Andrew S. Draper Personal Papers, 1892-1913

Papers of Andrew S. Draper contain 9 volumes of personal letters received from James B. Angell, James E. Armstrong, Samuel A. Bullard, Nicholas M. Butler, Thomas J. Burrill, John W. Cook, Melvil Dewey, William R. Harper, William T. Harris, Edmund J. James, St. Clair McKelway, Charles M. Moss, David Murray, Cyrus Northrup, Jacob G. Schurman, James B. Scott, Charles R. Skinner and other educators and friends concerning Draper's law and education career in New York (1871-86) term as New York State Superintendent of Public Instruction (1886-92); service as Superintendent of Public Instruction in Cleveland, Ohio, May 5, 1892 - May 18, 1894; acceptance of the presidency of the University of Illinois, February 26 - May 27, 1894; expressions of sympathy received during his illness after losing a leg in a carriage accident, April 7 - June 26, 1902; congratulations on 60th birthday, June 21, 1908, and letters of condolence at his death, April 27 - June 5, 1913.

Of special significance are letters concerning housing and sewerage in Champaign-Urbana, conditions at Illinois, an account of Draper's 1902 carriage accident and his three-page "Gratitude" for help he received, a seven-page report of the 1902 inauguration of Nicholas M. Butler as president of Columbia; a 64-page nurse's record of Draper's illness and an exchange of letters with Butler concerning passage of the new York Education Department "unification" bills, New York politics and Draper's position as Commissioner.

This series also includes a family bible presented to Draper upon his May 8, 1871 marriage to Abbie L. Lyon and containing lists of family births, deaths, and marriages (1871-1948).