Foundation for Illinois Colonial and American Studies

04/09/2026

NEW PUBLICATION
The fourth edition of our journal, Relations, is now available as a free download at our website. This issue is devoted to the history and results of archaeological excavations at the site of Morris Birkbeck’s estate in the early 19th century “English Settlement” of southern Illinois. Birkbeck settled there in 1817 as part of an English agricultural experiment. He is one of the more well-known and important historical figures in statehood-era Illinois. Have a look at what we found here:

https://www.illinoiscolony.org/birkbeck-site

02/09/2026

Does anyone remember this? https://www.illinoiscolony.org/undertheprairie

10/20/2025

The third volume of our journal, Relations, is out now. This issue is devoted to the 2014 archaeology at Holy Family Church, in Cahokia, Illinois. Have a look:

This new study – the first publication by FICAS – features the analysis of over 10,000 previously unpublished artifacts from several private collections as well as unreported professional excavations from the 1950s. The richly-illustrated volume is one of the largest catalogs of material culture...

08/21/2025

It's been a minute since we've posted here. We just aren't very good at social media. We have been busy cooking up a new excavation report on work at Holy Family Church in Cahokia, and also some new material concerning French Peoria. In the meantime, here's an early 20th c photo of the ruins of Fort de Chartres prior to its reconstruction. From Dr. Margaret Brown's papers.

01/23/2025

NEW PUBLICATION:
The second volume of the FICAS journal "Relations" has just been released on our website as a free download. This issue focuses on early blacksmithing in Illinois, and contains the excavation report on the William Holland blacksmith shop in Indian Point, Illinois (c.1820); a translation of account pages from a French blacksmith in Peoria (c.1808); and a transcription of pages from a daybook of a blacksmith in Edwards County, Illinois (c.1840).

This publication represents one of the largest (and earliest) collections of data concerning blacksmithing in the region.

Go to our publications page and press the "Volume 2" button for immediate download: https://www.illinoiscolony.org/publications

10/21/2024

We've just posted something that we think many of our regulars will appreciate. Follow the links to what we believe to be the first comprehensive compendium of Illinois tribal / regional references in the massive Jesuit Relations. 128 pages from 15 of the 73 volumes, now at your fingertips! Here you go:

The Jesuit Relations were reports written by Jesuit missionaries working in eastern North America between 1632 and 1773. The reports detailed the missionaries’ experiences living amongst a number of Indigenous tribes, including the Illinois. While the letters the priests forwarded to their superio...

04/26/2024

There have been a few updates to the Illinois-French dictionaries readings section - have a look here:

Originally, manetoowa ‘spirit’ was the word applied to snow that was falling from the sky, while waapikoona (literally “white-snow”) was the snow on the ground. That distinction relaxed over time.

04/11/2024

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Margaret Kimball Brown, a founding board member and research colleague at FICAS, and our friend.

Margaret worked in archaeology and preservation for over 50 years. She specialized in French colonial and eighteenth-century Indigenous studies. She conducted research excavations at the Zimmerman, Waterman, and Louvier sites, as well as Fort de Chartres and Fort Michilimackinac. She wrote five books on colonial Illinois, as well as numerous small publications, journal articles, and technical archaeological reports.

Margaret was a true believer in the archaeological legacy of Illinois, and she was a dear friend. She will be missed.

02/11/2024

NEW PUBLICATION
We are very pleased to announce the completion of the first issue of our journal, “Relations.” Volume 1 focuses on recent research (both archival and archaeological) concerning the history of Fort de Chartres in Randolph County, Illinois. If you are familiar with the fort, have a look – you might be surprised.

The journal is available as a free download at the page linked below. Please spread the word….

https://www.illinoiscolony.org/fort-de-chartres

01/16/2024

More free download goodies :

Elijah Iles was one of the founders of the town of Springfield (originally platted as “Calhoun”), which would become the capital city of Illinois. Iles was a storekeeper, and built the first commercial building in Springfield in 1821. His store consisted of a two-story log structure built upon a...

01/05/2024

A long out-of-print report about the 2001 discovery of the first French colonial archaeological remains at Peoria is now available as a free download on our website. There are actually a number of hard-to-find reports and resources scattered about the site. We encourage you to have a look:

There were two French communities at the site of modern Peoria. Professional archaeologists have searched for traces of what was known as the “Old” French Village in the city of Peoria since the 1950s. In 2001, roadwork required an archaeological survey of a neighborhood that was thought to have...