ILLINOIS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

What ILLINOIS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY does

The Illinois State Historical Society (ISHS) is a private, not-for-profit membership organization founded in May 1899 and headquartered at the Strawbridge-Shepherd House in Springfield, Illinois. Its mission is to promote the study and preservation of Illinois history. The Society serves four primary constituencies: university scholars and graduate students, K-12 teachers, local historians and community volunteers, and long-tenured Illinois businesses and congregations. Its operations are run by a lean staff of three (Executive Director, Office Manager, and Communications Specialist) under governance from a volunteer Board of Directors led by President William P. Shannon IV. The organization has no technology platform or proprietary software; its digital footprint consists of a Wix-hosted website (historyillinois.org) and standard social media accounts.

The Society's core products are a portfolio of publications, awards, scholarships, and programs. The flagship is the peer-reviewed Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society (established 1908), a scholarly periodical on Illinois and Midwest history. The Society also publishes Illinois Heritage Magazine, which is transitioning out of print with its final issue in April 2026. Other products include the Historical Markers Program (a statewide network of physical markers), the King V. Hostick Research Scholarship (up to $5,000 for graduate students), the Verna Ross Orndorff Scholarship ($1,000 for high school students), and the 'Illinois: Weird, Wild & Wonderful' podcast. Awards programs include the Lifetime Achievement Award, Best of Illinois History Annual Awards, Russell P. Strange Memorial Book of the Year Award, Olive Foster Outstanding Teacher Award ($1,000), Centennial Business Award (1,400+ recipients since 1984), and Sesquicentennial Houses of Worship Award.

The business model is a traditional nonprofit construct funded by annual membership dues, donations, bequests, and foundation grants. Membership tiers range from $30 (Student) to $100 (Sustaining) per calendar year, with additional tiers for families, public libraries, and institutions. Revenue is supplemented by award application fees (e.g., $50 for the Strange Book of the Year Award), contributions including Lincoln Silver Gifts ($500+), and event programming such as the Illinois History Symposium and Annual Awards Banquet. There is no public ownership, no venture backing, and no disclosed revenue figure. The organization does not offer any API, software product, mobile app, or AI-driven service.

Name

ILLINOIS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Legal name

Illinois State Historical Society

Website

https://historyillinois.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1899

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Illinois State Historical Society, founded in 1899 and headquartered in Springfield, is a nonprofit membership organization that promotes the study of Illinois history through scholarly publications, historical markers, scholarships, and awards programs serving educators, scholars, local historians, and graduate students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The Society operates as a not-for-profit organization funded primarily through membership dues, gifts, bequests, and foundation grants. Membership categories include Student ($30), Individual ($60), Family ($70), Public Library ($75), Institutional ($80), and Sustaining ($100).
2. Donations and Support: The organization accepts one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations, and Lincoln Silver Gifts ($500+) to support preservation of Illinois history, education programs, and operational mission.
3. Award Application Fees: The Society collects application fees for award nominations, including a $50 entry fee for the Russell P. Strange Memorial Book of the Year Award and Centennial Business Award nominations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Illinois State Historical Society is a statewide nonprofit that promotes the study of Illinois history through peer-reviewed publications (the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society and Illinois Heritage magazine), a research scholarship program, a statewide Historical Markers Program, an annual Illinois History Symposium, and a portfolio of recognition awards for scholarship, teaching, businesses, and houses of worship. It serves individual historians, scholars, educators, students, local historical societies, and Illinois institutions, supported by a tiered membership program.

Product overview

The Illinois State Historical Society offers a portfolio of programs and services centered on preserving, promoting, and publishing Illinois history. The core offerings include the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society (peer-reviewed scholarly publication established 1908) and Illinois Heritage Magazine (bimonthly publication ending print in 2026). The society provides scholarships including the King V. Hostick Research Scholarship (up to $5,000 for graduate students) and Verna Ross Orndorff Scholarship ($1,000 for high school students). Awards include the Lifetime Achievement Award, Russell P. Strange Memorial Book of the Year Award, Best of Illinois History Annual Awards, Centennial Business Award, Sesquicentennial Houses of Worship Award, and Olive Foster Outstanding Teacher Award. Additional offerings include the Illinois: Weird, Wild & Wonderful podcast, Historical Markers Program, ISHS History Happy Hour webinars, annual Illinois History Symposium, and education resources for teachers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society: The peer-reviewed scholarly publication of the Illinois State Historical Society, established in 1908, welcoming articles, essays, and documents on history, literature, art, technology, law, and other subjects related to Illinois and the Midwest.
• Illinois Heritage Magazine
• Illinois: Weird, Wild & Wonderful

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,400 businesses and organizations recognized through Centennial Business Awards since 1984
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library (formerly Illinois State Historical Library)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Society maintains a close partnership with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. Graduate scholarship recipients using King V. Hostick Research Scholarship are required to deposit copies of completed dissertations in the Library's collections. The Library serves as the preferred research destination for Society-sponsored historical research.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Wisconsin Historical Society: Wisconsin Historical Society is one of the oldest and largest state historical societies in the U.S., operating scholarly publications, museums, archives, and educational programs — directly comparable to ISHS in mission and structure.
• Minnesota Historical Society: Minnesota Historical Society is a statewide historical society operating publications, museums, historic sites, and educational programs — directly comparable to ISHS as a Midwest state historical society with similar offerings.
• Ohio History Connection: Ohio History Connection (formerly Ohio Historical Society) is a statewide historical organization that operates museums, preserves heritage, runs educational programs, and publishes scholarly content — directly comparable to ISHS as a peer state historical society.
• Indiana Historical Society: Indiana Historical Society is a state-level historical society operating peer-reviewed publications, membership programs, awards, and educational outreach — directly comparable as a neighboring statewide historical society with a similar membership and nonprofit model.
• Michigan Historical Society: Michigan Historical Society is a statewide membership organization dedicated to preserving and publishing Michigan history, comparable to ISHS in scope, membership model, and educational outreach.
• Missouri State Historical Society: Missouri State Historical Society is a statewide organization that preserves and publishes Missouri history through journals, awards, and educational outreach — directly comparable to ISHS as a neighboring Midwest state historical society.

Broad incumbents

• Organization of American Historians: Organization of American Historians is a national professional association for historians, broadly comparable to ISHS as a membership-based nonprofit that publishes scholarly journals, awards prizes, and supports history education across the U.S.
• American Association for State and Local History: AASLH is a national association serving state and local historical organizations, broadly comparable to ISHS as the umbrella organization that supports and advocates for the same type of nonprofit historical society membership model.

Regional players

• Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum: The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is a key partner of ISHS in Illinois, hosting research funded by the King V. Hostick Scholarship and serving as a major heritage institution within the same state with overlapping historical mission.
• McLean County Museum of History: McLean County Museum of History is a regional historical museum in Illinois where ISHS board member Greg Koos serves as Executive Director Emeritus — directly comparable as a regional history organization operating within the same state ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ILHistory1818
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@IllinoisStateHistoricalSociety
• Facebookfacebook.com/illinoishistory1818
• Instagraminstagram.com/illinoishistory1818
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/illinois-state-historical-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ILLINOIS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY