Annotated list of Materials and resources:
Local Resources:
The following documents were found at the Champaign County Archives, Urbana, Illinois.
From the vertical files for Abraham Lincoln:
-This statue was originally placed in front of the Lincoln Hotel (the old site of Kerr’s Tavern where Lincoln frequented), close to the Champaign County Courthouse. Due to disagreements regarding the local park district’s caretaking of this on private property, it was moved to Carle Park in Urbana, Illinois.
-This invitation celebrating the election of Lincoln was at the Doane House, which was attached to the West Urbana (now Champaign) Train Depot, and was frequented by Abraham Lincoln on his travels to Urbana. It later burned down.
-This is a letter from Abraham Lincoln to his Urbana resident friend, J.O. Cunningham regarding the Lincoln Douglass Debates. It is said to be the first mention of the Lincoln Douglass Debates by Lincoln. It was donated to the Champaign County Archives, but has subsequently gone missing; presumably stolen.
-This was printed in “Our Constitution”, a local Urbana paper, regarding speeches Douglass and Lincoln made on two separate days at the end of the Champaign County Fair at the Champaign County Fairgrounds.
-This letter is from a Union Soldier from Penfield, Il. He wrote to his wife from a hospital after being hurt at Vicksburg. The first part of the letter documents a celebratory parade after Richmond was seized; the second half of the letter (the next day) laments the death of the President.
-This is a newspaper article interview with the Civil War veteran from Urbana on his remembrances of Lincoln here in Champaign County from Champaign News Gazette, Feb. 8, 1925.
-This is a newspaper article interview with H.M. Russell regarding Lincoln’s game of billiards in Urbana, Illinois.
-This is a personal ad placed by the editor of the Central Illinois Gazette, May 4, 1859 regarding a visit by Lincoln to the writer’s home.
-This is an interview with Cunningham, friend of Lincoln, regarding their work on the eighth circuit. Urbana Courier Herald, November 12, 1914.
-Asa Gere remembers his encounter with Lincoln when he was a young boy here in Champaign County. Champaign News Gazette, September 23, 1932.
-This is a bound copy of Cunningham’s (Urbana Resident and friend of Lincoln) Recollection from Lincoln, also printed in Bibliotheca Sacra, October, 1908.
-This is a bound copy of a speech Cunningham gave on Lincoln, given to the Firelands Pioneer Association, at Norwalk, OH. July 4, 1907.
-This thesis, entitled “Abraham Lincoln in Our Own County” was written by Henry M. Beardsley in 1880 for a Masters Degree in Literature and Science at Illinois Industrial University (now University of Illinois). Mr. Beardsley interviewed many Central Illinois figures for this paper. Mr. Beardsley goes on to be the mayor of Kansas City Missouri (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_M._Beardsley).
-Photograph of an 8th District Circuit Marker where Lincoln practiced law while in Central Illinois. This particular marker lies on the Champaign/Vermillion County Line.
-Program from the University of Illinois, College of Law, February 12, 1909 Convocation.
-Program, Sept. 1976. 8th Circuit Ride in which Lincoln Portrayer rode Lincoln’s full circuit ride; commemorating Lincoln’s time as lawyer in this area.
Tolono Marker Rededication Program
-Marking the last place Lincoln spoke before leaving to take the presidency in Washington. The marker was moved; this program marks its rededication.
-This outlines a case Lincoln worked on involving the I.C. Railroad, which established University Ave., a major road in Champaign Urbana today. This document reflects Lincoln’s time in Central Illinois.
-Newspaper article-July 9 1993 News Gazette. This article is regarding the find of a lost docket book that Lincoln wrote in, proving his work here in Urbana. It was found in the old county jail, and had thought to have been lost since the 1950’s.
-Newspaper Article, November 13, 1963. This newspaper article gives a map of the 8th Circuit that Lincoln travelled as a lawyer, and highlights the local Boy Scout chapter that worked on the monuments marking the route.
-This monument, erected in the mid 1960’s in downtown Champaign was to mark Lincoln’s time in this part of the community. It at one time also had an eternal flame. Marked with controversy from the beginning, arguments regarding the cost of the monument, a public protest at the dedication followed by the arrest of the mayor for punching an NAACP worker at the event, this marker was eventually seen as an eyesore in its location and was moved to West Side Park in Champaign, Illinois.
-This statue was made to commemorate Lincoln’s time here as a lawyer. Originally placed in front of Urbana’s Lincoln Hotel (which was the site of the former Kerr Tavern where Lincoln frequently visited), disagreements over the local park district maintaining a statue on private property forced its movement to Carle Park in Urbana, Il.
-This monument marks the last speech Lincoln gave in the area (Tolono, Il.) before leaving the area for the White House.
-This newspaper article, February 21, 1994 News Gazette discusses Lincoln artifacts left to a UofI Fraternity from a former member. The collection includes a mask and hand cast of Lincoln, and supposed hair and a piece of the bloody pillow Lincoln died on.
-Newspaper Article, Nov 23, 1952. Describes a book by a local Lincoln buff, whose family established a clothing store in Champaign, Illinois. The Kuhn descendent had met Lincoln, and this book reflects upon those experiences of his perceptions of Lincoln’s time in Champaign County.
-Newspaper Article, Feb 4 1977 Urbana Courier. Describes a letter Doris and Blanche Prather had in their possession that was written to Lincoln regarding land ownership.
-This Newspaper Article discusses a donation of brick to the Champaign County Archives that Lincoln had been rumored to spit upon. While there is no confirmation of this, the meeting produced a number of Lincoln stories highlighted here, and some of the Lincoln memorabilia locals claim to have, including a toothbrush one woman was supposedly given by Lincoln.
-Newspaper photo of a table Central High School in Champaign has (whether they still have it is unknown by the writer) that Lincoln sat at to do legal business while in Urbana.
-Newspaper Photo of a house Lincoln stayed at while in Urbana.
-Newspaper article interviewing a local collector of Lincoln memorabilia. He gives tips on how to collect memorabilia.
-Newspaper Article, Feb 4, 1968. Outlines a number of Lincoln artifacts housed at the University of Illinois that was on display at a Lincoln celebration.
-Copy of Original. Documents the find of Lincoln’s signature on the American House Hotel Register in Urbana, Illinois.
From microfilm:
-This is the obituary for H.C. Bear, the local Union Soldier who wrote of Lincoln’s death. Found on Microfilm, The News Gazette, Feb 16, 1927.
From the photo files or archived boxes:
H.C. Bear: his picture.
-Image of the local Union Soldier who wrote of Lincoln’s death. Found in his family and personal photo file.
National Resources:
The Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress Series 3. General Correspondence. 1837-1897. James S. Knox to Knox, Saturday, April 15, 1865 (Eyewitness account of Lincoln's assassination) from the Library of Congress.
-An eyewitness account of the assassination of Lincoln.
Washington, D.C. President Lincoln's funeral procession on Pennsylvania Avenue 1865 April 19. Photograph of Washington, 1862-1865, the assassination of President Lincoln, April-July 1865. from the Library of Congress.
-A street scene photo of the funeral possession, mourning drapes and crowds are visible.
to Selina Pearce from Pearce, W. Henry. 1865/04/16 Marietta, OH. From the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
-A letter reflecting upon the death of Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln assassination reward poster, 1865/04/20. From the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
-This broadside poster offered a total of $100,000 reward for Booth and his accomplices. This was one of the largest manhunts in American History.
The President is Dead Broadside by Stanton, Edwin McMasters (1814-1869). 1865/04/15. From the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
-An official announcement of Lincoln’s Death, a printed version of Stanton's announcement of Lincoln's death to General John A. Dix, U.S. Military Commander of the Department of the East, headquartered in New York.
The Martyred President: Sermons Given on the Occasion of the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln from Emory University and the Pitts Theology Library, Preservation Office and Beck Center.
-A collection of eulogies from across the country to help illustrate the emotions and thoughts of the American people after the death of Lincoln.
Abraham Lincoln to Horace Greeley from Pearson Education Group.
-Very famous letter from Lincoln; an editorial response to a New York Times Article. Lincoln clearly states his position on slavery; a month later he releases the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.
Letter to Joshua Speed from Abraham Lincoln Online.
-Abraham Lincoln explains his position on slavery to Speed who holds a different position than him. This letter was written a year after the Kansas Nebraska Act which is said to be a turning point in Lincoln’s political career.
Abraham Lincoln Papers collection from the Library of Congress.
-This collection from American Memory from the Library of Congress comprises a vast online collection of Lincoln documents, with a searchable database.
American Treasures of the Library of Congress: Artifacts of Lincoln’s Assassination, Library of Congress.
-Online collection of Lincoln assassination artifacts.
Abraham Lincoln from the Smithsonian
-A collection of holdings from the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C.
-Official
site of the national monument from the National Park Service.
Lincoln Tomb Photo Tour from Abraham Lincoln Online
-Gives a comprehensive photo tour of Lincoln’s final resting place.
User friendly guide for Comic Life Country Meadows School District
-This will help you utilize the software for the final comic project.
