<p><strong>Additional Information:</strong><br> <a href= "http://allstatenewsroom.com/categories/18/releases/4025">Awards and Recognition</a></p> <p><strong>History</strong></p> <p>Allstate was founded in 1931 as part of Sears, Roebuck &amp; Co., and became a publicly traded company in 1993. At the time, the initial public offering of Allstate was the largest in U.S. history. On June 30, 1995, it became a totally independent company after Sears divested its remaining shares to Sears stockholders.</p> <p>Based in Northbrook, Illinois, Allstate is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer and one of the nation's leading insurers in urban areas.</p> <p>For more than 75 years, Allstate leaders, employees and agency owners have been passionate about leading positive change in this country. Serving as a consumer advocate - and an advocate for the American economy - is an integral part of Allstate's heritage. In the 1930s, Allstate was one of the first companies to create a sophisticated rate classification system, giving better rates to safe drivers; in the 1950s Allstate opened its first drive-in claim office, revolutionizing the way automobile claims are handled; in the 1960s the company helped convince the government to make seat belt use mandatory; in the 1970s and 1980s Allstate played an instrumental role in advocating the safety benefits of air bags; and in the 1990s and 2000s Allstate has continued to take a public stand on issues that are important to consumers.</p> <p>Today, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help consumers protect what they have and better prepare for tomorrow.</p> <p><em>Our story begins on a fall morning in 1930, as the early morning commuter train headed for downtown Chicago. A friend suggested to Sears, Roebuck &amp; Co. President and Board Chairman General Robert E. Wood that Sears start an auto insurance company and sell insurance by mail. It was the beginning of something big ...</em></p> <p><strong>Allstate Timeline</strong><br> <a href="/categories/19/releases/4141">1930s</a><br> <a href="/categories/19/releases/4142">1940s</a><br> <a href="/categories/19/releases/4143">1950s</a><br> <a href="/categories/19/releases/4144">1960s</a><br> <a href="/categories/19/releases/4145">1970s</a><br> <a href="/categories/19/releases/4146">1980s</a><br> <a href="/categories/19/releases/4147">1990s</a><br> <a href="/categories/19/releases/4148">2000s</a></p> 2007-03-20T10:33:21-05:00 1 true false 4028 CompanyInformation 2007-03-20T14:33:00-05:00 2009-03-31T11:30:29-05:00 Desk, Wieck