About the
Illinois State Archives
The Illinois State Archives was
established in 1921.
Margaret Cross Norton, its first
director, gained an international reputation for her work in
its administration and in the development of professional
archival practice in the United States. The Archives
Building in Springfield, constructed as a result of Norton's
efforts and opened in 1938, was rededicated in her honor in
1995.
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State Archives serves by law as the depository of public
records of Illinois state and local governmental agencies
which possess permanent administrative, legal, or historical
research values. Its collections do not include manuscript,
newspaper, or other nonofficial sources. These records are made available to the
public, officials, and scholars at the Norton Building and
at seven regional depositories located on state university
campuses throughout Illinois. The Archives provides access
to them through a series of printed and electronic guides,
and by in-person, mail, telephone, FAX, and Internet
database reference services.
Margaret Cross Norton Building
The Margaret Cross Norton Building was constructed from 1936 to 1938 as the official repository of state documents of permanent value. Prior to its construction, valuable military records were kept in the State Arsenal, located at the site of the present State Armoryin Springfield.
In February 1934, a 10-year-old boy set the Arsenal on fire, destroying many of the military documents and records. Following the fire, Secretary of State Edward Hughes supported legislation to construct the State Archives Building. The limestone-faced building was designed to protect the states records of enduring value from the hazards of fire, humidity, heat, vermin, theft and exposure.
The Illinois State Archives building was completed in 1938 with the last names of 25 people engraved around the top. The twenty-three men and two women represent individuals who were related to Illinois in some manner and who made contributions to the cultural, social, educational, political and economic development of both the state and nation. They were chosen by the State Board of Art Advisors who in 1936 acted in an advisory capacity to the State Department of Public Works and Buildings. All of the honorees were deceased before the building opened. The names of 31 men and one woman had already been inscribed on the Centennial (Howlett) Building before the Archives was constructed.
The 25 names on the Margaret Cross Norton building are as follows:
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