Documenting Southern Illinois: A guide to selected resources at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale

Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, Autumn 2002 by Salzmann, Katharine A

About This Guide

The following guide to Special Collections' manuscript and faculty papers is designed to direct researchers to historical resources on southern Illinois. Each entry consists of a number of parts that describe the collection:

* Collection title: name of creator, family, organization, etc.

* Collection type: part of the title: papers, records, correspondence, etc.

* Inclusive dates of the material within the collection.

* Collection size: number of boxes and measurement in cubic feet.

* Description: paragraph length overview of the collection. These descriptions are meant to serve only as an introduction. Complete inventories to many of the processed collections are available on the Special Collections web page at .

Collections

Allen, John Willis

Papers, 1940-1969

Faculty Papers 76-341; 56 boxes, 21 cu. ft.

The papers of former director of the SIUC Museum and local historian, John Willis Allen, form an extensive collection of material documenting Allen's research and writing on southern Illinois. Correspondence, printed material, research notes, and photographs form the source material for much of Allen's published works including his "It Happened in Southern Illinois" newspaper column, and Legends and Lore of Southern Illinois. Among the numerous subjects documented are history, slavery, immigration, coal mining, parks and recreation, maps, government, churches, schools, towns, and state newspapers. A one box supplement to the Allen faculty papers contains research material collected by Allen supporting the contention that Carbondale was the first city in the United States to celebrate Decoration Day, later renamed Memorial Day. The contents include transcripts and clippings of newspaper articles, writings by local historians, and committee plans for Memorial Day celebrations.

Anderson, Clyde

Collection of the Madison Coal Corporation, 1915-1942

Collection 173; 3 boxes, .75 cu. ft.

The Madison Coal Corporation of Chicago, Illinois owned and operated several coal mines in southern Illinois as well as the buildings and farmlands surrounding them. Local farmers leased these properties, lived in the houses, and farmed the land. The correspondence in this collection is primarily between employees of Madison Coal discussing farming business near Johnston City, Illinois, in Williamson and Franklin counties. Some of the correspondence is between the Madison Coal and the farmers. The topics discussed are the raising of crops, profits, selling of corn and apples.

Bridges, LaDaw

Collection, 1940-1952

Collection 168; 1 box, .25 cu. ft.

The LaDaw Bridges Collection consists of letters, cards, and v-mails sent to Bridges and her family from service men in World War II, most of whom had played on her husband Frank Bridge's athletic teams at Carbondale Community High School prior to their tour of duty. In addition to relating their experiences in various theaters of war, the soldiers wrote about life in southern Illinois, inquiring about old teammates and current events with statements about Carbondale and the surrounding area characterized by a longing to be back home.