For more than century, the Abraham Lincoln Association has worked to realize its charter mission: “To observe each anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln; to preserve and make more readily accessible the landmarks associated with his life; and to actively encourage, promote, and aid the collection and dissemination of authentic information regarding all phases of his life and career.”  Although the Association no longer maintains an archive of materials nor does it have a staff to produce original research monographs—the services provided ably by the world-class Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum--today it functions to provide a forum for scholars to present their research findings and new interpretations based upon familiar materials.  In addition, the Association provides a vital function by offering financial support to important Lincoln research and projects.  The Association’s unfailing annual contributions to the Lincoln Legal Papers have paid off with the DVD ROM edition, which appeared in 2000.  And the Association was the first organization to support the proposed Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library with a check for $5,000. The Association made its two most important works, The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln and Lincoln Day By Day, available on the Internet. All of the back issues of The Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association are available online through the University of Illinois Press website. This provides scholars around the world with access to significant Lincoln scholarship.  All totaled, these accomplishments are a remarkable legacy for any organization.

Founded by a group of civic-minded businessmen in Kampsville, the Kampsville Safe Deposit Company opened its doors in the summer of 1908. One of several small banking institutions under the trusteeship of the Bank of Hardin, the Safe Deposit Company officially changed its name to the Bank of Kampsville in 1922, after the state rewrote its banking laws. During the Great Depression, the Bank of Kampsville was one of only two Calhoun County banks able to keep its doors open, a fact attributed to the determination of the community and hard work of the directors and management.The bank was remodeled in 1968 but in 1973 and 1974, rising floodwaters from the Illinois River forced the directors to move operations to higher ground. In 1975, a new bank building was completed, a facility that also includes the local branch U.S. Post Office. Success brought new business opportunities, and in 1983, the Bank of Kampsville opened a new branch facility in Brussels, and in 1995, another in Hardin. In April 2000, the Bank of Kampsville bought out the First Bank in Pleasant Hill, which is now called the Pleasant Hill Banking Facility. Today the Bank of Kampsville remains locally owned and operated, serving the citizens of Calhoun County with the same dedication and civic-mindedness as its founders. 

John and Theodore Becker opened their Becker Brothers Clothing Store in 1908, buying the business from the estate of Colonel H.C. Bohn, who had operated a clothing store in Morrisonville since the late 1880s. John had worked for Col. Bohn, cleaning spittoons, mopping floors, and filling coal-oil lamps, learning the shop-keeping business in his spare time. The Becker brothers ran the store together until 1915, when John bought out his brother’s interest and changed the named to Becker Clothing Store, adding a motto:“Dependable Merchandise at Reasonable Prices.” Back then Becker’s was a place where men and boys shopped in the fall to buy all their clothing needs for the winter—woolen underwear, overalls, work gloves, a serge suit for funerals and weddings, and stiff shirt collars." John’s son Wayne took over the haberdashery in 1972, adding a limited line of women’s sweaters soon after. Due to declining health, Wayne sold the business to Dennis and Debbie Held of Raymond at the end of 1992. The couple decided to keep the Becker store name due to its longtime presence and prominence in the community. The Helds added more women’s clothing to the inventory and began offering gift items, greeting cards, gift-wrap, and tuxedo rentals to their customers. The Becker Clothing Store continues to operate out of the original storefront, and ownership of the building remains in the Becker family.

Established in Chicago in 1908 as the Board of Conference Claimants of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits of the United Methodist Church now resides in Evanston, where it administers the retirement, health, welfare, and other programs for more than 74,000 clergy and lay employees. With $16 billion in assets under management, the UMC General Board is the largest faith-based pension fund--and one of the top-100 pension funds--in the United States. The General Board’s Positive Social Purpose Investment Program benefits communities through direct investments in affordable housing and community development, and likewise enjoys a global reputation as one of the original 25 signatories instrumental in developing the United Nations’ “Principles for Responsible Investment.” In addition, the General Board’s investment policies exclude investments in companies earning significant revenues from gambling, or from the sale, manufacture, or distribution of alcoholic beverages, tobacco-related products, pornography, or weapons. The General Board, whose motto is “Caring for Those Who Serve,” is an advocate for environmental stewardship, human and workers’ rights, access to health care, and sound corporate governance practices. Still faithful to its mission, the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits of the United Methodist Church remains financially strong and socially responsible so those in the field can continue to serve others.

The Chicago Sunday Evening Club, a faith-based, not-for-profit media organization, dates to 1908, when its founders were looking for a suitable name for their weekly ecumenical service at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall. Organizers didn’t want the program, which met on Sunday evenings in Chicago, to sound “churchy,” so they called it a Club. The principle founder was Clifford W. Barnes, a young, idealistic graduate of Yale Divinity School, who hit upon the idea of an organization of Christian business leaders interested in promoting the “moral and religious welfare of the city” (Chicago). The first service was held on February 16, 1908. Early speakers at the Club included Jane Addams, William Jennings Bryan, Booker T. Washington, Rabbi Stephen Wise, and theologian Reinhold Niebuhr. The Sunday Evening program expanded during the early years of radio, earning a national presence for the Club and a nickname, “The Nation’s Pulpit.” Barnes passed away in the 1930s, but his organization took root. During the 1950s, The Chicago Sunday Evening Club premiered on television, broadcasting on WTTW, Channel 11, and its guest list included Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Paul Tillich, and Elton Trueblood, During the 1980s and ‘90s, The Chicago Sunday Evening Club’s audience expanded to cable television and created a program called “30 Good Minutes,” which ran for several years on the Odyssey Network, ending in 2001. Today “30 Good Minutes” is a weekly feature on WTTW, as well as on the Club’s expansive website, which has an archives dating back to the early years of the organization’s history. Accepting the award is T. Tolbert Chisum.

The first meeting of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Geneseo Chapter, was called to order on February 6, 1899, in the home of DAR Regent Ella N. Taylor. Officers were elected, 19 charter members were accepted, and the good work of this dedicated organization was begun. Their mission was simple: To perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence by the acquisition of historical spots and the erection of monuments; by the encouragement of historical research in relation to the Revolution, and the publication of its results; by the preservation of documents and relics, and of the records of the individual services of Revolutionary soldiers and patriots, and by the promotion of celebrations of all patriotic anniversaries.” One hundred and nine years later, this patriotic service organization still carries on the task of its forebearers, preserving Revolutionary War and early American history. The Chapter recently rededicated markers to the first log cabin in Geneseo and to the first post office in Henry County, and partnered with the Moline Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution to honor the grave of Revolutionary War soldier George Nixon in Henry County.

On January 29, 1908, Frank E. Furst, F. F. McNess, and Charles H. Green registered their corporation, the Furst-McNess Company, with the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office in Springfield. The object of their business was far-reaching but simple: To buy, sell, manufacture, import, export, and otherwise deal in medicines, drugs, flavoring extracts, essences, spices, foods, soaps, and all materials, apparatus, and things capable of being used in connection with the preparation and sale of the same.” With capital stock of $10,000, the company began doing business in the city of Freeport, selling products directly to farm homes and merchants throughout rural America. In 1958, the company expanded into the livestock vitamin mineral premix business, and in 1992, acquired Miracle Feeds, with operations in the United States and Canada. Today, the Agri-Group of the Furst-McNess Company offers a full complement of commodity, premix, and companion products, technical consultation, and transportation services to fully meet the needs of today’s livestock producer in the United States and Canada. With offices in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia, as well as in North Carolina, Illinois, Missouri, Florida, Georgia, and Wisconsin, the Furst-McNess Company dominates its industry from its home offices, where it all began, in Freeport, Illinois.

Founded in 1874 by Gustav Augustus Johnson, a Swedish immigrant carpenter, the G.A. Johnson construction company got its start constructing railroad stations from Chicago to Seattle, New Orleans to Minnesota. Today this seventh-generation, family-owned business based in Evanston employs 40 full-time salaried personnel and 75 skilled craftsmen, and is licensed to operate in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. In more recent times, G.A. Johnson and Son has constructed shopping centers, big box stores, supermarkets, anchor stores—everything from Borders to Walgreens stores, Best Buys to Wal-Marts. The company has renovated Frank Lloyd Wright landmarks, constructed factories and country clubs, and built schools and athletic fields, nursing homes and antique malls—even university laboratories. In addition, G. A. Johnson and Son has designed and built more than 50 custom homes on private estates throughout Chicagoland, a testament to the vision of the founder.

When Henry Coffman, Lewis Fosha, and Robert Wessels of German Valley, Illinois, were given their state charter in 1907 to organize the German-American State Bank, they worked hard to raise $25,000 in capital stock to open their door. But with only 8 original stockholders, 7 directors, and 3 officers to put their hopes in, few could foresee the success of their enterprise. Today the German-American State Bank has assets of more than $145 million, capital stock of nearly $12 million, and 42 full and part-time employees. For a sleepy town in far northern Illinois, German-American State Bank is the measure of success. By 1953, the bank outgrew its original building. The old bank was demolished and a new modern facility arose on the same site. That building expanded in the 1970s, and received a complete interior makeover in 1996. Branch banks in Seward, Pecatonica, and Winnebago opened in 1982, 1997, and 2005. In 1986, the German-American State Bank and the State Bank of Davis formed Foresight Financial Group, a partnership that allowed the two institutions to remain competitive. Since then, Northwest Bank of Rockford, the State Bank of Freeport, and Lena State Bank have likewise merged with Foresight, given German-American State Bank and its banking partners a firm foothold on the future. Accepting the award is James Scheiderman.

Henry F. Gehant, founder of the Gehant Banking Company, was born in a log cabin in Shelby County, Illinois, on May 4, 1863. One of eight children, he was the son of French emigrants who arrived in this country in 1856. Henry and his family moved to Lee County when he was still a boy, and there the future banker soon established himself as a rising community leader. Active in local politics, the young Mr. Gehant was instrumental in incorporating the village of West Brooklyn, establishing the local newspaper, building the St. Mary’s Church, and organizing the Farmers’ Elevator Company, of which he was the first president. By the time of his marriage in 1887, Mr. Gehant was called “the most progressive and liberal citizen” in the county. The H.F. Gehant Banking Company first opened for business on May 10, 1897, on the same site as the present-day Gehant building in West Brooklyn. Despite competition in neighboring towns, Mr. Gehant, with capital of $10,000, embarked on his mission to serve his community with excellence, a personal touch, and the flexibility unique to a community bank. Although Mr. Gehant died in 1927, that tradition continues proudly today. The bank has grown over the years and recently opened a new branch in Triumph. It would please Mr. Gehant to know that the business remains family owned and operated (now fifth-generation), serving north central Illinois as a full-service financial institution, with assets totaling more than $46 million.

The Monmouth Country Club was first organized on October 30, 1900. The Club existed for several months as a social organization before the membership voted to establish a more permanent organization, purchase land, and build a proper clubhouse. The Club officially established itself as a corporation on September 26, 1902, and, with $5,000 in capital stock, purchased the 24 acres of land it was presently using, adding 10 acres in later years. The club hired renowned Chicago course designer Tom Bendelow to layout the greens, and the nine-hole course at the Monmouth Country Club was born. According to Club manager John Twomey, some of the course’s original holes are shorter than modern fairways, a reminder of the way the game was played a century ago. Today Monmouth greens features 3,170 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 35. The course rating is 34.5 and has a slope rating of 113. Country Club amenities also include a swimming pool and several active social clubs for the organizations 200-plus members.

The oldest chartered charitable organization in the state, the Illinois St. Andrew’s Society met in Chicago for the first time on the birthday of St. Andrew, November 30, 1845. The dinner was hosted by future Civil War general George B. McClellan at the Lake House, where the Society’s constitution and bylaws would be adopted the following January. Chartered by the Illinois General Assembly on February 10, 1853, the Illinois St. Andrew’s Society’s mission is to “mitigate the evils and vicissitudes incident to life” for persons of Scottish birth or descent, and to “promote and cultivate friendly intercourse among its members.” To that end, the Society began to plan the building of its signature institution, the Scottish Old People’s Home, in 1870, but the Chicago Fire in October 1871 delayed the work for 30 years. In 1909, Dr. John McGill donated a five-acre tract to the Society in North Riverside and architect William Mundie was hired to design and supervise the construction of the home. The grand opening, attended by several hundred people, was held on November 5, 1910, and featured a “Scottish boys’ band.” Although the original building was destroyed by fire in 1917, it was rebuilt and today the Home—the only healthcare facility of its kind in North America-- continues to be a source of great pride in the Scottish community. Accepting the award is Wayne Rethford.

What do you call a studious group of Decatur women who, for 107 continuous years and four generations, has systematically explored the world, its people and cultures, and current events--all from the comfort of their central Illinois community? The Study Class, of course. Established in 1901 by a core group of 24 young ladies, daughters, and friends of the Art Class at Millikin University, the Study Class has taken the wonders of the world as an invitation to discover its mysteries and find ways to ameliorate its miseries. During World War I, the Study Class converted the back room of Mrs. E. L. Pelgram’s home (an early member) into a workroom for making bandages, gauze pads, and comfort bags for soldiers; while one member presented a paper on the topic of the year, the others listened and worked away. In 1918, the class “adopted” Francois, a fatherless boy in France; his picture and a lock of his hair are among the 107 years of recorded minutes in the organization’s archives, as are summaries of papers presented over the years. In recent years the Study Class, which meets weekly from September to April, has explored the histories and heritages of Southeast Asia, India, China, and Russia, as well as famous women of the world. For the group’s centennial celebration it focused on the history of Macon County and Decatur. Membership in the Study Class is fixed at 24, and each member is required to present a 60-90 minute paper once a year. Given its dedication and resourcefulness, the Study Class should be part of the global conversation for years to come.

In 1906, the three Wick brothers of Highland, Illinois, were craftsmen by trade--John and Louis were watchmakers, and Adolph was a cabinetmaker. John was studying to be an organist at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Highland, and became fascinated by the inner workings of the pipe organ. With a little persuasion, he encouraged his brothers to help him build one above their storefront. They were so successful at building organs that they formed a corporation—Wicks Organ Company—and eventually moved their operation into a 140,000 square-foot factory. From 1906 to 1914 the company built approximately 140 instruments—all by hand—for sale and shipment around the nation and the world. The peak year was 1928, when 120 pipe organs were placed. Today the company builds about 30 instruments annually, the average costing about $250,000. The first organ they built, Opus #1, is now on display in a museum at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. The Wicks Company has undergone many changes over the decades, although it still builds pipe organs for an international market. Last year Wicks installed a new pipe organ, Opus #6443, at the Tallowood Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, a 5,000-pipe instrument that cost more than $1 million to build and install. To satisfy a larger marker, the Wicks company now also builds digital instruments, and has diversified its business significantly, producing airplane parts through its Wicks Aircraft Company, and home furniture through its Wicks Custom Woods division. According to board chair Barbara Wick, the corporation is now in the hands of the third generation of Wicks, whom she is confident will lead the company proudly and confidently into the 21^st century.

At the turn of the 19^th century, the citizens of Elgin were swept up by the game of golf.  Their only handicap was a suitable place to enjoy their pastime. A crude golf course was laid out behind the city’s mental asylum. Unfortunately, it lacked putting greens, tin cups replaced holes, and rather than sand traps or water hazards, golfers had to aim around grazing sheep and cattle. When local citizen William H. Wing passed away in 1902, he donated 110 acres of land to the city to be used as a public park. His vision included tennis courts, a Gentlemen’s Drive Club, and Wing Park Golf Club, a nine-hole municipal golf course. The city hired nationally renowned golf course designer Thomas Bendelow, who had laid out municipal courses in New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Milwaukee, to design the Elgin public greens, which would be the first of their class in the nation. “Elgin is now in a class with the largest cities of the country as regards golf interests,” said Bendelow in a 1908 interview, “as it is the smallest city in the United States to establish public golf links.” That distinction no longer makes Wing Park Golf Course unique, as communities much smaller now have public links. But the city of Elgin can be proud that its oldest municipal golf course has a firm place in history, and that will be serving new generations of golfers for years to come.  And Wing Park Golf Course has a new distinction in 2008: its nomination to the National Register of Historic Places has been accepted. Congratulations.

Incorporated by the state of Illinois on July 23, 1870, as the Seminary of the Sacred Heart of Chicago, the history of present-day Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart in Lake Forest dates back to 1858, when three Catholic nuns, led by Mother Margaret Anne Gallwey, arrived in America from France. She and her companions were charged with establishing a “female seminary for the education of girls and young ladies” in the arts and sciences, including classes in classical literature, ancient and modern languages, metaphysics, mental and moral philosophy, history, mathematics, physics, music, drawing and “the fine arts generally.” The Seminary’s original location was at Wabash Avenue and Eighth Street in Chicago. Woodlands Academy moved to Lake Forest in 1897 and is one of 22 Sacred Heart Schools in the nation and 300 around the world, sharing a Catholic teaching tradition more than 200 years old. Accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Universities, Woodlands is well into its second century. The schools’s motto-- “Excellence in Leadership, Women for Tomorrow”—promises that Woodlands Academy will be helping shape the hearts and minds of its students for years to come. Accepting the award is Sister Anne Byrne.