Past ISGS Honors and Awards

The Illinois State Genealogical Society was organized in October 1968 under the guidance of the late Lowell M. Volkel (1936-1992), an archivist at the Illinois State Archives. For two decades, he helped ISGS to grow and become the Society it is today. In honor of his accomplishments in the field of genealogy and records preservation, the Illinois State Genealogical Society established the Volkel Medal of Honor and the Volkel Hall of Fame.
 
Volkel Medal of Honor
 
This award was first established in 1974 as the ISGS Medal of Honor and discontinued when it was discovered that the mold for the medal had been accidentally broken. In 1993 the medal was redesigned and named the Volkel Medal of Honor. It is the highest honor given by the Illinois State Genealogical Society. Those who have received the award are:
  • 1974 – Clifford Neal Smith
  • 1996 – Elizabeth Pearson White
  • 1998 – Dr. John Daly
  • 2006 – Michael Fitchel
  • 2012 – Thomas MacEntee
  • 2014 – Tony Burroughs
  • 2016 – Loretto “Lou” Dennis Szucs
  • 2018 – David Kent Coy
  • 2020 – George F. Perkins
  • 2022 – Gary K. Hargis, PhD
Volkel Hall of Fame
 
The Volkel Hall of Fame display case is located on the first floor of the Illinois State Archives. Hall of Fame recipients are deceased genealogists. Those who have been inducted are:
  • 1993 – Lowell M. Volkel
  • 1995 – Grace Sims Moyer
  • 1997 – Fern Lane Briggs (Clinton, IL)
  • 1999 – June B. Barekman
  • 2009 – Joseph G. Wylder
  • 2011 – Elizabeth A. “Libby” Grimm and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking
  • 2017 – Marjorie Vance Rice
  • 2019 – Lloyd deWitt Bockstruck
  • 2021 – Elmer Dickson (Kendell County, IL)
Community Service Awards
  • 1996 – Opel Keever Johnson
  • 1998 – Louis L. Myers, Jr.
  • 1998 – Cinda Klickna
  • 2000 – Tazewell County Genealogical Society
  • 2000 – Joan Griffis
  • 2000 – Piatt County Historical & Genealogical Society
  • 2002 – June Stoner (Tazewell County Genealogical Society)
  • 2003 – Mayor Tom Caraker (Troy, IL)
  • 2005 – Ada Hubbard (La Harpe, IL)
  • 2009 – Linda Eder (Kane County Genealogical Society)
  • 2009 – Vespasin Warner Public Library (DeWitt County Genealogical Society)
  • 2010 – Johanna Hunter
  • 2010 – Cheri Davis
  • 2011 – Robert G. Buecher and Nelda Ravens (Bonfield, IL)
  • 2012 – D. Patrick Gorman (Dixon, IL)
  • 2012 – Merrill and Sheryl Prange (Fults, IL) 
  • 2014 – Illiana Genealogical and Historical Society
  • 2015 – Sandy Vahl (Sheridan Historical Society)
  • 2016 – David C. Bailey Sr. (Naperville, IL)
  • 2016 – Harold Schook (Odell, IL)
  • 2016 – Paul Ritter (Pontiac, IL)
  • 2017 – Don Schmidt
  • 2017 – Floyd Ham
  • 2017 – Dr. Greg Langan (Lee County Historical and Genealogical Society)
  • 2017 – Casey Historical Society
  • 2017 – Members of the Chicago Genealogical Society and the Scottish Genealogy Group of the Illinois St. Andrews Society:  
    • ​Caron Primas Brennan
    • Cindy Cody
    • Stephanie Pierce Carbonetti
    • Kathleen Craine
    • Janet Desaulniers
    • Ann Tice
    • Larry Klauser
    • Devin Payne
    • Marchal Peterson Maass
    • Matthew Rutherford
    • Laura Scalzitti
    • Theresa Toms
    • Jill Weiss
    • Jean Zack
    • Felicia Ziomek
    • Carol Zsolna
  • ​2017 – Members of the Czech and Slovak American Genealogical Society:
    • ​Marianne Miklas
    • Mary Kamin
    • Victor Kos
    • Paul Nemecek
    • Dolores Benes Duy
    • Beverly Scheer
  • ​2018 – Gretchen DeJaynes (McDonough County Clerk)
  • 2018 – Judy Jennings (St. Clair County Genealogical Society)
  • 2020 – Tara Cajacob and the Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society
  • 2021 – Gloria Dettleff, Florissant, MO
  • 2021 – Roger Matile, Oswego, IL
  • 2022 – Jim Mitchell, Fr. Dan Hall CSV and Maureen Henninf Martin of St. Viator High School, Arlington Heights. IL
  • 2023 – The Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society
Distinguished Service Awards
  • 1971 – Henrietta D. Jesse (Macon, IL)
  • 1971 – Martha A. Montgomery (Maroa, IL)
  • 1971 – Lowell M. Volkel (Decatur, IL)
  • 1972 – Walters Sanders (Litchfield, IL)
  • 1973 – Carrie Carson (Greenup, IL)
  • 1973 – Mary E. Holt (Greenup, IL)
  • 1973 – Janet Schonert (Decatur, IL)
  • 1974 – Dr. Leslie A Bryan (Champaign, IL)
  • 1976 – Dr. Robert G. Bone (Normal, IL)
  • 1976 – Doris A. Hilton (Bloomington, IL)
  • 1976 – Myrna L. Park (Normal, IL)
  • 1977 – Eileen S. Cunningham
  • 1978 – Harold G. Felty (Champaign, IL)
  • 1978 – Ruth B. Hamm (Hudson, IL)
  • 1979 – Robert W. Bills (Urbana, IL)
  • 1979 – Marily Clause (Springfield, IL)
  • 1979 – Rachel C. Klein (Carterville, IL)
  • 1981 – Elizabeth Leighty
  • 1981 – Dr. Carl Weatherbee (Decatur, IL)
  • 1981 – Doris R. Bowers (Decatur, IL)
  • 1982 – Olive Hunter (Decatur, IL)
  • 1982 – Elsie Leimbach
  • 1988 – Sen. Carl Hawkinson (Springfield, IL)
  • 1991 – Lowell M. Volkel (Springfield, IL)
  • 1992 – Sandra Luebking (Western Springs, IL)
  • 1992 – Loretto D. Szucs (Midlothian, IL)
  • 2006 – Fred Delap (Illinois State Archives)
  • 2010 – Curt B. Witcher (Allen County Public Library)
  • 2016 – D. Joshua Taylor
Individual Writer's Awards
  • 1986 – Nancy B. Foster (Wyoming, OH)
  • 1988 – Norman R. Peters (Washington, DC)
  • 1992 – Dr. David P. Davenport (Fresno, CA)
  • 1993 – Donald K. Wilson (McLean, VA)
  • 1996 – Chris H. Bailey
  • 2003 – Raleigh Sutton (Elgin, IL)
  • 2005 – Joan Griffis (Danville, IL)
  • 2010 – Margaret J. Collins, Daniel Dixon
  • 2011 – Mary Matson Hawk and Donald D. Schmidt (Toulon, IL)
  • 2015 – L. Charles Westervelt
  • 2015 – Gayla S. Niemenen
  • 2017 – Kenneth Ross Alexander (Evanston, IL)
  • 2020 – John Cameron
Marge Rice Family History Award
  • 2018 – Kenneth Ross Alexander
Special Recognition Awards
  • 1985 – Peggy Pulliam, Peggy (Effingham Genealogical Society)
  • 1985 – DuPage County Genealogical Society
  • 1985 – Community National Bank (Warren County Genealogical Society)
  • 1985 – Midwestern Savings & Loan (McDonough County Genealogical Society)
  • 1986 – Jim & Lois Payne (Effingham, IL)
  • 1986 – Trinity Lutheran Church (Galesburg, IL)
  • 1986 – Jannette Garfield (Iroquois County Genealogical Society)
  • 1988 – Dr. John Daly (Illinois State Archives)
  • 1988 – Marie Rine (Illinois State Historical Library)
  • 1988 – Frank Smith (Iroquois County Genealogical Society)
  • 1988 – Velma Storm (Moultrie County Genealogical Society)
  • 1988 – Decatur Genealogical Society (Decatur, IL)
  • 1989 – Elaine Obenchain (McHenry County Genealogical Society)
  • 1989 – Ogle County Board (Oregon)
  • 1990 – Rosemary Bechtoldt (St. Clair County Genealogical Society)
  • 1990 – Marie Broadfield (Knox County Genealogical Society)
  • 1991 – Allen County Public Library (Ft. Wayne, IN)
  • 1992 – Bud Archer (Bloomington Offset)
  • 1993 – Annale Rodgers (Henry County Genealogical Society)
  • 1993 – Barbara Krehbiel
  • 1996 – lliana Genealogical & Historical Society
  • 1996 – Ruth Bolnow Ragsdale
  • 1998 – Tony Burroughs
  • 1998 – Eulalia H. Garrett
  • 2000 – Mable Booker
  • 2000 – Margaret Kilpatrick
  • 2000 – Ray & Pat Gooldy
  • 2000 – Fonda Baselt
  • 2000 – Elva Beck
  • 2003 – Judith Little (Troy Illinois Genealogical Society)
  • 2005 – Florence Marshall (DeKalb County Genealogical Society)
  • 2006 – Joseph Hartzel
  • 2007 – Janine Crandell
  • 2008 – North Greene High School (White Hall, IL)
  • 2008 – Christian County Genealogical Society (Taylor, IL)
  • 2008 – Norma Meier (Kankakee Valley Genealogical Society)
  • 2009 – Sandra Chalupa (Kane County Genealogical Society)
  • 2009 – Jeffrey A. Schlatter (Peoria County Genealogical Society)
  • 2009 – Donna Schlatter (Peoria County Genealogical Society)
  • 2011 – Harold Workman (Fox Valley Genealogical Society)
  • 2012 – Rita Welsh (Lee County Genealogical Society)
  • 2014 – Paul R. Rickert (Fox Valley Genealogical Society)
  • 2014 – Judith Van Dusen (Elgin Genealogical Society)
  • 2015 – Donna Pond Hartwig (Peoria County Genealogical Society)
  • 2015 – Clyda Ogle (Gilberts, IL)
  • 2015 – Andrea Dietz (Silverado, CA)
  • 2016 – Ken Alexander (Evanston, IL)
  • 2016 – Darlene Hinkle (Illinois State Genealogical Society)
  • 2016 – Rick Womack (San Francisco, CA)
  • 2017 – Joseph Ginger (Stephenson County Genealogical Society)
  • 2017 – Clyda Olge (Illinois State Genealogical Society)
  • 2017 – Duane Paulsen (Lee County Historical and Genealogical Society)
  • 2017 – Susan Scoville Pope (Illinois State Genealogical Society)
  • 2017 – Marcia Stang (Kankakee Valley Genealogical Society)
  • 2018 – Judy Jennings (St. Clair County Genealogical Society)
  • 2019 – Mayor Tom Smith (Waterloo, IL)
  • 2020 – Barbara J. Brenner
  • 2020 – Dr. Mark DePue
  • 2020 – Mike Dickson
  • 2020 – Carol Ann Johnson Hicks
  • 2020 – Betty Schatz
  • 2021 – Anita Boyd (Winfield, IL)
  • 2021 – Laura Kovarik (Naperville, IL)
  • 2021 – Michael Andrews, Prospect High School (Arlington Heights, IL)
  • 2022 – Richard Anderson (Chicago, IL)
  • 2023 – Stephan Watts
  • 2023 – Gail Ryan (Fox Valley Genealogical Society)
  • 2023 – William "Bill" Edmundson (Winnebago & Boone Counties Genealogical Society)
  • 2023 – Russ Cline (Winnebago & Boone Counties Genealogical Society)
Youth Awards
  • 1985 – Kristin Gagon (Iroquois County Genealogical Society)
  • 1988 – Paul David Early (Rantoul, IL), Loretta L. Wilcox (Waverly, IL)
  • 1991 – Erick Pitts (Olney, IL)
  • 1993 – Sheri Hartman (Henry County Genealogical Society), Elizabeth Luttrell (Edinburg, IL)
  • 2002 – Melissa Fleming (Moultrie County Genealogical Society)
  • 2005 – Brianna Boggs, Brandy Boosinger (Morgan Area Genealogical Association), Abby Thompson (Waverly Genealogical Society), Jared Lambert (Piatt County Museum)
  • 2006 – Brianna Boggs (Morgan Area Genealogical Association), Abby Thompson
    (Waverly Genealogical Society)
  • 2007 – Adam Rea (Elias Kent Kane NSDAR)
  • 2008 – Megan Novak
  • 2010 – Christian Bender
  • 2014 – Ashley Marie Burns (Iroquois County Genealogical Society)
  • 2020 – Riley Biondi
  • 2020 – Zoe Meier
  • 2020 – Joanna Morley
  • 2021 – Ashlyn Gadson, Prospect High School (Arlington Heights, IL)
  • 2021 – Isobel Lebeau, Prospect High School (Arlington Heights, IL)
  • 2021 – Chase Michaels, Prospect High School (Arlington Heights, IL)
  • 2021 – Jacquelyn Vierneisel, Prospect High School (Arlington Heights, IL)
ISGS Volunteer
  • 2021 – Dea Guerri (Terre Haute, IN)
  • 2021 – Merydith Brostoff (Streamwood, IL)
  • 2021 – Jacquie Schattner (Palatine, IL)
Honorary Life Members
  • George and Pat Perkins (Normal, IL)
  • Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library (Springfield, IL)
  • Illinois State Archives (Springfield, IL)
  • William K. Alderfer (Springfield, IL)
  • Shirley Aleguas (Waverly, IL)
  • Doris Roney Boweras (Decatur, IL)
  • Mrs. Leslie A. Bryan (Champaign, IL)
  • John Daly (Rochester, IL)
  • Mr & Mrs Harold G. Felty (Champaign, IL)
  • Harber Hall (Bloomington, IL)
  • Doris Hilton (Bloomington, IL)
  • Henrietta Jesse (Macon, IL)
  • Martha A. Montgomery (Decatur, IL)
  • Myrna Parks (Normal, IL)
  • Lowell M. Volkel (Springfield, IL)