In 1818, the federal government helped finance public education by designating public land sale proceeds (i.e., each township's section sixteen; 3% total Illinois federal land sales (Jan. 1, 1819- )) to school and seminary funds. Seminaries were supported by selling land for two townships, to which the state added 2% of annual state revenue for the school fund. Funds were administered by the School Fund Commissioners (est. 1825), consisting of the Governor, Auditor of Public Accounts, Secretary of State, and Attorney General (1829- ), who distributed revenue among Illinois counties based on number of inhabitants under age twenty-one. Additionally, one fourth of School Fund interest was distributed to the Illinois Asylum for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb (1839) and seminary land sale proceeds were allocated to Illinois State Normal and Southern Illinois Normal Universities.
From the description of Account books, 1823-1920. (Illinois State Archive). WorldCat record id: 37104587
