2023 – Illinois State Historical Society Best of Illinois History Award

Beginning in early 2021, TCGHS embarked on a journey to create historical markers and events honoring the men and women that made the Underground Railroad successful in Central Illinois. John Ackerman was the event planner and Susan Rynerson researched the individuals to be honored. As each event was held, the stories of these Underground Railroad conductors was published in the TCGHS' The Monthly newsletter.

 

The first event was held in Morton, IL on March 2021, where TCGHS honored the Crosby and Roberts families.

 

In June 2021, two events were held in Tremont (honoring the Jones, Kingman and Matthews families) and in Cincinnati township (honoring the Dillon, Summers, and Woodrow families).

 

In September 2021, TCGHS was in Delavan to honor the Brown, Cheever and Tefft families

 

In April 2022, another event was held in Washington, IL, to honor the Kern and Scott families.

 

In June 2022, an event was held in Pekin to celebrate Juneteenth and honor UGRR conductor Peter Logan. The recognition program continued to evolve and lead to the discovery of so much anti-slavery work in Tazewell County (going back to 1824), that a book is being contemplated.

 

John Ackerman’s desire to have an umbrella organization that would connect all the Illinois Underground Railroad sites prompted him to reach out to Senator Koehler, resulting in SB 1623, which lead to the formation of the Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force.