University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois I-Mark

The items in the Digital Collections of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library contain materials which represent or depict sensitive topics or were written from perspectives using outdated or biased language. The Library condemns discrimination and hatred on any grounds. As a research library that supports the mission and values of this land grant institution, it is incumbent upon the University Library to preserve, describe, and provide access to materials to accurately document our past, support learning about it, and effect change in the present. In accordance with the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read statement, we do not censor our materials or prevent patrons from accessing them.

If you have questions regarding this statement or any content in the Library’s digital collections, please contact digitalcollections@lists.illinois.edu

American Library Association’s Freedom to Read Statement

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at the University Library
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Showing 521–560 of 792 collections
  • Knight Family Correspondence (Digitized Content)
    Illinois History and Lincoln Collections  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    The digitized content of the Knight Family Correspondence consists of letters written between the Mack family of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois and the Knight family of Selma and Towanda, Illinois, dating from the 1850s to the 1880s. Most of the letters were written by Martha Mack to her sister, Isabella Knight. Martha and Isabella Gill were sisters and Irish immigrants. Isabella married Harvey J. Knight and they had two children, Martha (Mattie) and Anna Knight The Knight family lived in Selma, Illinois before moving to Towanda, Illinois, outside of Normal, so that Isabella and Martha could be closer to each other. Martha Gill married John T. Mack and the two lived in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. The digitized content contains letters written between Martha and Isabella about farm life and family updates. Harvey and John also wrote to each other about their farm work. Later letters are written by Mattie and Anna Knight to their mother and father; these letters are about their education in Normal, Illinois, where they were learning to be teachers. The Illinois History and Lincoln Collections unit at the University of Illinois Library manages the physical items of the Knight Family Correspondence (MS 041). The collection was completely digitized in 2020 and 2021. For more information, contact an archivist at ihlc@library.illinois.edu.
  • Korean Student Association Records (Digital Surrogates)
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Digital surrogates of photos of a 1983 student demonstration on the UIUC campus urging action against the Soviet Union after they shot down a civilian Korean Airlines flight. Also includes a PowerPoint presentation put together by former KSA president Euiho Suh (1984-85) to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Korean students at UIUC.
  • Krannert Museum Exhibition Catalogs (Digital Surrogates)
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Krannert Museum Exhibition Catalogs (Digital Surrogates), 1978, contains a digitized catalog concerning the exhibition of the work by Sol LeWitt at the Krannert Art Museum from February 3 through April 4, 1978. The digitized catalogue includes biographical notes about LeWitt, and an invitation to a preview event and conversation with the artist.
  • Larry Smarr Papers (Digital Surrogates)
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Digital Surrogates of the Larry Smarr Papers include correspondence, reprints, newspaper clippings, and handwritten notes regarding research on black holes, astronomical topics, and supercomputing.
  • League of Women Voters of Champaign County, Ill. Records (Digitized Content)
    Illinois History and Lincoln Collections  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    The digitized content of the League of Women Voters of Champaign County, Illinois, Records consists of the Official Secretary Records Volume 1. These records span from October 9, 1922, until May 2, 1933, and include notes on meetings, resumes of presentations by guest speakers, reports of officers and committees, newspaper clippings, and material on the Junior League of Women Voters. The League of Women Voters of Champaign County was formed in 1922. The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan grassroots organization that promotes civic involvement and encourages active participation in the government through voter education. The digitized content contains Volume 1 of the League of Women Voters of Champaign County’s Official Secretary Records. This volume contains 152 bound pages with 44 loose pages of additional materials. These pages include meeting notes, summaries of presentations by speakers, officer and committee reports, newspaper clippings, and material on the Junior League of Women Voters. The Illinois History and Lincoln Collections unit at the University of Illinois Library manages the physical items of the League of Women Voters of Champaign County, Ill. Records (MS 063). This collection was partially digitized in 2024. For more information, contact an archivist at ihlc@library.illinois.edu.
  • LGBT at UIUC
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    "The Gay Illini organization was formed in 1975 and Illini Pride was founded in 1977, both growing out of the work of the Gay Liberation Front. Gay Illini was announced in the Daily Illini on January 29, 1975. By April 1975, the group was holding Gay Forums, offering panels discussing topics related to gay students and queer life. The group also hosted a number of social events, including dances, picnics, and movie nights." (reprinted from the Student Life & Culture Archives blog, written by Caitlin Stamm, http://archives.library.illinois.edu/slc/pride-month-2015-lgbt-history-on-campus/) Since the beginning in the 1970s, the story of LGBTQ culture and student organizations has taken several twists and turns, including a large number of name changes, acronym rearrangements, and a shifting landscape of office space (or lack thereof). This digital collection offers only a glimpse into the past, and does not attempt by any means to represents events, organizations, or policies in their entirety. Rather, the collection should be thought of as just one door in a long hallway of history. Another door is the current Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Resource Center, located in Room 323 of the Illini Union. As a complement to this collection, users may find the timeline the LGBTRC created here: https://oiir.illinois.edu/lgbt-resource-center/about-lgbtrc/history helpful. The University Archives are also a terrific opening for scholars who want to really dig into the LGBTQ past of the University of Illinois. All materials found in this collection were hand picked from two archival records series. To visit the University Archives online, please visit http://archives.library.illinois.edu. The analog collection these images were drawn from reside at the physical location of the Archives Research Center, Horticulture Field Laboratory, 1707 South Orchard, Urbana. It is the hope of the University Archives and the LGBT Resource Center that, over time, this digital collection will continue to grow. If you are a student, faculty, or staff member and have questions about donating material, please contact the Archives at (217) 333-0798. Collection Curator's Note: The University of Illinois recognizes that the acronym LGBT may not be agreeable to everyone it attempts to encompass. It was chosen for the title solely because it was the most used acronym found within the related archival collection. No offense is intended to any member of our highly diversified community campus.
  • Library 21 Exhibit File (Digital Surrogates)
    American Library Association Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Digital surrogates from the Library 21 Exhibit File, including correspondence (1960-62), contracts, development of the exhibit, feasibility studies (1960), proposals (1961), reports, and reactions to the exhibit.
  • Library and Information Science Library Subject File (Born Digital Records)
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    The Library and Information Science Library Subject Files contains correspondence, reports, user analysis surveys relating to the collection and services of the Library unit and its transition into a "virtual" library. This series also includes digital copies of the Library and Information Science Library's website; "SWOT" assessment future planning documents related to Library Divisions (2005-06); and user analysis and implementation planning for the implementation of the Library's on-line public access catalog (OPAC) (1997-99) and its replacement with the Voyager OPAC (2002).
  • Library Audiovisual Presentations (Digital Surrogates)
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Library Audiovisual Presentations includes negatives and positives of a two-reel silent film, "Found in a Book: Making the Most of your Library," April, 1936. Series also includes 2 DVD format copies (2010). This film was produced by the Class in Administration, University of Illinois Library School, directed by Marion Bradford, written by Ralph T. Esterquest, and photographed by Ray P. Hamm. Actors include Klusman Parks, David Pettigrew, Halle Galhuly, Mildred Easton, and Martha Sanford. The plot compares the experiences of one student who successfully utilizes the university library to aid his research with his roommate who does not. Additonally, this collection includes audio cassettes of faculty and guest lectures concerning control and access; inderdisciplinary research; digital materials; community relations; music preservation; feminist perspectives on thinking, libraries, and information; global impact of libraries; reference and virtual libraries; humanities and libraries; and information technology by speakers including Herbert White, Robert Alun Jones, Barbara J. Ford, Charles A. Bunge, Sarah M. Pritchard, Richard Jones, Sonja Jordan, Ann Bishop, Adam Griego, Carole L. Palmer, Kuperminc Marta Zarate, and Sally H. McCallum.
  • Library Education Programs File (Digital Surrogates)
    American Library Association Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Digital surrogates of the Library Education Programs File including correspondence, visitation reports and completed survey forms dealing with library science sources and programs conducted in the United States and foreign countries. Files contain information of the purposes and goals of programs, course descriptions, curricula, financial support, faculty, admission criteria, certificates and degrees awarded, facilities and enrollment, and visitation reports relating to the accreditation of library schools. The series includes files dealing with the Indiana and Michigan library surveyed of 1937-40, and with Carnegie Corporation support for library education programs. Chief correspondents include Louis R. Wilson, Keyes D. Metcalf, Sarah C. N. Bogle, Anita Hostetter, Harriet Howe and Margaret E. Vinton.
  • Library Photographs and Slides (Born Digital Records and Digital Surrogates)
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Library Photographs and Slides (Born Digital Records and Digital Surrogates), 2003, 2007, contains images of the Ricker Architecture Library Project (ca. 2003), the acquisition of the University Library's 10 Millionth Volume (2007), and the Printers Marks Windows.
  • Library Vertical Files (Digital Surrogates)
    American Library Association Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Digital surrogates of Vertical Files established by the Library for reference use containing material on ALA organization, constitution and bylaws (1914-51, 1971), elections and officers, membership, publicity (1876-1954), Council (1947-80), Executive Board (1960-79), publishing (1967-79), committees, round tables, boards and divisions and sections. The files include folders on meetings (1952-62), War Service during World Wars I and II, bibliography committee (1924-35), Reading Habits Study (1927-29), international relations, (1941-69), Books for Latin America Project (1942-45), Adult Education Survey and Grant Evaluation (1952-58), Financial Status of Publications Survey (1930), committee reports (1925-80), Wayne A. Wiegand's article The Wayward Bookman about K. August Linderfelt and related reproduced documents, awards (1924-80), headquarters administrative memoranda (1954-69), travel reports (1958-62), copies of articles by Carl Milam (1959-65) and the Freedom to Read Foundation (1969-90), organizational anniversaries, annual reports of the ALA (1973-97), election returns (1953-88), copies of the ALA Constitution (1889-78); a subject file on library topics; historical documents; National Library Week materials (1949-1983); project files; conference materials; and Council of National Library Associations (CNLA) minutes and proceedings (1941-1968).
  • Library War Service Index, 1929 (Digital Surrogate)
    American Library Association Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Index to the War Services Committee records, this index provides subject access to War Services Committee records as they were originally arranged at ALA headquarters. Index also includes supplementary materials, including materials on the Library Overseas Fellowship, an armistice day pamphlet titled "The Tribute of the 'The Seven'", and a report "Rochester in Library War Work" by William Yust.
  • Lincoln Prints and Ephemera Collection (Digitized Content)
    Illinois History and Lincoln Collections  ·   Digital Special Collections
  • Lorado Taft Papers (Digital Surrogates)
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Lorado Taft Papers (Digital Surrogates), 1929, contains a digitized handwritten manuscript and a letter, as well as an electronic transcript of the manuscript, relating to the speech given by Taft about the Alma Mater.
  • Louise J. Pellens Scrapbook (Digital Surrogate)
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Louise J. Pellens Scrapbook (Digital Surrogate), 1905-1909, contains a digitized scrapbook entitled "Memory Book" of Louise J. "Prim" Pellens '09, including dance programs (135); theater programs (1906-09); photographs; Pi Beta Phi convention programs and menu (1906), annual report (1909), and house rules; commencement programs (1907-09); baseball scorecards (1907-08); concert & musical programs (1907-09); clippings; menus; calling cards; tags; postcards; invitation (1907-09); favors; and copies of "The Dope Sheet" and "Sirkus Siren" (1907-09).
  • Louis Sullivan Architectural Drawings of Bradley House, Madison, Wisc.
    Illinois History and Lincoln Collections  ·   Digital Special Collections
  • Ludwig F. Audrieth Papers (Digital Surrogates)
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Digital Surrogates of the Ludwig F. Audrieth Papers includes correspondence, office memoranda, and publications concerning Picatinny Arsenal.
  • Mapping History at the University of Illinois Collection
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    The Mapping History at the University of Illinois (MH@UI) collection contains maps, drawings, blueprints, and images of the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and Champaign County dating from the 1850s to the present. Maps relate to way-finding, campus and community planning, city zoning, political districting, transportation, humor and cartooning, student housing, recreational offerings, faculty club outings, and more. These materials are part of the MH@UI project, a collaboration between University of Illinois Archives, University Library’s Scholarly Commons-GIS, and the School of Architecture, see: http://www.library.illinois.edu/mappinghistory/ Holdings are from the collections of the University Archives, Map Library, and Champaign County Historical Archives. Collection size: approximately 525 maps
  • Maps of Africa to 1900
    Rare Book & Manuscript Library  ·   Digital Special Collections
  • March for Science Champaign-Urbana Records (Digital Surrogates)
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    March for Science Champaign-Urbana Records include protest signs and posters, flyers, photos, original art from a volunteer artist, and indexed publicly available social media and web content concerning the sister March for Science Champaign-Urbana on April 22, 2017, at the Orpheum Children's Science Museum.
  • Margaret A. King Correspondence (Digitized Content)
    Illinois History and Lincoln Collections  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    The digitized content of the Margaret A. King Correspondence consists of original correspondence written between February and October 1864, primarily from Margaret A. King, who lived in Warren, Illinois, to her husband Philander B. King, who had moved to Nevada Territory. Philander and Margaret King were farmers who lived in Warren, Illinois, though Philander moved west to Washoe City, Nevada Territory in 1864 to try to find work in the gold mines. While he was away, Margaret cared for their farm and their children. The Kings moved to the state of Washington in 1902, where Margaret died in 1906 and Philander died in 1907. The digitized content contains sixteen letters, most of which are from Margaret King to Philander King. In her letters to her husband, Margaret described the difficulties of her life alone on the farm, as well as details such as the weather and the prices of goods. She also wrote about local news from Warren, Illinois, especially news regarding the Civil War. The digitized content also contains letters from Philander to Margaret, which give insight into his life in Washoe City, and letters sent to Philander from his relative J. M. Barber; J. E. Scace; and D. C. Allen. The Illinois History and Lincoln Collections unit at the University of Illinois Library manages the physical items of the Margaret A. King Correspondence (MS 037). The collection was completely digitized in 2018. For more information, contact an archivist at ihlc@library.illinois.edu.
  • Margaret Erlanger Papers (Digital Surrogates)
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Digital Surrogates from the Margaret Erlanger Papers include digitized correspondence, photographs, curriculum proposals, dance concert posters and programs, and newspapers clippings, concerning Profesor Erlanger's contribution to the creation of the Dance Department at Illinois, and to the evolution of the undergraduate and graduate dance programs. Note: Since these materials were digitized for a May 2017 library exhibit, they focus on the Dancer-in-residence position created at Illinois, and on Margaret Erlanger's perspectives on Dance Education. Materials available online include a sample of the digitized material. Additional information is available upon request, including correspondance and images that cannot be published online due to copyright restrictions
  • Marie H. Nichols Papers (Digital Surrogates)
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Digital Surrogates fo the Marie H. Nichols Papers includes corresponence, articles, and speeches concerning speech eductation and a recollection of writing for Q.J.S. Correspondants include Karl Wallace (University of Illinois, 1966-67).
  • Marion H. Drake Campaign Leaflet (Digitized content)
    Illinois History and Lincoln Collections  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    The digitized content of the Marion H. Drake Campaign Leaflet consists of a campaign leaflet from the Marion H. Drake Campaign Committee. Marion H. Drake was the Progressive Party candidate in the April 1914 election for alderman of the First Ward in Chicago, Illinois. She graduated from the Chicago College of Law in 1892 and worked as a suffragist and lawyer. Drake ran against incumbent John “Bathhouse” Coughlin, who began his career as alderman for the First Ward of Chicago in 1892. Drake lost the 1914 election to Coughlin, who would serve as alderman until his death in 1938. The digitized content contains an envelope and a campaign leaflet. The campaign leaflet is promoting alderman candidate Marion H. Drake in her campaign against Alderman “Bathhouse John” Coughlin, accusing Coughlin of crime and graft while promoting Drake for her strength and virtue. The Illinois History and Lincoln Collections unit at the University of Illinois Library manages the physical items of the Marion H. Drake Campaign Leaflet, 1914 (MS 1184). The collection was completely digitized in 2025. For more information, contact an archivist at ihlc@library.illinois.edu.
  • Mark Naoumides Papers (Digital Surrogates)
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Digital Surrogates of the Mark Naoumides Papers include handwritten notes, corrections, and notecards on manuscripts and publications.
  • Mary E. Ahern Papers (Digital Surrogates)
    American Library Association Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Papers of Mary Eileen Ahern, contains correspondence about ALA meetings and activities before her service to ALA during World War I (1893, 1897, 1905-1916), preliminary correspondence about libraries and the war and private correspondence (1917-1918), correspondence concerning her ALA War Service to American soldiers in France by providing library services to them (1919), private correspondence (1920-21, 1924), and undated correspondence, postcards and photographs.
  • Mary Jane Foster Letter (Digitized Content)
    Illinois History and Lincoln Collections  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    The digitized content of the Mary Jane Foster Letter consists of one letter written in 1869 by Mary Jane Foster to her father, Octavio. Mary Jane Foster lived in Chicago and Evanston, Illinois, during the 19th century, with her husband, George, who owned a business in Chicago. Her father, Octavio, lived in the eastern United States. The digitized content contains one letter written by Mary Jane Foster to her father, Octavio, in 1869. The letter discusses Mary Jane’s move from Chicago to Evanston, Illinois, due to high rent prices, local transportation, and her intention to build a house on the plot of land she recently purchased. The Illinois History and Lincoln Collections unit at the University of Illinois Library manages the physical items of the Mary Jane Foster Letter (MS 1047). The collection was completely digitized in 2020. For more information, contact an archivist at ihlc@library.illinois.edu.
  • Mary Lee Spence Papers (Digital Surrogates)
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Mary Lee Spence Papers (Digital Surrogates) consists of a working list of the letters of Jessie Fremont, compiled by Spence in 1989.
  • May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Scrapbooks (Born Digital)
    American Library Association Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Born digital copy of a May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture by Walter Dean Myers, "The Geography of the Heart" (2009).
  • McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)
    Illinois History and Lincoln Collections  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    The digitized content of the McNitt Family Papers consists of correspondence and related materials, dating from 1861 to 1886, of three sisters, Sophronia, Hellen, and Jennie McNitt. The bulk of the correspondence is between soldiers serving in the Illinois infantry during the Civil War and Sophronia McNitt. The McNitts were a farming family who lived in rural Montgomery County, Illinois, near the townships of Hillsboro and Irving. The family, including the three daughters, Sophronia, Hellen, and Priscilla ("Jennie"), had connections throughout the county. During the Civil War, many men that they knew left the county to make lives in the West or fight in Illinois volunteer infantry regiments. These men, along with other friends, maintained connections to the McNitts through correspondence. The digitized content contains letters written to the McNitt sisters, particularly Sophronia, by friends, suitors, or other connections from their local community in Montgomery County. These letters give a glimpse into the activities and lives of Civil War soldiers from rural Illinois, politics and anti-war movements of the 1860s, and courtship of the era. The Illinois History and Lincoln Collections unit at the University of Illinois Library manages the physical items of the McNitt Family Papers (MS 117). The collection was partially digitized in 2018. For more information, contact an archivist at ihlc@library.illinois.edu.
  • Membership Dues Accounts Journals
    American Library Association Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Digital copy of membership dues accounts books of treasurers contains account journals of Melvil Dewey (1876-81), Frederick Jackson (1881-82), Samuel Swett Green (May-September, 1882), James L. Whitney (1982-86), Henry J. Carr (1886-93), George W. Cole (1894-95) and E. I. Hovey (1906-08) and Nina E. Browne, Registrar and Secretary of the Publishing Board (January-September, 1909), includes names of members, amount of dues paid, date of receipt, and life memberships.
  • Memorial Stadium Renovation Consulting Reports (Born Digital Records)
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Memorial Stadium Renovation Consulting Reports (Born Digital Records), 2005-2006, contains reports prepared by consulting firms responsible of designing the renovation plan for the University of Illinois Memorial Stadium. Materials include a phased development plan (2005) and a report on preservation adverse effect of the original renovation plan (2006).
  • Men's Football Programs (Digital Surrogates)
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Digital surrogates from the Football Programs, include digitized copies from the 1913 and 1914 homecoming football programs. The 1913 program is the Fourth Annual Homecoming of the Alumni of the University of Illinois, and details Homecoming activities during the weekend of November 14-16, 1913. The original program can be located at RS 28/5/811, Box 1, 1911-1915 The 1914 program is the Homecoming game between Chicago and Illinois, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, and details Homecoming activities during the weekend of November 13-15, 1914. The original program can be found in RS 28/5/811, Box 1, 1914.
  • Michael Henry Walker Farm Diaries (Digital Surrogates)
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Farm Diaries of Michael Henry Walker (1842-1915) include daily accounts of weather information, livestock purchase and sale, farm work and productivity, and accounting on the Walker farm in Tennessee, Illinois. 1896 diary includes minutes of Board of Trustees of Hillsgrove Church (1890-91). This series also includes a Francis Birthday Book (1906) containing information about the name "Francis" and a calendar containing birth anniversary dates for family members.
  • Michael Stern Hart Papers (Born Digital Records)
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Michael Stern Hart Papers (Born Digital Records), 1986-2007, includes email correspondence; unpublished essays and articles; newsletters, press releases; transcriptions of press articles; book excerpts; photographs; audiovisual materials; web design elements and software programs concerning Project Gutenberg, eBooks, and information dissemination and literacy. Materials also relate to Hart's views on politics, the Internet, and social issues. Online materials include newsletters, press releases and communications, and selected correspondence relating to the Project Gutenberg. Additional material that cannot be placed online due to copyright or other reasons is available from the University Archives upon request. These files include email correspondence, audiovisual material, photographs, articles and unpublished writings, concerning the Project Gutenberg and Hart's personal life. Please contact the University Archives for questions or to request access.
  • Military Department Handbooks (Digital Surrogates)
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Digital Surrogates of Military Department Handbooks include "Handbook for ROTC Cadets" (1941), "Basic Training in Military Courtesy, Customs, and Procedure and The Soldier, Squad, and Platoon Dismounted Compiled from Current War Department Publications" (1941) relating to discipline, rules, and expectations for ROTC members.
  • Military Reports (Digital Surrogates)
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Digital Surrogates of Military Reports include military reports relating to military department, staff, honors students, discipline, instruction, equiptment, administration.
  • The Millini (Digital Surrogates)
    University of Illinois Archives  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    Digital Surrogates of The Millini include publicatations published by the Military Council for Military Day in May, containing messages, the Military Day program, awards lists and articles on and photographs of ROTC affiliated organizations.
  • Minor and Abigail Deming Correspondence (Digitized Content)
    Illinois History and Lincoln Collections  ·   Digital Special Collections
    Description
    The digitized content of the Minor and Abigail Deming Correspondence consists of both personal and family letters of the Demings from 1844-1846 as well as official correspondence related to the role of the governor and state militia around the time of the arrest and subsequent murder of Joseph and Hyrum Smith in 1844. In 1838, two years after marrying, Minor Rudd Deming (1810-1845) and Abigail Barnum Deming (1810-1890) moved to St. Mary's in Hancock County, Illinois, where Minor worked on their farm and taught school. He also served as a brigadier general in the state militia. Minor was elected sheriff of Hancock County in 1844 following the murder of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. This was a time of significant conflict between Mormon and anti-Mormon citizenry in the area. After seeking to arrest those charged with the murder of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Minor was perceived to have pro-Mormon sympathies and was targeted by anti-Mormon factions. Minor died a few months after killing a prominent anti-Mormon in self-defense. The digitized content contains letters of personal and family correspondence primarily between Minor and Abigail Deming and their family in Litchfield, Connecticut. These letters document their personal experiences of living in Ohio and Illinois, and discuss their strong religious faith and trust in God. There are also letters of official correspondence and proclamations relating to Minor Deming's service as a Brigadier General during the arrest and subsequent murder of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. These include letters to and from Governor Thomas Ford, letters to the citizens of Hancock and Adams counties, and a letter to the editor of a newspaper in Warsaw, Illinois. The Illinois History and Lincoln Collections unit at the University of Illinois Library manages the physical items of the Minor and Abigail Deming Correspondence (MS 491). The collection was completely digitized between 2017 and 2019. For more information, contact an archivist at ihlc@library.illinois.edu.