DECATUR, Ill. – Millikin University Associate Professor of History Dr. Dan Monroe will lead the search committee tasked with finding candidates for the position of Illinois State Historian.
In the past, the position was a permanent post held by a state employee who was an Abraham Lincoln expert. Now, the appointment will last two years and can go to anyone with the proper credentials, no matter where they work or their historical focus. The approach is similar to how the Library of Congress handles the post of U.S. Poet Laureate.
The goal is to have an array of historians who will be able to excite new audiences about different strands of Illinois history. The state is now searching for the right person to hold this exciting position and experts in Illinois state history are encouraged to apply for the position.
“Illinois is doing something important by reinventing the position of State Historian. It’s a chance to explore overlooked parts of the Illinois story, amplify new voices, and reach folks who might not realize how exciting history can be,” Monroe said. “We want to cast a wide net in our search for candidates.”
The board of trustees for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM) will lead the first phase of the search. After assessing candidates, the board will recommend candidates to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who will make the final decision.
Monroe specializes in American History and is the author of three books: “The Republican Vision of John Tyler” (2003), “At Home with Illinois’ Governors: A Social History of the Illinois Executive Mansion” (2002), and “Shapers of the Great Debate on the Civil War: A Biographical Dictionary (2005),” with co-author Dr. Bruce Tap.
Monroe is also the former President of the Illinois State Historical Society and is a member of the board of the Abraham Lincoln Association. He also serves as the Illinois Historian on the Board of Trustees of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
Candidates for State Historian will need expertise in the history of at least one underrepresented minority group. They must also do public outreach and have a track record of community engagement and service to Illinois history.
For more information about the position, visit https://bit.ly/StateHistorian.
About the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM)
The mission of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is to inspire civic engagement through the diverse lens of Illinois history and share with the world the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. We pursue this mission through a combination of rigorous scholarship and high-tech showmanship built on the bedrock of the ALPLM’s unparalleled collection of historical materials – roughly 13 million items from all eras of Illinois history.
For more information, visit www.PresidentLincoln.illinois.gov. You can follow the ALPLM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
