In April 1976, the five members of the Historic Sites Committee of the Historical Society recognized that Lake Forest's historic visual character was threatened. These members met with Dr. Paul Sprague, a State of Illinois preservation consultant, who had been recommended by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Dr. Sprague suggested that a separate organization be established for the sole purpose of preservation. Thus, the five members of the Historic Sites Committee chartered the Foundation in August 1976.

Dr. Sprague's 1976 Proposal
Dr. Sprague's 1976 Suggestions for Moving Forward
Dr. Sprague's 1982 Final Report