Finding Aid for Lester Leutwiler Chief Illiniwek Headdress and Costume Accessories | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

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Collection Overview

Title: Lester Leutwiler Chief Illiniwek Headdress and Costume Accessories

ID: 26/20/262

Primary Creator: Lester Leutwiler (1907-1993)

Extent: 3.5 cubic feet

Arrangement: Unarranged

Date Acquired: 06/17/2024

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection contains pieces from Lester Leutwiler's University of Illinois Chief costume, including the headdress and other accessories.

Collection Historical Note

Lester Leutwiler was born on April 1, 1907. He grew up in Urbana, Illinois and attended Urbana High School. His father worked at the University of Illinois as both a Professor and the Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Leutwiler was an Eagle Scout where he learned about Native American Culture. He took a great interest in it and learned about "Fancy Dance", a Plains Indian style of dance. He also attended a camp in Mount Elbert Colorado where he created a Native American headdress with the help of camp runner, Ralph Hubbard. This would become the headdress used in Leutwiler's Chief performances. Leutwiler attended the University of Illinois and received a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Due to his knowledge of Native American culture and dance, the director of the marching band, Ray Dvorak, invited Leutwiler to debut the Chief in a halftime show for a football game against the University of Pennsylvania on October 3, 1926. He performed as the Chief from 1926 to 1928, graduating in 1929. He passed away in February of 1993.

Biographical Note

Lester Leutwiler was born on April 1, 1907. He grew up in Urbana, Illinois and attended Urbana High School. His father worked at the University of Illinois as both a Professor and the Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Leutwiler was an Eagle Scout where he learned about Native American Culture. He took a great interest in the subject and learned about "Fancy Dance", a Plains Indian style of dance. He also attended a camp in Mount Elbert Colorado where he created a Native American headdress with the help of camp runner, Ralph Hubbard. This would become the headdress used in Leutwiler's Chief performances. Leutwiler attended the University of Illinois and received a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Due to his knowledge of Native American culture and dance, the director of the marching band, Ray Dvorak, invited Leutwiler to debut the Chief. The first performance took place in a halftime show for a football game against the University of Pennsylvania on October 3, 1926. He performed as the Chief from 1926 to 1928, graduating in 1929. He passed away in February of 1993.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[Box 6],
[Box 7],
[Box 8],
[Box 9],
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Box 1

Item 1: Short Headdress

Item 2: Large Headdress

Item 3: Quiver

Accession number: 2024.26.20.262.15

Physical condition: Good/Fair

Material composition: Wool felt, leather, fabric, sinew, beads, metal, thread

Description: Length of canvas like green fabric with red fabric bias strip sewn with thick cord along one length of green fabric, each end of the green fabric has red fabric bias strips stitched on, with the lower end containig fringe. A thick strip of flat gray cord is stitched to the green length of fabric to create a "sash". Bead and fringe work is located on the top and middle portion of the "sash". Quiver is stitched to sash with thick cord and red bias strips. Quicer is made from green canvas-like fabric, constructed into a "tube". A red bias strip is sewn along one long edge with a thick cord and thick fringe. The top of the quiver has a red bias strip and a rectangular bead work patter with fringe on the bottom. The bottom of the quiver has a red bias strip and long fringe, much like the long edge. A beaded cross patter is also located towards the bottom of the quiver.

Measurement: 140 cm

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[Box 6],
[Box 7],
[Box 8],
[Box 9],
[All]