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

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[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
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[Box 5],
[Box 6],
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Box 8

Item 1: Calfskin Drum

Accession Number: 2024.26.20.262.33

Condition: Good

Material: Cedar wood, calf skin, snake skin, steel nails

Description: A drum made of cedar wood held together with steel nails. Drum has snake skin wrapped around the center portion that appears to be flaking. Each head of the drum is made from stretched calfskin and bound with strips of calfskin to tighten the heads to the drum. Remnants of animal hair can be found still attached to calfskin. The drum heads differ slightly in size, creating a slight taper to the drum. The larger head contains a depiction of a bison skull. A yellowish brown circle covered partially by two half circles; one dark red, one white, with a straight white/gray line marking the flat edge of the half circles. A dark red zig-zag arrow continues perpendicular from the straight white/gray line.

Drum measures 34 by 34 by 31 cm.

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