Illinois State Guide

External Web Sites

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

This presidential library in Springfield, Illinois is part of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and is a public, non-circulating research facility that contains the world-renowned Abraham Lincoln collection. It also serves as the state’s chief repository and research facility for all aspects of Illinois history.

A Century of Progress 1933-34 World’s Fair

The University of Chicago Library holds one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of published materials from the Century of Progress 1933-34 World’s Fair. The collection includes official publications, press releases, souvenir albums, guidebooks, maps, brochures, postcards, photographs, and newspaper clippings. Nearly one-third of the collection has been digitized and as a result the site contains some 350 pamphlets viewable online as well as a searchable database of bibliographic records related to the fair.

The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago

The Encyclopedia of Chicago, a partnership between the Chicago History Museum, The Newberry Library, and Northwestern University, is a dynamic online encyclopedia that compiles thousands of historical resources related to the city of Chicago including articles, photos, maps, broadsides and newspapers.

Illinois Digital Archives

The Illinois Digital Archives hold the digital collections of the Illinois State Library as well as the digitized collections of other library and cultural institutions around the state.

Illinois.gov

Illinois.gov is the gateway to Illinois state government web sites and information; includes selected resources on federal, county and local government.

The Illinois State Museum

This site holds an extensive collection of online exhibits in the areas of anthropology, art, botany, geology, history and zoology, materials that “tell the story of the land, life, people, and art of Illinois”.

Illinois State Society of Washington, D.C.

Founded in 1854, the Illinois State Society of Washington, DC is the oldest of the state societies. Abraham Lincoln was reported to have been a member. The Illinois State Society's mission is to promote the history, culture, science, technology, commerce, and social traditions of Illinois.

National Park Service (NPS)

The fundamental purpose of the NPS is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such
means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations. The NPS provides highlights, statistics, and a list of national parks for Illinois.

The World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893

The Library at the Field Museum was created in 1894 as a central repository of books from the libraries of various departments of the World’s Columbian Exposition. As a result, The World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 Digital Collection contains official records, objects, photographs, and personal memorabilia, as well as a wealth of information related to the founding and history of the Field Museum. This digital collection of more than 1600 images of this material can be browsed or searched at high resolution.