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Illinois’s state emblems bear the imprint of the Civil War and its aftermath. The Great Seal, designed by Secretary of State Sharon Tyndale in 1868 and adopted in 1869, depicts a bald eagle perched on a rock, holding a shield with 13 stars and stripes and a banner reading “State Sovereignty, National Union” — a motto whose word order was fiercely debated in the post-war years. The flag, adopted on 6 July 1915, was designed by Lucy Derwent of the Rockford Daughters of the American Revolution, who placed the seal on a plain white field. In 1969, the state name was added after a Vietnam War serviceman petitioned that fellow soldiers couldn’t recognize the banner.
| State | Illinois (21st state, admitted 3 December 1818) |
|---|---|
| State seal | Bald eagle on rock, shield with 13 stars/stripes, banner motto |
| Seal designer | Secretary of State Sharon Tyndale |
| Seal adopted | 1869 (designed 1868) |
| State flag | White field bearing state seal and name |
| Flag adopted | 6 July 1915 (Lucy Derwent); state name added 1969 (Sanford Hutchinson) |
| Motto | “State Sovereignty, National Union” |
| Capital | Springfield |
| Nickname | The Prairie State |
| State flower | Violet (Viola) |
Great Seal of Illinois — State Sovereignty, National Union — since 1869
The Illinois seal is a product of the post-Civil War era, when the relationship between state and federal power was being redefined across the nation.
A bald eagle stands in profile on a boulder on the prairie, wings uplifted. In one talon it grasps a shield decorated with 13 stars and 13 stripes, representing the original colonies. In its beak, the eagle holds a banner reading “State Sovereignty, National Union.” A sunrise over water fills the background. The dates 26 August 1818 (first constitution, adopted at Kaskaskia) and 1818 (statehood) appear on the seal, along with 1868 (year of the current seal’s adoption).
In 1867, Secretary of State Sharon Tyndale spearheaded an effort to redesign the seal. He wanted to reverse the motto to read “National Union, State Sovereignty” — putting the Union first in the years following the Civil War, when “state sovereignty” had become politically charged. The legislature rejected the reversal but tasked Tyndale with redesigning the seal nonetheless. The original word order — with state sovereignty first — was retained.
Illinois’s first seal, adopted at statehood in 1818, was nearly identical to the Great Seal of the United States. Tyndale’s 1868 redesign gave Illinois a distinctive identity.
Flag of Illinois — Lucy Derwent design 1915, name added 1969
The Illinois flag has been redesigned twice — once as a DAR competition winner and once at the request of a Vietnam War serviceman.
In 1915, Lucy Derwent of the Rockford chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution submitted a design placing the state seal on a plain white field. Her entry was selected from 35 submissions, and the flag was officially adopted on 6 July 1915.
During the Vietnam War, Chief Petty Officer Bruce McDaniel petitioned to have the state name added to the flag, noting that many fellow servicemen did not recognize the banner. A bill sponsored by Representative Jack Walker of Lansing was passed and approved by Governor Richard B. Ogilvie on 17 September 1969. The redesigned flag, by Sanford Hutchinson of Greenfield, added “ILLINOIS” in blue capital letters below the seal. It took effect in July 1970.
The current flag is a white field bearing the state seal at center — the eagle, shield, banner, and sunrise — with the word “ILLINOIS” in blue below.
The seal depicts a bald eagle in profile on a rock, holding a shield with 13 stars and stripes and a banner reading “State Sovereignty, National Union.” A sunrise over water appears behind. Dates 1818 (statehood) and 1868 (seal adoption) are shown. Designed by Sharon Tyndale, adopted 1869.
The motto reflects the balance between state and federal power. After the Civil War, Secretary of State Tyndale wanted to reverse the order to emphasize national union, but the legislature rejected the change. The original wording, with state sovereignty first, remains.
The original 1915 flag was designed by Lucy Derwent of the Rockford DAR, who placed the seal on a white field. In 1969, Sanford Hutchinson added the state name after a Vietnam War serviceman petitioned for better recognition.
First adopted 6 July 1915. Amended 17 September 1969 to add the state name, with the updated version taking effect July 1970.
The original 1818 seal was nearly identical to the Great Seal of the United States. It was replaced in 1868–1869 with Tyndale’s distinctive design featuring the eagle in profile on a rock.
Last reviewed by the Emblema Mundi editorial team on 2026-06-27.