(from Illinois Blue Book, 1983-1984)
Illinois has had two official state flags.
The first was officially adopted on July 6, 1915, after a vigorous campaign
by Mrs. Ella Park Lawrence, State Regent of the Daughters of the American
Revolution.
Early in 1912, Mrs. Lawrence began visiting local D.A.R. chapters throughout
Illinois seeking cooperation in promoting selection of an official state banner
to place in the Continental Memorial Hall in Washington, DC.
A prize of $25 was offered to the Chapter submitting the best design for the
banner and four judges were selected to choose the winner. Thirty-five designs
were submitted and the Rockford Chapter entry designed by Miss Lucy Derwent, was
chosen.
State Senator Raymond D. Meeker introduced the bill which was to legalize the
flag. The measure passed both Houses of the General Assembly and automatically
became a law on July 6, 1915, when Governor Edward F. Dunne failed to affix his
signature to the bill.
The move to design a new state flag was initiated by Chief Petty Officer
Bruce McDaniel of Waverly, then serving in Vietnam. The Illinois flag was one of
many state flags which were hung on the walls of his mess hall; its identity was
always questioned, so McDaniel requested that the flag carry the state's name.
A bill to amend the original flag act of 1915 was sponsored by Representative
Jack Walker of Lansing and was passed by the General Assembly and approved by
Governor Richard B. Ogilvie September 17, 1969. This authorized a new flag to
carry the word "Illinois".
Governor Ogilvie appointed a committee consisting of the State Historian, the
Director of the Illinois Information Service, and the State Records Archivist to
develop specifications for the new state flag to ensure uniformity in
reproduction of design and color by flag makers.
Mrs. Sanford Hutchison of Greenfield who had previously done extensive
research on the official design of the state seal, submitted a flag which contained all the required elements of the
design as specified by law, this was accepted by the committee, the Secretary of
State and the Governor; on July 1, 1970, it became the official flag of
Illinois.
The state flag of Illinois shows the emblem portion of the official state seal on a field of white. Beneath the seal is the word "Illinois"
in blue.
Illinois State Flag:
The state flag includes the emblem of the
official state seal with a white background. The word
"Illinois" is located beneath the seal in blue
letters. In it's history, Illinois has had two state flags.
Information taken from the Illinois Blue Book, 1995-1996 edition, says that the
first flag was adopted in 1915. Over 50 years later, an Illinois soldier serving
in Vietnam suggested that the word "Illinois" be added to the flag so
that there would be no question as to whose state flag
was flying. Representative Jack Walker of Lansing sponsored a bill to amend the
original Flag Act of 1915. This bill was passed by the General Assembly in 1969,
and on July 1, 1970 the current flag became the state's official flag.
old design
Great Seal of the State of Illinois
About the symbol
The Seal shown above is the third design of the State Seal and the fourth
overall design for an Illinois Seal.
The Secretary of State is the keeper of the keeper of the Great Seal. The
State Seal can only be reproduced or used in strict accordance with the
provisions of Chapter 1 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes.
History of the Great Seal of the State of Illinois
The first seal used in what is now Illinois was the seal of the Northwest
Territory in 1788.
Seal of the Illinois Territory
(sketch)
Shortly after the Illinois Territory gained statehood in December 1818, the
First General Assembly of the state decreed that state officials should procure
a permanent State Seal. Like the Territorial Seal, the first State Seal was
based on the Great Seal of the United States. However, unlike the Territorial
Seal, the First (and subsequent) State Seals shows the eagle with a banner
reading "State Sovereignty, National Union" in its mouth.
First Great Seal of the State of Illinois
The words "Seal of the State of Illinois" and the date "Aug.
26, 1818" appear between the inner and outer circles on the seal. The date
refers to the date that the first Illinois Constitution was signed in Kaskaskia.
The Second Great Seal of the State of Illinois was a slight modification of
the First. The eagle's wings were reduced somewhat, and the field of stars
around the eagle's head were removed.
Second Great Seal of the State of Illinois
Until 1868 the Second Great Seal was the one in use. In January 1867
Secretary of State Sharon Tynsdale told State Senator Allen C. Fuller that a new
seal was needed. He asked Senator Fuller to sponsor a bill to authorize that new
seal.
In the bill that Fuller sponsored, Tynsdale proposed changing the wording on
the banner the eagle held to "National Union, State Sovereignty" from
the original "State Sovereignty, National Union." The wording change
proposal was in response to the states rights controversy that was critical to
the, then recently, settled Civil War.
The Senate disagreed with Tynsdale's proposed wording change. A new State
Seal was authorized of March 7, 1867; however, the amended bill restored the
original wording. Although Tynsdale followed the General Assembly's decree that
he not reverse the wording, he redesigned the seal in such a way that the words
"National Union" are more prominent than the words "State
Sovereignty."
The present Great Seal of the State of Illinois is essentially unchanged from
the one produced by Tynsdale.
The date 1818 on the present Seal refers to the year Illinois became a state.
The date 1868 refers to the date the seal was redesigned. The shield carried by
the eagle shows thirteen stars and stripes representing the original states.
Illinois State Seal:
Overall, there have been four designs for the Illinois Seal.
The Secretary of State is the guardian of the Seal. The words
"Seal of the State of Illinois" and the date
"Aug. 26, 1818" are both located on the Great Seal.
The date reflects the date that the first Illinois Constitution was signed in
the first state capital, Kaskaskia. The present state seal was
adopted in 1868. The seal had some changes in words due to the
Civil War. The changes weren't welcome by all, but were still placed on the seal.
On the rock that the eagle is standing on are two dates. The 1818 date refers to
when Illinois became a state in the union. The 1868 date tells when the seal
was redesigned. The eagle carries a shield that shows thirteen stars and stripes
to signify the original states
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