czRlJIMY

The Lincoln Group joins with the Illinois State Society to present an important panel discussion focused on why statues of Abraham Lincoln should be saved.In...

12/04/2020

Happy #IllinoisStatehoodDay! On this day in 1818, with 35,000 residents, Illinois became the 21st state of the Union. Since then, the Prairie State has grown to over 12.7 million residents and counting.

11/23/2020

In 1942, the U.S. Army commissioned the Weber Costello Company in Illinois to make a 500-pound, 50-inch diameter globe as a Christmas gift for Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide the most accurate and updated world-view available to the president in the midst of World War II.

The globe was housed in the Oval Office and a duplicate was created for use at the War Department. Another was sent to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who used it at 10 Downing Street. See more details about the Illinois-made "President’s Globe,” in our friends at The White House Historical Association's post, below!

The world is vast—and this massive globe housed in the Oval Office during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration was, too. Weighing nearly 500 pounds and measuring fifty inches in diameter, the globe was created by “over 50 geographers, cartographers, and draftsmen from the Geographic Division of the Office of Strategic Services” to provide the most accurate and updated world-view available to the president in the midst of World War II.

The U.S. Army commissioned the Weber Costello Company in Illinois to make the object as a Christmas gift for Roosevelt in 1942. Two wooden pieces fit together on a rotating steel stand that allowed President Roosevelt to move it in any direction while sitting at his desk in the Oval Office. He used the globe to chart progress in the Pacific and European theaters and as a reference point for the movement of troops and materials outside of the United States. In a 1942 thank you note, Roosevelt noted “I am made very happy… by the special Globe which I have set up in my office directly by my chair… I can swing around and figure distances to my great satisfaction.”

Roosevelt was not the only owner of this impressive object. One duplicate was given to General George C. Marshall and Secretary of War Henry Stimson for use at the War Department. Another was sent via private airplane to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who used it at 10 Downing Street. Known today as “The President’s Globe,” Roosevelt’s is on display at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York

Image Credit: Library of Congress

10/19/2020

Congratulations to Chicago Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish! Fun fact: ILSS has been working with the Embassy of Japan in the USA on Cherry Blossom week festivities since 1948.