May, 2, 2012, The Illinois State Historical Society announced the recipients of its 2012 Annual Awards program last Friday evening, April 27, during the 32nd annual Illinois History Symposium, held at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in East Peoria. The Awards were presented in several categories: Publications, Scholarly and other; Public Programming, Educational and Exhibits; On-going Periodicals and Newspaper columns: Multimedia Productions; Special Projects; and Collections Preservation. The Society also awarded four “Lifetime Achievement” awards to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to “preserving, promoting, and commemorating Illinois history” in their communities.

Receiving an award for Superior Achievement was The Town Abraham Lincoln Warned: The Living Namesake Heritage of Lincoln, Illinois written by D. Leigh Henson, Professor Emeritus of English at Missouri State University.

“These awards acknowledge the highest individual and institutional achievement in historic preservation, history publications, and public education through exhibitions and programming,” said ISHS Executive Director William Furry. “Through its awards programs the ISHS recognizes the extraordinary commitment of our historical societies, museums, and public and academic historians to articulate the Prairie State narrative in a state, national, and global context, and to give meaning and depth to the Illinois experience. We extend a hearty ‘congratulations’ to all our award recipients,” said William Furry, Executive Director, Illinois State Historical Society.