the ishs was created as an entity with the original purpose of gathering and publishing materials on paper relating to illinois' early history. american civil war veterans and the grandchildren of the state's early settlers were eager to learn how illinois had organized itself in the years prior to the 1860 presidential election of abraham lincoln. as time passed, the focus of the society shifted from books to periodicals and symposia. affiliated and independent scholars were given a venue to publish their findings. as paved highway mileage increased in illinois in the early 1900s, the ishs began to build and maintain state highway historic markers. the society's work continued to focus on pioneer years and the 19th century.