The Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS) was formed in 1968 through the cooperative effort and forward thinking of Illinois genealogical society representatives, who envisioned a statewide genealogical organization. ISGS is a not-for-profit, nonsectarian, educational organization.
ISGS was established for the following purposes:
- To stimulate an interest in the people who contributed to the establishment and development of the State of Illinois.
- To seek, preserve and make available data pertaining to individuals, families and groups who lived in Illinois, and to events which took place therein.
- To inform people about the value of, and the need for, preserving family and local history for posterity.
- To encourage and support local and regional genealogical societies.