Lavern M. Hamand Papers, 1947-1968 | Illinois History and Lincoln Collections

Scope and Contents:

This collection consists of research material prepared by Lavern Marshall Hamand for his dissertation on Ward Hill Lamon, a friend of Abraham Lincoln. It also contains correspondence related to his dissertation research; correspondence received by Clint Clay Tilton, an earlier Lamon biographer; and papers relating to the publication of Living with Lincoln and Other Essays (J.G. Randall, 1949). Also included are copies of the dissertation through the various writing process.

Biographical/Historical Context:

Lavern M. Hamand (1918-1992) was a professor of History at Eastern Illinois University from 1957 to 1982 and the Dean of the Graduate School from 1961 to 1974. The Hamand Society Scholars, Hamand Graduate Writing Award, and Lavern M. and Martha T. Hamand Scholarship were named in honor of him and his wife. Prior to his positions at Eastern, Hamand was assistant dean and professor of History at Arkansas Polytechnic College in Russellville, Arkansas.

Acquisition Source: Wendy Hamand Venet, daughter of Lavern Marshall Hamand, donated the collection to the University of Illinois Library in 2011.