We continue SIU Press' holiday sale theme spotlight with a spotlight on Chicago History! 🌇

Get 40% off sitewide on siupress.com when you use the code HOLIDAY at checkout! Happy gifting! 📗📘📕

Holiday Gift Guide 2025 announcement with festive pine branches and pearl bow decorations on a red background.

THE 2025 SIU PRESS CLICKABLE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE IS NOW LIVE ON ISSUU! 💚❤️🫶🎁 If you have a #book lover in your life or you are one yourself, take a look! Use code HOLIDAY for 40% off at siupress.com now through January 31, 2026!

https://issuu.com/siupress/docs/holiday_gift_guide_2025

Background image of a government building with the cover of "Nobody Calls Just to Say Hello" by Philip J. Rock with Ed Wojcicki on it and a quote from James D. Nowlan, coauthor of "Illinois Politics: A Citizen's Guide." The quote says, "In this fascinating book, Phil takes the reader inside the process of hammering out major public policies in Illinois during the 1970s through 1990s providing lessons about both politics and life."

This nuanced political biography draws on dozens of interviews conducted by Ed Wojcicki to present the longtime senate president's story in his own words.

https://www.siupress.com/9780809335855/nobody-calls-just-to-say-hello/

Among a background of leaves and trees in the forest, there is the cover of "Tell Us a Story" by Shirley Motley Portwood. A quote from the Journal of the Illinois says, "Portwood's work adds much to the growing discourse on the African American experience during the era of segregation. Simply put, it's a must-read."

With recollections from the present era, TELL US A STORY is a colorful mosaic of African American autobiography and family history set in Springfield, Illinois, and in southern Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas from the 1920s through 1950s.

https://www.siupress.com/9780809323142/tell-us-a-story/

The cover of WATCHMAN, TELL US by Wayne T. Pitard next to a blurb from David Joens, the author of FROM SLAVE TO STATE LEGISLATOR, JOHN W.E. THOMAS, ILLINOIS' FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN LAWMAKER. The blurb says "Wayne Pitard traces the career of John J. Bird, a long-forgotten civil rights pioneer. In doing so, Pitard not only resurrects Bird's importance but also brings to light the many challenges faced by all African Americans in post-Civil War Illinois."

Are you or is someone else on your list a lover of Regional History? Today we spotlight WATCHMAN, TELL US by Wayne T. Pitard! Use code HOLIDAY at siupress.com for 40% off this and other titles! Run, don't walk; the sale ends January 31, 2026.

https://www.siupress.com/9780809339464/watchman-tell-us/

Celebrate the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address with two fascinating titles from our catalogue! The titles shown are the ones spotlighted in the post. In the background is a written version of the Gettysburg Address alongside a pen.

In honor of the 162nd Anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, we spotlighting two wonderful books, which can be found here:
https://www.siupress.com/9780809335602/lincolns-gettysburg-address/
https://www.siupress.com/9780809335602/lincolns-gettysburg-address/

Over a welcoming plaid background which signals holiday coziness, there is the cover of AVENUES OF TRANSFORMATION by James A. Edstrom. It is blurbed by the slavery academic M. Scott Heerman, who praises the book's indispensable nature to Illinois history and the mastery of the writing.

For the Regional History lover on your holiday list, we recommend AVENUES OF TRANSFORMATION by James A. Edstrom! Use code HOLIDAY at siupress.com for 40% off your holiday purchase through January 31, 2026! Don't miss out! ❄️

https://www.siupress.com/9780809338764/avenues-of-transformation/

Over a snowy background in a cartoon forest, there is the cover of COLONEL BENJAMIN STEPHENSON AND THE HISTORY OF EARLY ILLINOIS next to a note which contains a blurb from James A. Edstrom, the author of Avenues of Transformation: Illinois' Path from Territory to State. He praises the book for being a reminder of the power of ordinary and extraordinary people in history making.

This holiday season, unwrap a piece of forgotten Regional History with COLONEL BENJAMIN STEPHENSON AND THE HISTORY OF EARLY ILLINOIS by Sidney G. Denny! Use code HOLIDAY at checkout for 40% off!

https://www.siupress.com/9780809370153/colonel-benjamin-stephenson-and-the-history-of-early-illinois/

A orange and black background sits behind the cover of "A Decisive Decade" by Robert B. McKersie. There's an orange quote box with a quote from Thomas A. Kochan, George M. Bunker Professor, MIT Sloan School of Management, which says, "No one who knows Bob McKersie will be surprised by the combination of leadership, courage, personal integrity, commitment to justice, and analytical rigor that jump off the pages of 'A Decisive Decade.'"

The deeply personal story of a historic time in Chicago, Robert B. McKersie’s A DECISIVE DECADE follows the unfolding action of the Civil Rights Movement as it played out in the Windy City.

https://www.siupress.com/9780809332441/a-decisive-decade/

DAWN'S LIGHT WOMAN & NICHOLAS FRANCHOMME book cover by Carl J. Ekberg and Sharon K. Person, which is over a background of presents in the same color as the book's cover. A quote from Robert Michael Morrissey states the book's focus on in-depth research, creative analysis, and the focuses on the complexities of daily colonial life in Illinois.

WINNER of the 2023 Illinois State Historical Society Superior Achievement Award in “Books, Scholarly," DAWN'S LIGHT WOMAN & NICHOLAS FRANCHOMME! Use code HOLIDAY for 40% off! Give the gift of Regional History!

https://www.siupress.com/9780809338863/dawns-light-woman-and-nicolas-franchomme/

Over an abstract background of green, orange, and red, there is the cover of "Loving Lincoln" by Stacy Lynn. A quote next to it by the CEO and executive director of President Lincoln's Cottage, Callie Hawkins, reads, "'Loving Lincoln' is a thoroughly researched, exquisite account of the relationships Abraham Lincoln had with the myriad women with whom he shared meaningful experiences and fills a critical void in the expansive Lincoln canon."

As a professional Lincoln scholar and editor, Lynn was often frustrated that male historians often overlooked Lincoln’s love for and friendship with women. Here, she posits a new paradigm, one that lifts up their interactions with Lincoln.

https://www.siupress.com/9780809339679/loving-lincoln/

Check out this Regional History title from SIU Press, SON OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS by Carl Walworth and Glenn Poshard! Use code HOLIDAY at checkout for 40% off on SIU Press books from now until January 31, 2026: https://www.siupress.com/9780809339181/son-of-southern-illinois/ 🎅

Collection of regional history books about Illinois featuring topics from early statehood to post-Civil War politics.

SIU Press' 2025 Holiday Sale is here! Use code HOLIDAY at checkout to get 40% off sitewide and spoil the Regional History lover on your list.

https://www.siupress.com/search-results/?category=HIS036090

Over the background of a greyed-out Supreme Court, the text announces the featuring of "Evolving Constitutional Rights" for the American Society of Criminology's Meeting. David Schultz, professor of political science and legal studies, praises the book's methodology in a featured quote.

On the third day of the American Society of Criminology's annual meeting, SIU Press is highlighting EVOLVING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS from the series Perspectives on Crime and Justice.

https://www.siupress.com/9780809339730/evolving-constitutional-rights/

Within a rainbow border, there is the cover of the book "Q Policing." The graphic is in honor of the American Society of Criminology's annual meeting. It highlights a quote of the diverse and interdisciplinary span of the book from Andrew R. Spieldenner, editor of "A Pill for Promiscuity: Gay Sex in an Age of Pharmaceuticals."

Today we are highlighting Q POLICING in honor of the American Society of Criminology's second day of meeting.

https://www.siupress.com/9780809339563/q-policing/

Over a background of the streets of 1960s Chicago, there are some clippings of a newspaper and a golden note with a quote from mob history author John M. Hagedorn. Hagedorn says, "This is a well-written 'personal document' in the Chicago School tradition, indispensable for those who want to understand the day-to-day workings of the Outfit." This is next to an image of the cover of the book "Chicago Heights" by Charles Hager with David T. Miller.

In this riveting true story, Charles “Charley” Hager is plucked from his rural West Virginia home by an uncle in the 1960s and thrown into an underworld of money, cars, crime, and murder on the streets of Chicago Heights.

https://www.siupress.com/9780809336722/chicago-heights/

A QR Code is provided to learn about the ASC annual meeting, alongside a photo of author Joseph A. Schafer, the cover of "Crime, Corrections, and the COVID-19 Pandemic," and a quote from a reviewer situating the book in an ongoing field of study surrounding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on crime and corrections.

On day one of the American Society of Criminology's annual meeting, we are highlighting CRIME, CORRECTIONS, AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, a book co-authored by one of the speakers at the meeting, Joseph A. Schafer.

https://www.siupress.com/9780809339693/crime-corrections-and-the-covid-19-pandemic/

Announcement over a blue background for author and editor Joseph A. Schafer speaking on police wellness, stress, and burnout at the 2025 American Society of Criminology Meeting in Washington, D.C. His panel will be from 3:30PM-4:50PM on November 12 in the Marquis Salon 14 - M2. The overall conference is held at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C.

Co-author of CRIME, CORRECTIONS, AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC as well as editor of our series Perspectives on Crime and Justice Joseph A. Schafer will be presenting at the American Society of Criminology's annual meeting tomorrow.

https://asc41.org/

Over a golden and purple ribbon on black and gold background is the cover of "It's Good to Be Black" by Ruby Berkley Goodwin. A quote from the New York Herald Tribune Book Review reads, "Part of the book's fascination lies in the background material--the mines with their explosions, cave-ins, strikes, and lockouts. The rest of the fascination stems from the character of the father of this family--Braxton Berkley."

"IT'S GOOD TO BE BLACK is more than the [story] of a black family living in Du Quoin, Illinois... it is a reaffirmation for all of us who know in our hearts that there is still good in the world.” - Carmen Kenya Wadley

https://www.siupress.com/9780809331222/its-good-to-be-black/

Graphic of a vintage microphone and sound wave accompanying information for podcast episode "Inside the Blanket Fort: Episode #235" discussing the book "The Irish in Illinois." The episode features author Sean Farrell, interviewed at Printers Row Lit Fest.

This week on INSIDE THE BLANKET FORT, we wrap up our interviews from Printers Row Lit Fest with Sean Farrell, coauthor of THE IRISH IN ILLINOIS!

https://www.wsiu.org/2025-11-06/inside-the-blanket-fort-episode-235

Graphic of a grey podium in an empty grey space. Over it is the cover of the book "The Gentleman from Illinois" by Alan J. Dixon. A quote from Governor James R. Thompson reads, "One of the state's most revered public servants has told it all without fear or favor, and we are right there with him."

THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS by Alan J. DIxon is an insider’s account of Illinois politics in the second half of the twentieth century.

https://www.siupress.com/9780809332601/the-gentleman-from-illinois/

Graphic of a vintage microphone and sound wave accompanying information for podcast episode "Inside the Blanket Fort: Episode #234" discussing the book "Avenues of Transformation: Illinois's Path from Territory to State." The episode features author James A. Edstrom, interviewed at Printers Row Lit Fest.

In the most recent episode of ITBF, we talk with James A. Edstrom, author of AVENUES OF TRANSFORMATION!

https://www.wsiu.org/2025-10-30/inside-the-blanket-fort-episode-234

Graphic of a background of a sky full of stars. Over it is a picture of the book cover of "Wings Over Illinois" by Arthur E. Abney. The quote accompanying it reads "Abney has accompanied his own memoir with colorful hangar stories submitted by many of his contemporaries in the aviation field." The quote is by David NewMyer, Professor and Chair of the Department of Aviation Management and Flight at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

WINGS OVER ILLINOIS recounts World War II veteran Arthur Abney’s illustrious aviation career, effectively documenting a span in our own nation’s history from the vantage of the skies.

https://www.siupress.com/9780809327683/wings-over-illinois/

November is Memoir Writing Month! This Thanksgiving season, we're grateful for the variety of voices telling their story through SIU Press. Order a copy of your favorite SIU Press memoir today.

https://www.siupress.com/

In 1913 Charlie Birger began his career as a bootlegger, supplying southern Illinois with whiskey and beer... The stuff of legend, he was part monster, part Robin Hood.

https://www.siupress.com/9780809322176/a-knight-of-another-sort/

#ProhibitionEra #SouthernIllinois #TrueCrime #IllinoisHistory

This week on ITBF, we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Tri-State Tornado of 1925.

www.wsiu.org/2025-04-03/i...

#podcast #radio #radioshow #insidetheblanketfort #tornado #tristatetornado #history #ushistory #americanhistory #illinois #missouri #indiana #midwest #midwesthistory

This week on ITBF, we dive into a new release from SIU Press: SOUTHERN ILLINOIS FISHING by Colby Simms!

www.wsiu.org/2025-03-20/i...

#podcast #radio #radioshow #newrelease #fishing #southernillinois #sports #outdoorsports #illinois #nature #fish #angling #anglers #nowavailable #newbook

In ITBF Episodes 206 and 207, you can learn about the books SIU Press spotlighted for Black History Month! #blackhistorymonth #podcast #radio #radioshow #insidetheblanketfort #siupress #biography #history #poetry #illinoishistory #ushistory

www.wsiu.org/2025-02-13/i...

www.wsiu.org/2025-02-27/i...