Manuscripts

Materials related to the development of the Lincoln Home Historic Site.

As part of the American Library Association’s (ALA) campaign for the Library War Fund, Lincoln Library headed the effort for Springfield to raise over $2300 for reading materials and library equipment for the camps from 1917 to 1918.

The collection includes materials related to the operation of Lincoln Memorial Garden-correspondence, grounds notebook, committee reports, and maintenance plans, Administrators reports, Annual reports and meeting minutes, treasurers reports and financial records, photos, history and bylaws, newspaper clippings, event calendars, and items related Harriet Knudson and garden development.

The collection consists of nine notebooks with member information, meeting minutes, and newspaper clippings dating from 1932-1979.

The Liturgical Arts Festival of Springfield began as an idea of the Reverend Thom Dennis, then priest of Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, who envisioned an event that would showcase sacred art. Within two years, his original concept of an invitation-only art show, held in a church basement, had blossomed into the Liturgical Arts Festival, an exhibition of liturgical and sacred art, as well as a festival of performing arts.

This collection includes materials related to Madeline Babcock Smith, her correspondence with her family in the 1940s talking about the Pearl Harbor attack and life in Decatur, and her writings including the book Lemon Jelly Cake in the 1950s and republishing it in the 1990s.

Broadsides, Flyers and Programs from Rudolph, Bunn, Chatterton Opera Houses in Springfield, Illinois 1867-1902.

The Pondicherry Lodge chapter of the Baker Street Irregulars was created in Springfield in 1947 and met for a few years then the club went dormant in 1949. Glen Milner revived the organization in Springfield in 1989. The group’s members are Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts.

The collection includes information about his family, articles about him, Route 66 postcards, flyers, and publications, Arizona items, Mustang items, correspondence between Robert Waldmire and Marjorie Westphal 1992-1998, artwork by Bob, photos, and Cozy dog items.