Browse By Collection Title | Illinois History and Lincoln Collections

Manuscript Collections Beginning With "L"

050 Ladies' Education Society of Jacksonville, Ill., Papers, 1891-1983 (12.0 items)

This collection mainly consists of eight cumulative reports on the activities of the Society, dated 1891, 1895, 1902, 1909-12, 1912-27, 1927-37, and 1937-83. Also included are a photocopy of the program for the society's centennial celebration and three newspaper clippings dated 1983.

1120 Ladies Missionary Society of the Congregational Church of Tonica, Illinois Records, 1903-1927 (0.13 cubic feet)

This collection contains two record books of the Ladies Missionary Society of the Congregational Church in Tonica, Illinois. The first volume is dates 1903 to 1914, and the second is 1915 to 1927.

903 Hugh L. Lamaster Family Letters, 1858-1867 (3.0 items)

This collection consists of correspondence between the Lamaster family of Fulton County, Illinois.

051 Lamoille Valley (Vermont) Railroad Company Record Book, 1876 (1.0 volume)

The Lamoille Valley Railroad Company, in northern Vermont, entered an agreement on July 18, 1876, to merge with the Montpelier and St. Johnsbury Railroad and Essex County Railroad Companies in a chartered corporation. The purpose was "to connect and run together forming a through line from a point on or ...

1011 Ward Hill Lamon Memorandum Book, 1870 (1.0 item)

Ward Hill Lamon (1828-93) became a close friend of Abraham Lincoln when, as a lawyer in Danville, Ill., they were often associated in Vermilion County cases. Lamon accompanied Lincoln on his journey to Washington in 1861, and served thereafter as Marshall of the District of Columbia. After the assassination, Lamon ...

052 Edward P. Lander Diary, 1863-64 (1.0 item)

Edward P. Lander, born in England in 1843, enlisted in 1861 at Belvidere, Ill. as a bugler in Co. I, 9th Ill. Vol. Cav. This collection contains a 65-page typescript of his diary, July 28, 1863 to July 17, 1864. in which he noted the skirmishes, battles, marches, and daily ...

979 Hawkins Landrum Letter, 1841? (1.0 item)

This collection consists of a photocopy and transcript of a letter sent from Hawkins Landrum of Macoupin County, Illinois, to George T. M. Davis, editor of the [i]Alton Telegraph[/i] (Alton, Illinois).

054 Lang Family Correspondence, Letters, 1940-41 (1.0 folder; 3.0 items)

This collection contains letters to the Lang family who moved from Urbana, Ill., to Melrose, Mass., in 1940. Two of the letters are from a family named Raikes in Great Britain, who mention some of the effects of the war on their lives, while the third is a Christmas greeting ...

055 Laurence M. Larson Papers, 1917-43 (0.2 cubic feet)

Laurence Marcellus Larson (1868-1938) served on the History faculty of the University of Illinois from 1907 to 1938. This collection includes the typescript of an incomplete memoir of 22 pages, including insightful recollections of his faculty colleagues when he came to Illinois; an inventory of Larson's personal papers made by ...

966 LaSalle County (Ill.) Court House Scrapbook, 1880-1884 (1.0 volume)

Pasted into this volume are clippings, mainly from the [i]Ottawa Republican[/i], relating to the construction of La Salle County's fourth court house. Although most of the clippings are not dated, the Board of Supervisors authorized the building in 1880, and it was completed in 1883. George W. Armstrong chaired the ...

1008 Rene-Robert Cavelier sieur de LaSalle Documents, 1667-1720 (45.0 items)

This collection includes transcripts of various sources relating to LaSalle (1643-87), particularly during the period of his early explorations. It also includes lists used to locate the originals of those documents and related correspondence, 1912-15. Finally, it includes translations of selected documents in Pierre Margrey, [i]Decouvertes et etablissements des francais ...

1007 Agnes C. Laut Draft of an article on Abraham Wood's expedition (1670-1674), circa 1908 (1.0 item)

This collection contains a 20-page manuscript of an article entitled "The First Crossing" written by Agnes C. Laut (1871-1936) for [i]Harper's Magazine[/i] in 1908. The article concerns Maj. Gen. Abraham Wood's 1670-1674 expedition to the Mississippi Valley. Laut, a Canadian historian, found Wood's narrative, "Supposed to be the Carolina Colonies' ...

060 W. T. Lavinia Letter, 1837 (1.0 item)

This collection contains a letter written by W. T. Lavinia in Ottawa, Illinois. On November 4, 1837, he writes to the Board of Illinois and Michigan Canal Commissioners concerning the status of his payment on a land purchase. He writes that the lack of a response to his earlier communication ...

061 Peter Lavis Letters, 1854-56 (1.0 folder; 8.0 items)

This collection contains photostats of letters from Peter Lavis of Milwaukee, Wisc., to his wife and family. The letters, written in German, discuss the Know-Nothing movement and Lavis's service in the Wisconsin legislature, 1854-56. The Wisconsin Historical Society holds a duplicate set of these letters For the context of this correspondence, ...

062 William and Hattie Lawrence Correspondence, 1854-1880 (0.2 cubic feet)

William B. ("Ben") Lawrence, of Bloomington, Ill., served in Co. A, 94th Ill. Vol. Inf. during the Civil War. Enlisting as first sergeant, he reached the rank of first lieutenant and was quartermaster of the 2nd Battalion Convalescent Camp in New Orleans, 1862-64. This collection mainly contains letters to Lawrence ...

063 League of Women Voters of Champaign County, Ill. Records, 1870, 1918-2009 (19.8 cubic feet)

This collection is comprised of records from the League of Women Voters of Champaign County (LWV), located in Urbana, Illinois. Records include scrapbooks, minutes, reports, newspaper clippings, correspondence, newsletters, and other materials.

064 League of Women Voters of Charleston, Ill. Records and Publications, 1962-1980 (0.9 cubic feet)

This collection contains materials reflecting the operations and activities of the Charleston, Ill., League of Women Voters (LWV). Materials include reports on the annual meeting as well as minutes and agendas for the Board of Directors meetings from the early 1960s through the mid-1970s; copies of the organization's monthly newsletter, ...

045 Clark Leal Letter, Jan. 8, 1837 [1838] (1.0 item)

In this letter, Clark Leal reports to his cousin, William B. McCrea, "all Manner of Bad Roads" on his wagon trip of "about 500 miles" from Christiansburg, Champaign County, Ohio, to Fountain Green, Hancock County, Ill. Wilbur Duncan of Decatur, Ill., gave the letter to the Library.

067 Waldo Gifford Leland Papers, 1905-1942 (0.5 cubic feet; 2 microfilm reels)

Waldo G. Leland, historian and editor, made many contributions to both the historical and archival professions. Of the many works which he wrote, edited, or compiled, his complete[i] Guide to the Materials for American History in the Libraries and Archives of Paris[/i] has proved a very useful tool for historians ...

980 Aldo Leopold Report on a Game Survey of Illinois, 1929 (1.0 folder)

In 1929, the Game Restoration Committee of the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute hired Leopold to study and report on game resources in Illinois. Although he did not survey the entire state, his report outlines major elements of the state's natural environment: soil conditions, patterns of land usage, distribution ...

046 John J. Lescher Land Purchase, 1859-1864 (1.0 item)

This document concerns the auction of 72 acres in Wabash County, Ill., which was mortgaged by Stephen C. Golden on Apr. 11, 1859, and foreclosed by John J. Lescher on Mar. 28, 1864. The sale, for $272.52, was recorded at the court house in Mount Carmel on May 23, 1864.

069 Charles Alexandre Lesueur Sketchbooks, 1815-1837 (6.0 microfilm reels)

In 1815, French naturalist and artist Charles Alexandre Lesueur (1778-1846) joined geologist William Maclure on an expedition to the West Indies to collect specimens and make notes and drawings. Lesueur stayed in the Americas for 21 years, including eight years in Philadelphia, 1817-25, and twelve years at New Harmony, 1825-37. ...

1074 Letter from Sarah to "Cousin Sarah", 1865 (1.0 item)

This collection consists of one letter from Sarah to "Cousin Sarah" written from Dracut, Massachusetts, on July 11, 1865, which includes comments on Lincoln and his assassination.

070 James H. Leverich and Charles P. Leverich Letters, 1836-1850 (9.0 items)

This collection contains a few letters of James H. and Charles P. Leverich, New York merchants, engaged in the Southern trade. The letters concern business matters such as the charter of ships to transport goods, the sale of property and goods in the South, and bills of exchange. The Leverich ...

1114 Lewis Family Collection, circa 1911-2011 and 2021 (0.42 cubic feet)

This collection consists of materials formerly arranged into an art portfolio by Bonnie Lewis Mandell, whose family established the W. Lewis & Co. department store in Champaign, Illinois. Included are photos, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and ephemera that represent the Lewis family, their involvement in Sinai Temple, and W. Lewis & Co.

071 John L. Lewis Papers, 1879-1969 (4.0 microfilm reels)

This collection contains biographical material, speeches, reports, union records, personal documents, memorabilia, clippings, and photographs dealing with John L. Lewis (1880-1969). The Wisconsin Historical Society microfilmed the papers in this collection, and their finding aid describes the contents on each reel.

072 Library Clearing House (Julius Doerner), Chicago, and Unidentified General Store, Account Book, 1877-1888, 1901-1903 (0.2 cubic feet)

This collection contains an account book of sales transactions, first of an unidentified general store, 1877-88, and then of the Library Clearing House, Chicago, Dec. 1901-Aug. 1902. Entries for the store (pages 1-217) often give the customer's name. A few entries also specify what was sold, everything from groceries and liquor ...

907 William Lichtenstern Photograph Collection, 1909-1972 (1.4 cubic feet)

This collection is composed of black and white photographs of train cars and locomotives for over five dozen different railroad, railway, and trolley lines in Illinois during the early and mid-twentieth century. Some of the major lines and systems represented include the Chicago, Aurora, & Elgin; Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy; ...

073 George Washington Lienesch Collection of Political Ephemera and Other Materials, circa 1880-1893 (3.0 folders)

This collection consists of political ephemera including trade cards and ballots, as well as various other printed ephemera from the 1880s and 1890s collected by George W. Lienesch, a farmer in St. Clair County, Illinois.

1218 M. B. Light Letter, May 16, 1846 (1.0 folder)

This collection consists of a letter from M. B. Light to Alonzo Waterman discussing Light’s life in Oregon, Illinois.

777 Lincoln Administration Papers, 1841-1865, 1881 (0.2 cubic feet)

This collection consists of copied and transcribed letters written by Abraham Lincoln and his associates from 1841-1865 and 1881. Materials were acquired by University of Illinois history professors Theodor C. Pease and James G. Randall.

1051 Lincoln and Johnson Club of Washington City Constitution, 1864 (1.0 item)

This collection consists of a governing document of the Lincoln and Johnson Club of Washington City with signatures of club members.

1060 Lincoln Assassination Cartes de Visite, 1865 (2.0 items)

This collection consists of two cartes de visite commemorating the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

1020 Lincoln Centennial Association Ephemera, 1916-1929 (1.0 folder)

This collection consists of ephemera created by the Lincoln Centennial Association of Springfield, Illinois.

1029 Lincoln Forgeries, 1852-1858 (9.0 items)

This collection contains three Lincoln forgeries, including one letter and two legal documents, and the administrative correspondence regarding the forged letter. The letter is dated June 1, 1852; the legal papers are dated from June Term, 1858; and the administrative correspondence is from 1937.

1139 Lincoln Funeral Procession Carte de visite, 1865 (1.0 folder)

This collection consists of a carte de visite of the coffin and catafalque of Abraham Lincoln taken during the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, stop of the Lincoln funeral train on April 22, 1865.

798 Lincoln Home Renovation Photographs and Ephemera, 1987-1988 (1.0 folder)

This collection consists of photographs and ephemera created during the renovation of the Lincoln Home in Springfield, Illinois, which took place from May 1987-June 1988.

1025 Lincoln Plays (Theater Programs), 1906-1993 (1.0 folder)

The Lincoln Plays (Theater Programs) collection is comprised of nine theater programs or promotional materials advertising stage productions about the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln.

1045 Lincoln Prints and Ephemera, circa 1850s-2010s (1.6 cubic feet; (5 boxes, 53 oversize folders, 28 framed items))

The Lincoln Prints and Ephemera collection is comprised of several hundred depictions of Abraham Lincoln and various people, places, and topics related to his life and legacy. The collection includes materials created from 1854 to the present day, such as prints, photographs, broadsides, periodicals, newspapers, political cartoons, postcards, envelopes, advertisements, cartes-de-visite, books, booklets, portfolios, and more.

928 Lincoln Room Records, 1952-2004 (5.0 cubic feet)

This collection consists of records from the Lincoln Room, a predecessor of the Illinois History and Lincoln Collections (IHLC), which operated under the management of the History Library at the University of Illinois from 1951 to 2001. It includes administrative records, reports, correspondence, exhibit materials, and subject files.

1024 Lincoln Scrapbooks and Clippings, 1870-1965 (3.0 items)

The Lincoln Scrapbook and Clippings collection consists of five compiled scrapbooks and folders of clippings regarding a wide variety of items and topics related to Abraham Lincoln.

1018 "Lincoln Way" Papers, 1913-1915 (0.2 cubic feet; (1 box, 1 oversize folder))

This collection contains materials regarding the investigation of the "Lincoln Way," the route traveled by the Lincoln family when moving from Indiana to Illinois in 1830, including two reports written by Charles Manfred Thompson, as well as correspondence and legal affidavits gathered by Thompson for his research.

1041 Abraham Lincoln and Edwin Stanton Commission of Jesse B. Fell, 1862 (1.0 folder)

This document is the formal commission appointing Jesse W. Fell, a businessman and land owner from Bloomington, Illinois, as a paymaster for the Union Army. The commission is signed by Abraham Lincoln and Edwin Stanton, Lincoln's Secretary of War.

1042 Abraham Lincoln and Salmon P. Chase Commission of Thomas W. Cheyney, 1863 (1.0 folder)

This document is the formal commission appointing Thomas W. Cheyney, a farmer from West Chester, Pennsylvania, as an Assessor of Internal Revenue for the Seventh District of Pennsylvania.

1180 Abraham Lincoln "Fragment on Sectionalism" Speech (1.0 folder)

This document is a photostat of Abraham Lincoln’s speech on sectionalism in the United States written July 23, 1856. Lincoln delivered this speech on October 1, 1856, in support of Republican presidential candidate John C. Frémont.

1043 Abraham Lincoln Invitation to George C. Bestor and note, 1865 (2.0 items)

This collection contains an invitation requesting the company of George C. Bestor, a businessman and civil servant from Peoria, Illinois, and his wife, Sarah, at Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration ball on March 4, 1865. It also includes a note written by Lincoln concerning a visit from Bestor on March 21, ...

1038 Abraham Lincoln Legal document on Robert Dean v. Bernard Kelly, 1858 (1.0 folder)

This document is a legal declaration written in 1858 pertaining to the case of [i]Robert Dean[/i] v. [i]Bernard Kelly[/i], in which Abraham Lincoln served on the legal team representing Dean. The undated declaration, in Lincoln's hand, was sent to the Clerk of the Champaign County Circuit Court. It declares trespass on ...

1036 Abraham Lincoln Legal documents on Chiniquy v. Spink, 1856 (1.0 folder)

These documents are two papers that were drafted by Abraham Lincoln, stemming from his involvement in the 1855-1856 legal case between Charles Chiniquy and Peter Spink. One of the documents is Lincoln's draft of the document put forward to dismiss the case. This draft, probably penned in the fall of 1856, ...

1040 Abraham Lincoln Letter to J. O. Cunningham, 1858 (1.0 item)

This document is a letter sent by Abraham Lincoln to Joseph O. Cunningham, a lawyer and civil servant from Urbana, Illinois, on August 22, 1858.

1037 Abraham Lincoln Letter to Jesse A. Pickrell, 1856 (1.0 folder)

This letter was sent from Abraham Lincoln to Jesse A. Pickrell, a farmer living near Mechanicsburg, Illinois, and friend of Lincoln's. In his letter to Jesse A. Pickrell on September 15, 1856, Lincoln requested that Pickrell quietly assemble a list of fifteen or twenty Fillmore supporters in the area near Springfield, ...

1094 Abraham Lincoln Letter to John E. Rosette, 1857 (1.0 item)

This collection consists of a letter sent from Abraham Lincoln to John E. Rosette, editor of the [i]Springfield Republican[/i].

1039 Abraham Lincoln Letters to Daniel A. Cheever, 1858-1859 (1.0 folder)

These documents are letters sent from Abraham Lincoln to Dr. Daniel A. Cheever, an abolitionist and political figure in Pekin, Illinois. The first letter, sent from Abraham Lincoln to Dr. Cheever on August 9, 1858, references a speaking engagement that Cheever asked Lincoln to attend. Lincoln denied the request due to ...

1044 Abraham Lincoln Note, 1864 (1.0 item)

This document is a note offering a pardon, signed by Abraham Lincoln on February 10, 1864. On February 10, 1864, Abraham Lincoln reviewed more than thirty court martial cases, giving his decision on pardoning, approving, commuting, or remitting sentences. This note is likely Lincoln's response to one such case, though the ...

1035 Abraham Lincoln Note to Joseph Gundy, 1845 (1.0 folder)

This note, written on September 22, 1845, indicates a payment made by Abraham Lincoln to Joseph Gundy, a farmer from Danville, Illinois. Joseph Gundy was a legal client of Abraham Lincoln's in the 1840s and 1850s, and the two developed a congenial relationship. Gundy had given Lincoln a sum of money ...

1034 Abraham Lincoln Note to Thomas T. Gantt, 1841 (1.0 folder)

This note, written February 6, 1841, indicates a payment made by Abraham Lincoln to Thomas T. Gantt, a lawyer based in St. Louis, Missouri. In early 1841, Abraham Lincoln was singlehandedly operating the law office he shared with John T. Stuart while Stuart served his term in the United States House ...

1012 Robert Todd Lincoln Correspondence on Diverse Topics, 1863-1918 (0.2 cubic feet)

This collection consists of original correspondence, transcribed correspondence, and copies of microfilmed correspondence of Robert Todd Lincoln and other Lincoln contemporaries.

995 Lincoln-Douglas Debates, Centennial, 1958 (0.2 cubic feet)

This collection consists of clippings and ephemera related to the centennial of the Lincoln-Douglas debates.

074 Martha M. Lindsey Journal, 1837-1890 (1.0 volume)

Beginning in 1837, some 30 friends of Martha Lindsey inscribed sentiments of friendship in this album. They usually only initialed their contributions, which were generally poetical and accorded with the words embossed on the cover, "Flowers of Loveliness." In 1858, Martha Lindsey had married John Lindsey. He made entries in his ...

1016 Ralph G. Lindstrom Writings on Lincoln, 1945-1964 (0.6 cubic feet)

This collection consists of the Lincoln-related writings and accompanying materials of Ralph G. Lindstrom.

075 G. A. Linton Letters, 1881 (1.0 item)

Writing on Dec. 29, 1881, to John H. Burnham, G. A. Linton of Ellsworth, Ill., describes the location of a fort and battle site in McLean County. Reference is made to the uncovering in 1858 of graves and a gun barrel and the later investigation of Indian Mounds. The site ...

076 Thomas Lippincott and George Churchill Papers, 1860-1865 (0.2 cubic feet)

This collection contains transcripts of essays by Lippincott that were published in the [i]Alton Courier[/i], [i]Alton Telegraph[/i], and the [i]Henry Weekly Courier[/i]. The topics include "The Conflict of the Century," an account of pro-slavery agitation in Illinois during the 1820s (57 pages) and "Early Days in Madison County" (194 pages). The ...

077 John B. Littell Memoirs, 1911-1914 (1.0 item)

The Littell memoirs consist of a 23-page autobiographical sketch and 54-pages of additional essays. The sixteen essays include the drafts of two tracts on salvation, anecdotal sketches of fellow ministers, parishioners, and churches, the account of a debate with a Disciples of Christ minister, and a humorous essay on "Our ...

078 Henry G. Little Papers, 1836-1900 (0.3 cubic feet)

This collection contains biographical information about Little and his wife, Fidelia M. Stoddard Little, as well as a small amount of correspondence, including letters which detail the development of the Wethersfield Settlement in Henry County. Correspondents include L. F. Berry of Chicago, Joshua C. Dodge of Arlington, Mass., Henry D. ...

079 Joseph Litzelmann Papers, Letters, Postcards, Photographs, 1882-1959 (0.2 cubic feet)

Joseph Litzelmann of Newton, Ill., operated a boarding house called the American House. This collection contains letters, business papers and other documents pertaining to Joseph Litzelmann and his family. These include a bank book, receipts, an election notice, income tax forms, and an affidavit concerning an injury Litzelmann suffered during ...

080 Henry Cabot Lodge Letter, 1922 (1.0 item)

Writing on Mar. 9, 1922, Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge thanks Charles M. Woodbury for some cigars and for his approval on an unmentioned project. The letter was evidently separated from the Williams-Woodbury collection.

081 William E. Lodge Collection, 1856-1918 (5.3 cubic feet)

The Lodge collection contains the records of a law practice that spanned the second half of the nineteenth century. The Lodge papers, which make up most of the collection, consist primarily of a wide ranging, incoming business correspondence. Little outgoing correspondence is found in the collection. Important correspondents include Samuel ...

082 John Alexander Logan Letter, 1880 (1.0 item)

In this letter of April 30, 1880, John A. Logan encourages Mortimer C. Edwards of Pinckneyville, Perry Co., Ill., to support Ulysses S. Grant's nomination as the Republican Presidential candidate.

845 Stephen Harriman Long Financial Records, 1852-1862 (3.0 cubic feet)

This collection consists of Long's retained copies of papers, dating from 1852, relating to his projects as superintendent of the western rivers. Many records are in Long's hand, and some are in the handwriting or include the signatures of other men involved in the transactions, among them J. J. (John ...

911 Looking for Lincoln Ephemera and Memorabilia Collection, 2002-2015 (6.0 items)

This collection includes ephemera and memorabilia related to the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition.

083 William Lorimer Papers, 1893-1953 (0.2 cubic feet)

This collection contains photocopies of the personal papers of William Lorimer. Materials include correspondence, newspaper articles, and publications. The majority of the collection focuses on Lorimer's political career during the early twentieth century.

084 Loudoun Papers Selected documents, 1740-1755 (26.0 folders; 35 oversize folders)

This collection, mainly photostats of the originals in the Huntington Library, contains the papers and correspondence of the Campbells, the Earls of Loudoun, especially of John Campbell, Fourth Earl of Loudoun. It is separated into two divisions: the French Colonial Manuscripts, the Vaudreuil Papers; and the English Colonial Manuscripts. The French ...

085 Louisiana Superior Council Records, 1679-1803 (82.0 microfilm reels)

086 Samuel Sharon Love Diary, Account Book, Land Warrant, Certificate, 1850-74 (0.2 cubic feet)

This collection mainly contains materials related to Samuel Love's time as a student at the Illinois Industrial University, 1872-74. Love's diary describes course work, instructors, social events, visits home, and Sunday lectures by John Milton Gregory, first University Regent. The collection also includes an itemized account book, compositions, veterinary medical ...

1010 Lovejoy Society Papers, 1996-2014 (0.6 cubic feet)

This collection consists of the papers and research material of the Lovejoy Society.

087 Owen Lovejoy Letter, 1860 (1.0 item)

Writing to his wife on Apr. 6, 1860, Owen Lovejoy briefly described the tumultuous reaction to "The Barbarism of Slavery," his speech the prior day in Congress. The original letter is in the University of Michigan's Clements Library. In 1912, Lovejoy's son, Elijah Parish Lovejoy II, gave the Illinois Historical ...

875 Scott W. Lucas Correspondence and Photographs, 1944-50 (7.0 items)

This collection contains four letters from Lucas to Clyde D. Eaton of Havana expressing appreciation for his support. Three of the letters refer to Eaton's involvement in the 1950 Republicans for Lucas League. The collection also contains three photographs of Lucas, taken on Feb. 17, 1944, when he spoke to ...

089 Lyman Family, Sangamon County, Ill., Notes, 1915 (1.0 item)

This typescript of Lyman family notes, given to the Illinois Historical Survey in 1915, is largely based on John Carroll Power, [i]History of the Early Settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois [/i](1876), 467-69. .