View source for PRAIRIE STATE IX 15

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<h3>Ship Name and Designation History</h3>
This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. 
The list is in chronological order.
<ol>Illinois Class Battleship<br/>
Keel Laid February 10 1897 - Launched October 4 1898<br/><br/>
<li>'''USS ILLINOIS Battleship No. 7'''<br/>
Commissioned September 16 1901 - Decommissioned August 4 1909<br/>
Recommissioned April 15 1912 - Decommissioned May 15 1920<br/><br/>
<li>'''ILLINOIS BB-7'''<br/>
Designated (BB) July 20 1920<br/>
Loaned to New York State, Naval Milita October 25 1921<br/><br/>
<li>'''ILLINOIS IX-15'''<br/>
Redesignated Miscellaenous Unclassified (IX) June 26 1922<br/><br/>
<li>'''PRAIRIE STATE IX-15'''<br/>
Renamed January 23 1941<br/>
Used as decked over drill ship until 1955<br/><br/>
Struck from Naval Register March 26 1956<br/>
Sold May 18 1956 and broken up for scrap
</ol>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Naval Covers</h3>
This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the 
ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, 
for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should 
be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

Since a ship may have many covers, they may be split among many pages so it doesn't 
take forever for the pages to load. Each page link should be accompanied by a date 
range for covers on that page.
<ol>
<ol>
<li>[[USS ILLINOIS BB-7_Covers_Page_1 | Illinois Covers Page 1 ]] &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1912-38)</li>
<li>[[PRAIRIE STATE IX-15_Covers_Page_1 |Prairie State Covers Page 1]]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1945)</li>
</ol>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Postmarks</h3>
This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a 
separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry 
in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks 
should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark 
has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest 
known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an 
image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN 
THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
<br/>&nbsp;<br/>
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the
existing example.
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<br/>&nbsp;<br/><table width="95%" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0">
<tr><th align="center" valign="center" width="140">
Postmark Type<br/>---<br/>Killer Bar Text
</th><th align="center" valign="center" width="100">
Postmark<br/>Date</th>
<th align="center" width="350">Thumbnail Link To<br/>Postmark Image</th>
<th align="center" width="120">Thumbnail Link<br/>To<br/>Cover Image</th>
</tr></table>

<!-- ============== -->
<!-- POSTMARK ENTRY -->
<!-- ============== -->
<br/>&nbsp;<br/><table width="95%" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td align="center" valign="center" width="140">
Non-posted
</td><td align="center" valign="center" width="100">
 
</td><td align="center" width="350">
[[Image:JonBurdett illinois bb7.jpg|thumb|center|300px]]
</td><td align="center" width="120">
[[Image:JonBurdett illinois bb7 back.jpg|thumb|center|100px]]
</td></tr></table>
U. S. BATTLESHIP "ILLINOIS." 690 OFFICERS AND MEN. / LENGTH 368 FEET. MAIN BATTERY 18 GUNS
<!-- === End of Postmark Entry === -->
<hr>

<!-- ============== -->
<!-- POSTMARK ENTRY -->
<!-- ============== -->
<br/>&nbsp;<br/><table width="95%" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td align="center" valign="center" width="140">
Locy Type<br/>1
</td><td align="center" valign="center" width="100">
1912-12-03
</td><td align="center" width="350">
[[Image:GregCiesielski_Illinois_BB7_19121203_1_Postmark.jpg|thumb|center|300px]]
</td><td align="center" width="120">
[[Image:GregCiesielski_Illinois_BB7_19121203_1_Back.jpg|thumb|center|100px]]
</td></tr></table>
Picture postcard of Customs House, Charleston, SC
<!-- === End of Postmark Entry === -->
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<!-- POSTMARK ENTRY -->
<!-- ============== -->
<br/>&nbsp;<br/><table width="95%" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td align="center" valign="center" width="140">
Locy Type<br/>1z
</td><td align="center" valign="center" width="100">
1918-12-08
</td><td align="center" width="350">
[[Image:GregCiesielski_Illinois_BB7_19181208_1_Postmark.jpg|thumb|center|300px]]
</td><td align="center" width="120">
[[Image:GregCiesielski_Illinois_BB7_19181208_1_Back.jpg|thumb|center|100px]]
</td></tr></table>
Real-Photo postcard of USS Illinois BB-7. Note: Type Z postmark, ship identified by sender: 'Here is a picture of the ship I am on.' 
<!-- === End of Postmark Entry === -->
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<!--    Type 2      -->
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<br/>&nbsp;<br/><table width="95%" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td align="center" valign="center" width="140">
Locy Type<br/>2
</td><td align="center" valign="center" width="100">
1912-11-19
</td><td align="center" width="350">
[[Image:JonBurdett illinois bb7 19121119r pm.jpg|thumb|center|300px]]
</td><td align="center" width="120">
[[Image:JonBurdett illinois bb7 19121119.JPG|thumb|center|100px]]
</td></tr></table>
As Battleship No. 7
<!-- === End of Postmark Entry === -->
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<!-- Type 2rz -->
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<br/>&nbsp;<br/><table width="95%" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td align="center" valign="center" width="140">
Locy Type<br/>2rz
</td><td align="center" valign="center" width="100">
1919-06-09
</td><td align="center" width="350">
[[Image:GregCiesielski_Illinois_BB7_19190609_1_Postmark.jpg|thumb|center|300px]]
</td><td align="center" width="120">
[[Image:GregCiesielski_Illinois_BB7_19190609_1_Front.jpg|thumb|center|100px]]
</td></tr></table>
Note: Type Z postmark, ship identified by return address. 
<!-- === End of Postmark Entry === -->
<!-- ============== -->
<!-- Type 3 (AC) -->
<!-- ============== -->
<br/>&nbsp;<br/><table width="95%" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td align="center" valign="center" width="140">
Locy Type<br/>3 (AC)
</td><td align="center" valign="center" width="100">
1917-11-04
</td><td align="center" width="350">
[[Image:JonBurdett illinois 1917 pm.jpg|thumb|center|300px]]
</td><td align="center" width="120">
[[Image:JonBurdett illinois 1917.jpg|thumb|center|100px]]
</td></tr></table>
As Battleship No. 7. Censored wartime (WWI) use
<!-- === End of Postmark Entry === -->
<!-- ============== -->
<!-- Type 3(BC) -->
<!-- ============== -->
<br/>&nbsp;<br/><table width="95%" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td align="center" valign="center" width="140">
Locy Type<br/>3 (BC)<br/><br/>"PROVINCE- /<br/>TOWN MASS"
</td><td align="center" valign="center" width="100">
1919-08-02
</td><td align="center" width="350">
[[Image:GregCiesielski_Illinois_BB7_19190802_1_Postmark.jpg|thumb|center|300px]]
</td><td align="center" width="120">
[[Image:GregCiesielski_Illinois_BB7_19190802_1_Back.jpg|thumb|center|100px]]
</td></tr></table>
Note:
<!-- === End of Postmark Entry === -->
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<!-- Type F (I-2)  -->
<!-- ============== -->
<br/>&nbsp;<br/><table width="95%" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td align="center" valign="center" width="140">
Locy Type F<br/><br/>USCS Postmark<br/>Catalog Illus. I-2
</td><td align="center" valign="center" width="100">
1938-04-01
</td><td align="center" width="350">
[[Image:JonBurdett illinois bb7 19380401 pm.jpg|thumb|center|300px]]
</td><td align="center" width="120">
[[Image:JonBurdett illinois bb7 19380401.jpg|thumb|center|100px]]
</td></tr></table>
As Floating Armory
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<hr/>

<!-- ============== -->
<!-- USPO Machine -->
<!-- ============== -->
<br/>&nbsp;<br/><table width="95%" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td align="center" valign="center" width="140">
USPO Machine<br/>Cancel<br/><br/>New York NY
</td><td align="center" valign="center" width="100">
1931-12-22
</td><td align="center" width="350">
[[Image:GregCiesielski_PrairieState_IX15_19311222_1_Front.jpg|thumb|center|300px]]
</td><td align="center" width="120">
N/A
</td></tr></table>
As ILLINOIS IX-15
<!-- === End of Postmark Entry === -->
<hr/>

<!-- ============== -->
<!-- Type 3z(BTB) -->
<!-- ============== -->
<br/>&nbsp;<br/><table width="95%" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td align="center" valign="center" width="140">
Locy Type<br/>3z (BTB)
</td><td align="center" valign="center" width="100">
1942-11-21
</td><td align="center" width="350">
[[Image:GregCiesielski_PrairieState_IX15_19421121_1_Postmark.jpg|thumb|center|300px]]
</td><td align="center" width="120">
[[Image:GregCiesielski_PrairieState_IX15_19421121_1_Front.jpg|thumb|center|100px]]
</td></tr></table>
As PRAIRIE STATE IX-15. Cachet by [[Cachet_Maker_Walter_Czubay_ | Walter Czubay]]
<!-- === End of Postmark Entry === -->
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<!-- Type 3z(BTB) -->
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<br/>&nbsp;<br/><table width="95%" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td align="center" valign="center" width="140">
Locy Type<br/>9n<br/><br/>USCS Postmark<br/>Catalog Illus. P-43
</td><td align="center" valign="center" width="100">
1945-08-01
</td><td align="center" width="350">
[[Image:JonBurdett prairiestate ix15 19450801r pm.jpg|thumb|center|200px]]
</td><td align="center" width="120">
[[Image:JonBurdett prairiestate ix15 19450801.jpg|thumb|center|100px]]
</td></tr></table>
As PRAIRIE STATE IX-15<br/>
The Locy Type sub-designation of "n" indicates hull number is in dial, which is not the case here.
<!-- === End of Postmark Entry === -->
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<!-- POSTMARK ENTRY -->
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<br/>&nbsp;<br/><table width="95%" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td align="center" valign="center" width="140">
Locy Type P<br/><br/>"USNR MIDSHIPMEN'S<br/>SCHOOL / NEW YORK NY"<br/><br/>"FIRST DAY / SERVICE"
</td><td align="center" valign="center" width="100">
1940-09-12
</td><td align="center" width="350">
[[Image:GregCiesielski_MiddySchool_NYNY_19400912_1_Postmark.jpg|thumb|center|300px]]
</td><td align="center" width="120">
[[Image:GregCiesielski_MiddySchool_NYNY_19400912_1_Front.jpg|thumb|center|100px]]
</td></tr></table>
As ILLINOIS IX-15. Cachet by [[Cachet_Maker_Walter_Czubay_ | Walter Czubay]]
<!-- === End of Postmark Entry === -->
<!-- ============== -->
<!-- POSTMARK ENTRY -->
<!-- ============== -->
<br/>&nbsp;<br/><table width="95%" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td align="center" valign="center" width="140">
Locy Type P<br/><br/>"USNR MIDSHIPMEN'S<br/>SCHOOL / NEW YORK NY"<br/><br/>"U.S.S. / PRAIRIE STATE"
</td><td align="center" valign="center" width="100">
1941-02-11
</td><td align="center" width="350">
[[Image:GregCiesielski_PrairieState_IX15_19410211_1_Front.jpg|thumb|center|300px]]
</td><td align="center" width="120">
[[Image:GregCiesielski_PrairieState_IX15_19410211_1_Back.jpg|thumb|center|100px]]
</td></tr></table>
Backside of the February 11 1941 cover showing the R/S mark of [[Cachet_Maker_John_W_Stock_ | John W. Stock]]<br/>and a USPO Machine postmark, "Station J", New York NY dated February 11 1941.
<!-- === End of Postmark Entry === -->

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Other Information</h3>
'''NAMESAKE''' - The State of Illinois<br/><br/>
Five ships of the US Navy have borne the name of the 21st state, ILLINOIS.<br/>
USS Illinois (sloop), a screw sloop-of war, was laid down but never completed.<br/> 
USS Illinois (BB-7), lead ship of her class of battleship, served for over half a century and was eventually renamed Prairie State.<br/> 
USS Illinois was a diesel-powered trawler acquired by the Navy, renamed USS Albatross (AM-71), and employed as a minesweeper.<br/> 
USS Illinois (BB-65), would have been a Iowa-class battleship, if her construction had not been cancelled before she was launched.<br/>[[ILLINOIS_SSN_786_ | USS Illinois SSN-786]] 
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
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