Finding Aid for Ninian Edwards Papers, 1799-1880 | Illinois History and Lincoln Collections

Service Location	Boxes	Request
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324	Box 1	Request Box 1
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324	Box 2	Request Box 2

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Collection Overview

Title: Ninian Edwards Papers, 1799-1880

Collection identifier: 610

Primary Creator: Edwards, Ninian (1775-1833)

Extent: 0.4 cubic feet

Subjects: Courts, Edwards, Ninian, 1775-1833, Illinois--Politics and government, Illinois Territory, United States--Politics and government, Wirt, William, 1772-1834

Forms of Material: Copies, Personal papers

Abstract

This collection includes transcriptions of Ninian Edwards’ papers, primarily from when Edwards was politically active.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The first box includes typed transcripts of correspondence written by and addressed to Edwards. There is also a small selection of speech drafts. The letters focus on various political matters such as criticisms of Edwards’ governance, the postal system, slavery and the law, and political relations with Native communities. The second box includes two volumes of transcribed letters addressed to Edwards which are dated 1809-1832.

Collection Historical Note

Ninian Edwards (1775-1833) served as Governor of the Illinois Territory from 1809-1818. Born in Maryland and a graduate of Dickinson College in 1792, Edwards also served as a U.S. Senator from 1818-1824 and as Governor of Illinois from 1826-1830. He married Elvira Lane in 1803, had five children, and was a slave holder.

Subject/Index Terms

Courts
Edwards, Ninian, 1775-1833
Illinois--Politics and government
Illinois Territory
United States--Politics and government
Wirt, William, 1772-1834

Administrative Information

Repository: Illinois History and Lincoln Collections

Acquisition Source: The correspondence and speeches transcripts in box 1 were copied from volumes 49-51 of the Edwards Collection of the Chicago Historical Society (now Chicago History Museum) and were the property of Ben E. McCoy of Champaign, Ill. The Illinois Historical Survey, the predecessor of the Illinois History and Lincoln Collections, received these volumes of copies of letters to Ninian Edwards from Professor Avery O. Craven in 1928.

Box/Folder List

URL: https://files.archon.library.illinois.edu/ihlcsfa/edwards.pdf

PDF finding aid for Ninian Edwards Papers