The Wide Awakes Banner Restoration
Liberty & Union Campaign
An item of invaluable historical significance to Libertyville and Lake County with a connection to a nation-changing moment in U.S. history is in need of restoration.
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THE FULL 6’ x 6’ BANNER
It is made of black silk with gold lettering and includes a painted image of the Wide Awakes torchlight parade in Chicago.
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DETAIL OF CRACKED PAINT
The paint has dried over time leading to cracks and some paint loss.
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DETAIL OF SPLIT SILK
The banner bears a significant rip near the painted inscription of Otto Steitz's name.
The Wide Awakes banner—on display in the Ansel B. Cook Home—represents Libertyville's leadership role in a nationwide movement that helped elect Abraham Lincoln in 1860. The Libertyville Wide Awakes earned this one-of-a kind silk banner by having the largest marching delegation, compared to the number of town Republican votes in 1858, at an October 2, 1860 rally in Chicago, coming out ahead of many other Wide Awakes companies from all over Lake County, Illinois, and the Midwest.
The banner is deteriorating. It has been displayed in a wood and glass frame since the Libertyville Woman’s Club donated a display case for it in 1927. The brittle silk’s seams are splitting and the painting of the rally is cracking. An area conservation expert estimates the cost to restore the banner and build a protective display case at $30,000.
Through the generosity of our members and visitors, the Society has saved $15,000 for this project over the past 8 years. To cover the balance, the Society is launching the Wide Awakes Banner Restoration, Liberty and Union Campaign.
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Before the November 1860 election, Abraham Lincoln was not the beloved figure he is today. However, Lincoln had passionate supporters. Among the most passionate were members of the Wide Awakes. A national, grassroots political organization, it supported the six-year-old Republican Party which opposed the expansion of slavery—a big issue in the years leading up to the American Civil War (1861-1865).
The Wide Awakes acted as security escorts for political speech makers, and on election day they went street by street to encourage Republicans to vote while trying to sway all others to do the same. But their biggest impact was surely their spectacular nighttime parades, where they carried torches and wore military-style uniforms as they marched in formation—as portrayed on the banner.
Known Libertyville Wide Awakes are James Hutchinson, Isaac Heath, R. H. French, and Edwin Parkhurst. The Society is working on identifying others. Was there a Wide Awake in your family? Let us know!
Learn More:
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The campaign name is inspired by a bit of a mystery surrounding the banner. Two newspaper articles, one from 1860, the other from 1884 when the banner was discovered in someone’s attic, describe not only the front of the banner but also the back. The 1860 article describes the reverse as having ‘Lincoln and Hamlin, Liberty and Union’, and the 1884 article mentions an inscription. However, the Society’s intake record for the banner describes only the front of the banner suggesting that the banner remained secured in its case throughout its transition to the Society.
The reverse side of the Wide Awakes banner has not been seen in nearly a century. Today, the banner’s fragility prohibits its removal from the case without the specialized knowledge and handling of professional conservators. Only restoration can reveal the answer to this question: What secrets lie on the unseen side of the Wide Awakes banner? Nearly a century of mystery could be revealed—but only with your help.
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The story of the Wide Awakes is only now being fully told. The Jon Grinspan book, Wide Awake: The Forgotten Force that Elected Lincoln and Spurred the Civil War, describes the Wide Awakes as “one of the largest, most spectacular, and most influential political
movements in our history.”At the same time the story of Wide Awakes movement is finally being fully told, the
banner representing Libertyville’s participation and leadership in this consequential club
is rapidly disintegrating.The Liberty and Union Campaign to restore the Wide Awakes banner is more than a preservation project—it’s a moment for the Libertyville Historical Society to underscore the vital importance of sharing and preserving historical knowledge. The banner provides a unique opportunity to engage in a shared appreciation of our past. By supporting this effort, you will contribute directly to ensuring that Libertyville’s story remains vibrant and relevant for generations to come.
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Torchbearer Circle - $1000+
Thank you email / letter
Mention on Campaign website, in the newsletter, and on social media
Commemorative Publication after Restoration is Completed
Commemorative vinyl sticker of the banner
Wide Awakes Banner Restoration Pin
Name displayed near the banner
Invitation to an exclusive reception and unveiling of the banner
Private tour of the Cook Home and Behind the Scenes for up to 10 people
Liberty Advocate - $500-$999
Thank you email / letter
Mention on Campaign website, in the newsletter, and on social media
Commemorative Publication after Restoration is Completed
Commemorative vinyl sticker of the banner
Wide Awakes Banner Restoration Pin
Name displayed near the banner
Invitation to an exclusive reception and unveiling of the banner
Historic Preservation Partner - $250-$499
Thank you email / letter
Mention on Campaign website, in the newsletter, and on social media
Commemorative Publication after Restoration is Completed
Commemorative vinyl sticker of the banner
Wide Awakes Banner Restoration Pin
Wide Awake Supporter - $100-$249
Thank you email / letter
Mention on Campaign website, in the newsletter, and on social media
Commemorative Publication after Restoration is Completed
Commemorative vinyl sticker of the banner
Friends of History - Up to $99
Thank you email / letter
Mention on Campaign website, in the newsletter, and on social media
Commemorative Publication after Restoration is Completed
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Donate here: GoFundMe.
Please send donations by check to: Libertyville Historical Society, 413 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville, IL 60048
Thank you for your support!
