California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA

Serving thousands of people a year, the collection of the California Historical Society contains over 500,000 images, 5,000 works of art, and an extensive collection of manuscripts, maps, posters, books, and pamphlets reflecting all aspects of California history. Their research collections contain material relating to the history of California and the West from early exploration to present time.

The Atlanta History Center contains not only primary and secondary source materials relating to the history and culture of the American South, but also textiles, decorative arts, military collections, etc. that connect the history of Atlanta, Georgia to the national historical context. The majority of their 7,500 objects in the military collection relate to the Civil War, including both Union and Confederate experiences in all areas of conflict.

Established in 1956, the Champaign County Historical Archives maintains a collection in both primary and secondary sources on the history of Champaign County. To support this collection and extend its usefulness, the archives also collects secondary materials on the history of the rest of Illinois.

Housed in the oldest commercial building in Champaign, the Champaign County Historical Museum works to discover, collect, preserve, exhibit, study, and interpret objects relating to the history of Champaign County, and to provide educational programs about the County's heritage and the Museum's collections.

The Chicago History Museum (CHM) maintains the strong tradition of excellence since its creation in 1856.   Nationally recognized for its major collection, CHM specializes in the diverse and evolving history of Chicago and Illinois, as well as selected subject areas of American history.  The museum’s mission is: to expand audiences for history, to be a leader in history education, and to remain a premier research institution.  Each year, more than 150,000 individuals visit the museum to view exhibitions, participate in public and school programs, and engage in research.  The museum houses more than 22 million objects, images, and documents, including books, manuscripts, paintings, sculpture, costumes, prints, photographs, news films, architectural drawings, and building fragments.

The Champaign County Forest Preserve District’s Early American Museum is one of only seven museums in downstate Illinois to be accredited by the American Association of Museums. The museum’s collections and installations highlight the major themes of American History through local people and artifacts.  Dr. Barbara Oehlschlaeger-Garvey, the Curator of History at the Early American Museum, performs collection care for and interprets over 15,000 artifacts from prehistory to the mid 20th century.

The Illinois State Archives works to make their vast collection of Illinois and local governmental records accessible. The director of the archives oversees a professional staff of 58 archivists and support personnel who work with a collection that covers 80,000 cubic feet of public records.  The Illinois State Archives houses almost 200 documents that, at least in part, are written in Abraham Lincoln’s hand.

Since 1916, the Macon County Historical Society & Museum has strived to preserve the historical heritage of the Decatur and Macon County area, and educate citizens of all ages about that heritage.  The museum includes an over 2,000 volume Lincoln Library, an extensive collection of historical objects and reading material, the Abraham Lincoln Theater, permanent exhibits that feature lifestyles of Macon County residents from the early 1800s to 1890s, as well as several exhibit rooms that are changed periodically to showcase the Museum's extensive historical collection.

The McLean County Museum of History traces its history back to 1892.  Currently housed in the Old McLean County Courthouse, the museum combines a commitment to historical preservation and a passion for local history.  The museum maintains an excellent website and an active outreach program to the public schools and is accredited by the American Association of Museums.

Great Lakes Regional Depository of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the depository and center for research in historical records from Federal agencies and courts in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.  They have over 80,000 cubic feet of records dating from 1800 to the present day.  As a regional depository of the NARA, they are a gateway to the largest collection of federal documents. 

Boston has one of the most compelling histories of any city in the nation. With the help of Richard Rabinowitz, one of the leading public historians in the United States, The Boston Museum will serve as a gateway to the city’s 400-year history, offering a series of teacher institutes and student programs that link the program offerings of Boston’s renowned museums, historic trails, and sites.

With a large collection of unique regional history sources and objects documenting St. Louis, Missouri, the Mississippi and Missouri Valleys, the Louisiana Purchase Territory and the American West, the Missouri History Museum, including its nearby Library and Research Center, is uniquely suited for local history research.  The museum maintains a rich and easy-to-use website with a plethora of resources for educators, historians, and students.

The National Civil Rights Museum hosts almost 200,000 visitors each year and showcases permanent and rotating collections focused on the history of the Civil Rights Movement.  Based in the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in 1968, the museum uses the power of Dr. King’s work as a window into the larger issues of civil rights throughout American history.

The Tennessee State Library and Archives is the official repository for the records of state government and the custodian of Tennessee’s documentary history. The library and archives include 682,000 print materials, 5,000 maps, and 1,000,000 photographs, including letters written by Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, and Andrew Johnson; Ida B. Wells' 1885 court case, and records pertaining to slavery in Tennessee.

With a museum containing over 500,000 objects and artifacts, ten historic preservation sites, a full research archives with a vast on-line collection, and an active educator outreach program, the Wisconsin Historical Society is the most complete and accessible repository of local history in Wisconsin.