Peoria area individuals, organizations pile up state historical society accolades

The Illinois State Historical Society’s 2023 Best of Illinois Annual History Awards program in Springfield saw a host of greater Peoria area individuals and organizations collecting accolades.

According to a news release from Tazewell County Clerk and Recorder of Deeds John Ackerman; his office, the City of Pekin government, the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce, Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society, YWCA of Pekin Coalition for Equality, Pekin Community High School, and local historian Jared Olar received recognition for last year’s dedication of Legins-Costley Park in Pekin.

The park memorializes Nance Legins-Costley and her son William Henry Costley, the first enslaved individuals emancipated by Abraham Lincoln.

“Everybody that was part of that project should be very honored that we were recognized by the state of Illinois,” Pekin Mayor Mary Burress said at Monday’s Pekin City Council meeting.

The Tazewell County Clerk and Recorder of Deeds Office also received awards for an initiative to create a list of remaining World War II veterans in the county, and the digitalization and publication of Tazewell County Board minutes dating back to 1827.

The Illinois Historical Society also honored the Tazewell County Veterans Assistance Commission and the software company ArcaSearch for their participation in the projects.

"We are extremely honored to be recognized by the Illinois State Historical Society for these projects" Ackerman said. "Historical preservation and sharing this rich history with the public is a priority of our office. To be recognized by the state agency responsible for encouraging these activities is truly an honor we appreciate and value."

Olar also received recognition for his role in last year’s dedication for last year’s dedication of the Peoria Freedom and Remembrance Memorial; along with local historian Bob Hoffer, community activist David Pittman, author Carl Adams, local genealogist Joe Hutchison, and writer/producer Bill Poorman.

The site memorializes the Moffatt Cemetery, the gravesites of numerous Civil War veterans, and Nance Legins-Costley’s gravesite.

The Illinois State Historical Society additionally lauded the Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society’s newsletter “The Monthly,” and the teachers and students at Pekin Community High School for their creation of a website in tribute to Legins-Costley.

The Best of Illinois Annual History Awards are presented to individuals and organizations for sustained and varied contributions to local and state history. More information is available at historyillinois.org.

This article originally appeared on Pekin Daily Times: Peoria individuals, groups pile up state historical society accolades