On an early fall evening in Sept. 1966, an enthusiastic group of people gathered at the Shawneetown Courthouse to organize the Gallatin County Historical Society. Many people realized the county had a rich heritage to be researched and preserved but it took Opal Dietz, Shawneetown historian, and Evadeen Coleman to put together the first organizational meeting. J. Robert Smith, Carmi historian, was the featured speaker of the evening. Lucille Lawler was elected the first president and the society received the Illinois State Award for Excellence that year when a record number of members, 465, were signed in nine months with dues at $1.00 per year. Others who have served as president during the organization's existence are: Patrick Scates Jr., Jess Ann Logsdon, Ethel Wooley, Joel M. Harrell, Mary West, Robert G. Hold, Thomas Brewer, Larry Fillingim, Sammie Gentry, Ron Wilson, Bill Rister Arthur Heath and current president Patrick. 

The following information has been taken from the 

"History and Families of Gallatin County, Illinois 1812-1988."

In 1968 the society was the official body in the county to plan celebrations for the Illinois Sesquicentennial which included the Illinois Stamp Day at Shawneetown and presenting Betty Head's Sesquicentennial play, "A Handful of Acorns." Eight historical markers have been erected and one building reconstructed, the First Territorial Bank in Illinois, at Old Shawneetown in 1974. The Illinois Bankers have been most helpful in donating approximately $70,000 to get the John Marshall Bank Home, a replica of the early home that opened its doors for banking in 1816. Over the years the society raised funds with fish fries, auctions, dues, plays, thrift and gift shops.

Many charter members have continued to keep membership dues paid, even though the increase to $5.00 per year was necessary. Each year finds a few new members and others who fail to renew. In 1971 the Methodist Church in Old Shawneetown, built in 1842, was presented to the society by the Methodist Synod. For several years it was open to the public as a museum but had to be dismantled when the building collapsed in 1981.

In 1975, the 150th Year of Lafayette's Visit to Shawneetown in 1825, was celebrated with a pageant written by Lucille Lawler and which included 50 people on an outdoor stage and reenactment of the landing on the Ohio River bank. An historical marker was placed marking the site of the Marquis's visit. Other markers were placed for Boone's Fort and Mill at New Haven, for General Michael Kelly Lawler at Junction, for the site of the first County Courthouse at Equality, for General James H. Wilson at New Shawneetown, for the First Bank in Illinois, the second newspaper in Illinois, the William H. Brinkley Memorial Bench, the last three in Old Shawneetown.

In 1982 a log cabin donated by Charles and Marie Wargel was erected on the Bank Museum lawn and dedicated to past president, Mary West, who served eight years as president and who had died in 1981. Since 1984 the society has conducted an arts and craft show at the Shawneetown Coal Days, awarding cash prizes donated by Southern Illinois Arts and the Illinois Arts Council. In the twentieth anniversary year of the society in 1986, the society began the planning to write a county history book. Since 1987, much time and effort has been put into writing this book, Gallatin County History and Families~original submission by Lucille Lawler, First President

Communities in the surrounding area include Bowlesville, Cottonwood, Crawford, Doherty (Irish Grocery), Dorsey Valley, Elba, Equality, Gibsonia, Gold Hill, Inman, Junction, Kedron, Lawler (Ginniville), Leamington, New Haven, New Market, Omaha, Ridgway, Saline Mines, and Shawneetown.