Scott W. Lucas Correspondence and Photographs, 1944-50 | Illinois History and Lincoln Collections

Scope and Contents:

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 Havana's Chamber of Commerce. A photographer of the Chicago Sun took the pictures, one of which includes the names of nine others sitting or standing near Lucas and two of which are inscribed to Eaton.

Biographical/Historical Context:

Scott W. Lucas (1892-1968) was born in Cass County, Ill., graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1914, and practiced law in Havana, Ill. He was active in politics as a Democrat, serving as State's Attorney of Mason County, 1920-25, and as chairman of the State Taxes Commission, 1933-35. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1935-39, and the U.S. Senate, 1939-51, becoming majority leader in 1949. Everett M. Dirksen defeated him in the 1950 election.

Acquisition Source: The letters and photographs were donated to the Illinois Historical Survey by Eaton's grandson, Dan Eaton of Champaign, Ill., in 1975 and 2003. The major collection of Lucas's papers and other materials is at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and is described in the Illinois Historical Journal, 77:3 (Autumn 1984).