Illinois Humanities announced today the second round of grants as part of the “Forgotten Illinois” initiative, which is meant to help celebrate the Illinois Bicentennial in 2018 and to spark curiosity about Illinois history and its implications for our state’s present and future. The program is carried out in partnership with the Illinois State Historical Society.

The grants program is a one-year component of the Community Grants program at the Chicago-based Illinois Humanities. Forgotten Illinois grants are meant to respond to the core question of “What can lesser-known features of Illinois history tell us about the ever-evolving identity of our state?” Grants can be for as much as $2,500, and are meant to help support research projects, arts-based activities, and classroom projects.

Projects include photography of endangered historic sites, a play about the role of Illinois in the abolition movement, and research into the history of African Americans in early Illinois

The following seven projects are being funded in this second round:

·       Illinois College: Theatre Production: Against the Tide: Illinois College and Abolition ($2,500)

·       Liz Chilsen (individual): Lessons of Place: Photographing Endangered Historic Sites in Illinois ($2,500)

·       Lincoln Land Community College Foundation: African Americans in Early Illinois ($2,500)

·       Landmarks Illinois: People Saving Places: The Underground Railroad in Illinois ($2,500)

·       Lawrence County Historical Society: A Documentary Record of the Hanging of the First Woman in Illinois ($2,500)

·       Village of Elkhart Illinois: Windows Into Our Past: The Village of Elkhart, Ill. ($900)

·       Paula Pugh Romanaux (individual): Andrew Carnegie’s Benefaction of 207 Pipe Organs in Illinois, 1901-1919 ($2,500)

“We are tremendously excited about these projects,’ said Mark Hallett, program manager for grants and evaluation at Illinois Humanities. “They collectively represent creative and engaging projects that will raise aspects of our state history that are meant to inspire engagement, interest and curiosity.”

There will be one final round of “Forgotten Illinois” grants, with a Sept. 15, 2018, deadline. For more information, please visit www.ilhumanities.org/grants, or reach out to Mark Hallett, program manager for grants and evaluation, at mark.hallett@ilhumanities.org.