Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County Fund

The mission of the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County is to provide for the education of its members and others about the history of Quincy, Adams County, and the surrounding area. The Society is committed to the collection and preservation of documents and other physical objects related to local history.

The Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County was founded in 1896 as the Historical Society of Quincy, IL, “to gather up all that relates to the history of Quincy and vicinity and to provide a safe place of deposit for all books, pictures, portraits, manuscripts and documents of every sort which illustrate this history,” according to the Society’s Charter. The original Directors included Lorenzo Bull, James Woodruff, E.B. Hamilton, T.M. Rogers, Samuel H. Emery, Jr., Edward C. Wells, Chauncey H. Castle, John G. Moulton and William H. Collins. In 1922 the Society became the Historical Society of Quincy & Adams County.

In 1907, the Historical Society acquired the 1835 the Governor John Wood Mansion constructed by master builder John Cleveland. With its Greek Revival features, it is the hallmark historic structure of the Society and the centerpiece of its 12th and State location. While the Governor’s home served as the Society’s museum for many years, in 1982 it was restored with period furnishings appropriate to his time, allowing visitors to imagine life in the mid-1800s. In 2002, the 1835 Log Cabin was moved to the Mansion grounds and now serves as the focus of our Third Grade education program.

The Society also offers student programs for area schools, many of which are designed to enhance the curriculum studied at a specific grade level: Log Cabin (3rd grade); Governor John Wood Mansion (all age groups); Quincy at the Time of the Civil War (5th grade); History Museum on the Square (all age groups); Quincy in the Lincoln Era (7th grade).

The Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County Fund, established with the Community Foundation, will provide support for the Society as it continues to preserve our area's structures and the rich history behind it.

To learn more about the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County,  visit www.hsqac.org.