Theodore Calvin Pease Papers, 1903-1948 | Illinois History and Lincoln Collections

Scope and Contents:

This collection contains 14 series including: 1. Biography; 2. Education; 3. Military service; 4. Teaching and research; 5. University of Illinois: department and campus; 6. University of Illinois: individuals; 7. Books; 8. Articles; 9. Unpublished papers; 10. Book reviews; 11. Illinois State Historical Library and the Illinois State Historical Society; 12. Other organizations and correspondents; 13. Miscellaneous records; 14. Research notecards.

Biographical/Historical Context:

Pease (1887-1948) was born in Cassopolis, Michigan. He studied at the University of Chicago, where he received a bachelor's degree in history in 1907 and a Ph.D. in History in 1914. Pease first became associated with the Illinois Historical Survey in 1910, and taught in the History Department of the University of Illinois from 1914 to 1948. Pease authored, co-authored, edited, or co-edited more than a dozen works, and his The Leveller Movement won the Herbert Baxter Adams Prize of the American Historical Association in 1915. He served as Editor of Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library, 1920-39, and of The American Archivist, 1937-46; Director of the Illinois Historical Survey, 1939-48; Chairman of the Historical Manuscripts Commission of the American Historical Association, 1925-31; and President of the Illinois State Historical Society, 1946-47. Pease also served as a 1st Lieutenant in the 32nd Division of the American Expeditionary Force during World War I, where he participated in the Marne-Aisne, Oise-Aisne, and Meuse-Argonne offensives.

Acquisition Source: Marguerite J. Pease donated the materials of this collection to the Illinois History Survey in the 1950's and 1991. Additional materials are located in the University Archives in the collection titled, "Theodore C. Pease Papers" (RG 15/13/23).