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Lincoln Club of Delaware records

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Held at: University of Delaware Library Special Collections [Contact Us]181 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19717-5267

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Delaware Library Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

The Lincoln Club of Delaware began on February 12, 1929, when a group of forty-six male admirers of Abraham Lincoln met at the Wilmington Country Club for an informal dinner-meeting. The meeting was sponsored by Wilmington manufacturer John Bancroft, the Reverend Charles L. Candee and Burton P. Fowler, headmaster of Tower Hill School. The group included Wilmington City Librarian Arthur L. Bailey, Episcopal Bishop Philip Cook, Congressmen Robert Houston and William Heald, and University of Delaware President Walter Hullihen, among other prominent members of the Wilmington community. Decorations for the dinner included three paintings by Wilmington artist Frank E. Schoonover. Schoonover went on to serve as president of the Club in 1950 – 1951, and his sketch of Lincoln continues to be used on Lincoln Club and Lincoln Collection documents and publications.

At the first meeting it was decided to make the dinner-meeting an annual event in commemoration of the anniversary of the birth of Lincoln. Each year a prominent speaker addressed the group on some aspect of Lincoln's life, and, at the conclusion of the dinner, one of those present was assigned the duty of arranging the next year's dinner. The cost of the dinner was defrayed by the attendees, and there were no dues or formal organization. Until 1942 the dinner-meetings were generally held at the Wilmington Country Club. From 1942 through 1973 the location was the Soda House on the estate of R.R.M. Carpenter in Wilmington.

Wilmington attorney Frank G. Tallman, a charter member of the Lincoln Club, died in 1938 and left his collection of Lincolniana, comprising about 2,000 items, to the Wilmington Institute Free Library. At a 1939 special luncheon meeting of the Lincoln Club a committee was appointed to prepare for cataloging and housing the Tallman collection in the public library. TheClub assumed responsibility for the transfer and care of the collection and set up a fund for that purpose. The room housing the collection was formally opened on May 26, 1941, and, beginning in 1960, was open to the public one afternoon a week from October to May, staffed by an attendant paid out of the treasury of The Lincoln Club. Tallman's substantial collection of books, pamphlets, photographs, prints, autograph letters, and memorabilia was increased over the years by gifts from Tallman's family, club member J. Stuart Groves, and other collectors.

In 1941 the Lincoln Club formally organized itself and elected a board of directors. A 1945 revision to the original constitution formally named the club "The Lincoln Club of Delaware" and stated that the objectives of the Club were "to promote a better understanding of the ideals and achievements of Abraham Lincoln" and to "cooperate with the Wilmington Institute Free Library in the maintenance and development of The Tallman Collection." The new constitution also established procedures for the election of the board of directors and for approval of applications for membership, as well as provision for annual dues. By 1967 the Club had 280 dues-paying members. In 1970 the Club published its history, included in the Lincoln Club Archives, with an account of its early years by Albert O.H. Grier and a more extensive account by Harold Brayman of the years 1944 – 1969. Brayman's portion of the history includes substantial summaries of the addresses given by the invited speakers. Brayman's history was updated by Thomas L. Clark, covering the years up to 1993, and in anonymous histories published annually by the Club from 1999 through 2001.

In 1974 the dinner meetings returned to The Wilmington Country Club, largely because the increased membership could no longer be accommodated at the Soda House. Between 1969 and 1971 the Lincoln Room at the Wilmington Institute Free Library was closed for renovation. Due to space considerations, the Library decided during this period that it could no longer housethe Lincoln Collection. In 1972, the Lincoln Club donated the collection to the University of Delaware and it was relocated to two rooms on the second floor of the University's Goodstay Center in Wilmington. With the relocation of the collection to the Goodstay Center, the Lincoln Club began to hold other special events in addition to the annual meeting. Spring receptions for members took place from 1972 to 1999. Starting in the Fall of 1987 the Club instituted Fall Programs for members and guests on some aspect of Lincoln's career. In 1998, the collection was moved to the University of Delaware campus to more secure facilities with better public access for research and exhibition. A dedicated exhibition space for the Lincoln Collection was constructed adjacent to the Special Collections Exhibition Gallery in Morris Library for display of selected items on a permanent rotating basis.

Although women had long played an important role in the activities of the Lincoln Club, particularly in its care for the Lincoln Collection, they were not invited to become members until the by-laws were amended in 1989.

Grier, Albert O.H. and Harold Brayman. A History of the Lincoln Club of Delaware. The Lincoln Club of Delaware, 1970.

The Lincoln Club of Delaware records contains the club records and publications of the Lincoln Club from 1944 to 2005, with bulk dates of 1970 – 2004. The records, a gift of the Lincoln Club, was maintained by Mrs. Alberta Skillman, long-time secretary to the club. Comprising twelve linear feet, the archive includes minutes, financial papers, publications, agenda, reports, invitations, programs, membership lists, clippings and other material related to the Club's activities and to Abraham Lincoln. In addition, the collection contains material publicizing the Lincoln Collection and its special exhibits and events, as well as the files of John Clayton, University of Delaware liaison to the Lincoln Club.

The collection arrangement is driven by chronological content of the original files which have been divided into eight series. The first and most extensive series, the Club's records, includes copies of the Lincoln Club's constitution in its various revisions beginning with the 1945 revision. The bulk of the series is taken up with the archival records of the Club's activities. This material includes agenda, treasurers' reports, and minutes from the board of directors' meetings, and correspondence and other material related to the annual dinner-meetings and other activities and events. Additional files in this series are devoted to specific activities like the early fund-raising for the Tallman Collection and the Tallman Collection fiftieth anniversary dinner.

The Lincoln Club Publication Series consists of the programs and invitations for the annual dinner-meetings and other Lincoln Club events. Also included are copies of the history of the Lincoln Club written by Albert O.H. Grier and Harold Brayman (1970), and the lists of members, directors, and speakers, and the updates to the history which the Club has occasionally published.

A third series contains material related to club plans for and maintenance of the Lincoln Collection. The series includes printed material publicizing the collection and special exhibits and events, as well as the The Lincoln Collection News. Also included in this series are the files of John Clayton, who served as University of Delaware liaison to the Lincoln Club and Collection from 1985-2003. As university liaison to the board of directors of the club, much of Clayton's file contents is redundant to board files in the first series.

The Membership Files of the Lincoln Club comprise the fourth series of the Lincoln Club Collection and consists largely of letters of nomination and election to the Club, as well as records of dues payments. The Financial Records series contains receipts and investment records. The sixth series contains publicity, news clippings, correspondence, and other material topically related to the activities of the Club and its members, to the activities of similar organizations, and to Abraham Lincoln. Contents vary from annual February newspaper articles about some aspect of Lincoln's life, to a May 1984 issue of The Atlantic featuring an excerpt from Gore Vidal's Lincoln: A Novel, to a 1993 issue of The Lincoln Newsletter (Lincoln College Museum in Lincoln, Illinois), to press releases from the club.

The seventh and eighth series were added to the collection in 2008. The seventh series consists of audio recordings of the Lincoln Club's annual Lincoln's birthday dinner meeting and its featured speaker. The eight series contains recordings of the Fall lecture series. Both series consist of a number of audio cassettes and several CD's and DVD's arranged chronologically by date of the event.

The text of this web page can be reused and modified under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Procedded by Kevin J. Burke, August 2005. Finding aid encoded by Lauren Connolly, June 2016. Updated by Jaime Margalotti, March 2021.

Publisher
University of Delaware Library Special Collections
Finding Aid Author
University of Delaware Library, Special Collections
Finding Aid Date
2016-06-07
Access Restrictions

This collection is partially processed; please contact Special Collections for assistance: https://library.udel.edu/static/purl.php?askspec

Use Restrictions

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library, https://library.udel.edu/static/purl.php?askspec

Collection Inventory

Scope and Contents

Includes agenda, treasurer reports, and minutes of board of directors meeting, correspondence and other material related to the Lincoln Clubs activities.

Constitution and Amendments, 1944-2005.
Scope and Contents

Includes revisions and amendments for 1945, 1974, 1988 (amendment to admit women to membership), 2001 (appointment of University of Delaware Librarian as Consultant-Advisor and ex-officio member of Board of Directors), 2002.

1944–1949.
1950–1959.
1960–1969.
1970–1974.
1975–1977.
1976 Dinner-Meeting.
1978–1979.
1979 Dinner-Meeting.
1979 Dinner-Meeting Program (drafts).
1980.
1980 Dinner-Meeting.
1981, Jan–Mar.
1981, Apr–Dec.
Lincoln Room Renovation Project, 1981–1983.
Scope and Contents

Includes correspondence and records of contributions

1982, Jan–Feb.
1982, Mar–Dec.
1983.
1983 Annual Dinner-Meeting.
Annual Dinner-Meeting speech by John Hope Franklin, "Lincoln's Evolving View of Freedom" (typescript), 1983.
1984.
1984 Dinner-Meeting.
1985.
1985 Dinner-Meeting.
1986, Jan–Apr.
1986 Dinner-Meeting.
1986, May–Dec.
1987.
1987 Dinner-Meeting.
1988.
1989.
1989 Dinner-Meeting.
Lincoln Club Notes, [1990?].
Scope and Contents

Includes typescript describing duties of officers and regular Club procedures.

1990.
1991.
Tallman Collection 50th Anniversary Dinner, November 6, 1991.
Tallman Collection 50th Anniversary Dinner Program (drafts).
1992.
1992 Dinner-Meeting.
1993, Jan–Jun.
1993 Dinner-Meeting.
1993, Jul–Dec.
1994.
1994 Dinner-Meeting.
1995, Jan–Jun.
1995 Dinner-Meeting.
1995, Jul–Dec.
1996, Jan–Jun.
1996 Dinner-Meeting.
1996, Jul–Dec.
1997, Jan – Jun.
1997 Dinner-Meeting.
1997, Jul–Dec.
1998, Jan – May.
1998 Dinner-Meeting.
1998, Jun–Dec.
1999, Jan–Jun.
1999 Dinner-Meeting.
1999, Jul–Dec.
2000, Jan–Apr.
2000, May–Dec.
2001, Jan–Feb.
2001, Mar–Dec.
2002, Jan–Feb.
2002, Mar–Dec.
2003, Jan–Feb.
2003, Mar–Dec.
2004.
2005.
Copy of Frank E. Schoonover block print for Lincoln Club logo.

Scope and Contents

Includes annual dinner-meeting programs, invitations and programs for other events, membership, directors, speaker lists, and histories of the Club.

1974, 1976, 1977, 1979 - 1982.
1984–1988.
1989–1993.
1994–1997.
1998–2005.
Scope and Contents

Includes invitations and programs for Fall and Spring receptions

1977–1978.
1980.
1987–1994.
1996–2002.
2003–2005.
1997–1999.
2000–2001.
A History of The Lincoln Club of Delaware by Albert O.H. Grier and Harold Brayman, (1970).
Updated History by Thomas L. Clarke, Covers period from 1970–1992.
Scope and Contents

Includes corrected copy of photocopied typescript.

Scope and Contents

Includes printed material publicizing the Collection and special exhibits and events, the newsletter

The Lincoln Collection News, and the files of John Clayton, University of Delaware liaison to the Collection.
Brochures, Invitations, and Announcements.
Collections Guides.
Lincoln Collection News, [1994–1998].
Records and Gifts, 1979-1989.
Collection Records and Gifts.
Scope and Contents

Includes card catalog entries for books in the collection, a 1998 proposal by Don Rydgren for expansion of the space housing the Collection at the University of Delaware's Goodstay Center, and handwritten and typed records of gifts to the Collection.

Scope and Contents

Photocopies of card catalog entries for material in the Lincoln Collection

Books and other Material; Map of Lincoln Room and Notes.
Books I.
Books II.
Books III.
Books IV.
Books V.
Books VI.
Books VII.
Books VIII.
Books IX.
Scope and Contents

Records and Correspondence

1985–1989.
1990.
1991.
1992.
1993–1995.
1996–1997.
1998.
1999-2003.

Scope and Contents

Includes letters of nomination and election to membership and dues records

1976–1978.
1979.
1980.
1981.
1982.
1983.
1984.
1985.
1986.
1987.
1988.
1989.
1990.
1991.
1992.
1993.
1994–1995.
1996.
1997.
1998.
1999.
2000.
2001.
2002.
2003.
2004 (I).
2004 (II).
2005.

Scope and Contents

Includes receipts, banking, investment, and tax records.

1972–1982.
1983–1985.
1986.
1987–1989.
1990–1991.
1992.
1993.
1994.
1995.
1996.
1997.
1998.
1999.
2000.
2001.
2002.
2003.
2004.
2005.

Scope and Contents

Includes clippings and other material related to the Club's activities and members, to other similar organizations, and to Abraham Lincoln.

1972–1978.
1979–1981.
1982–1985.
1986–1989.
1990–1993.
1994–1996.
1997.
1998.
1999.
2000.
2001.
2002.
2003–2005.

Scope and Contents

Includes audio cassette (and CD-ROM where indicated) recordings of the Annual Spring Dinner Meeting and its invited speaker.

Congressman Fred Schwengel (R-Iowa), "Lincoln the Fiery Moderate", 1975-02-12.
Dr. William B. Catton, "Lincoln and the Declaration of Independence", 1976-02-12.
Dr. D. Elton Trueblood, "Abraham Lincoln: Theologian of American Anguish", 1977-02-02.
Dr. Mark E. Neely, Jr., "Who Voted For Abraham Lincoln?", 1980-02-12.
Dr. Harry J. Repman, M.D., "Mr. Lincoln's Health", 1981-02-12.
Mr. John Lloyd, "Mr. Lincoln Defines America", 1982-02-11.
Dr. John Hope Franklin, "Lincoln's Evolving View of Freedom", 1983-02-12.
Prof. James M. McPherson, "Abraham Lincoln and the Second American Revolution", 1984-02-09.
Dr. Richard Venezsky, "Lincoln and his Oratorical and Rhetorical Style", 1985-02-12.
Scope and Contents

Dr. Venezsky replaced scheduled speaker Prof. Gabor S. Boritt

Dr. Richard Nelson Current, "Lincoln: Fiction as History", 1986-02-16.
Mr. William F. Stapp, 1987-02-12.
Dr. John K. Lattimer, M.D., Sc. D., "A Comparison of the Lincoln and Kennedy Assassinations", 1988-02-11.
Frank J. Williams, M.A., J.D., "Abraham Lincoln-Deeds and Misdeeds or Mistakes of a Mortal", 1989-02-09.
Dr. John A Munroe, "Lincoln's Opponents", 1990-02-08.
Harold Holzer, "Two Views of Abraham Lincoln", 1991-02-07.
Senator Paul Simon, 1992-02-12.
Scope and Contents

Tape 1 recording made by club member Tape 2 bears the call letters two Wilmington radio stations "WDEL" and WSTW." Presumably a courtesy copy of their recording of event.

Calvin Skaggs, "Seeing Lincoln Human Again", 1993-02-11.
Physical Description

2 Copies

James W. Symington, "A Hayride with Mr. Lincoln", 1994-02-10.
Merrill D. Peterson, "Lincoln and Jefferson", 1995-02-09.
Stephen B. Oates, "Lincoln's Vision of the Civil War", 1996-02-08.
Prof. Jean Baker, "Parallel Lives-The Marriage of Mary Todd Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln", 1999-02-11.
Grant Romer, "Likeness and Dislikeness", 2000-02-10.
John C. Waugh, "Reflecting Lincoln", 2001-02-08.
Scope and Contents

Complete recording on two tapes

Alan C. Guelzo, "Perspectives on Lincoln's Attitudes and Views on Race Relations in America", 2002-02-07.
William Lee Miller, "Lincoln Chooses a Secretary of War", 2003-02-12.
Lucas E. Morel, "Fredrick Douglas's Emancipation of Abraham Lincoln", 2004-02-12.
Scope and Contents

Speech is recorded on both audio cassette and CD-ROM

Nelson D. Lankford, "Lincoln in Richmond", 2005-02-10.
Scope and Contents

Speech is available as an audio cassette, CD-ROM, and a DVD containing an audio track and still images illustrating the talk

Hon. Frank J. Williams, "Abraham Lincoln and Civil Liberties in Wartime", 2006-02-09.
Scope and Contents

also as CD-ROM

Tape 1 Business Meeting and Introduction of Speaker, 2007-02-08.
Scope and Contents

also as CD-ROM

Tape 2 Prof. James McPherson, "Abraham Lincoln and the Invention of War Powers", 2007-02-08.
Scope and Contents

also as a CD-ROM

James L. Swanson, "The Lincoln Assassination-Memory & Myth", 2008-02-14.
Scope and Contents

also as CD-ROM

Scope and Contents

Includes audio cassette (and CD-ROM where indicated) recordings of the Lincoln Club's Fall Reception speaker.

Tape 1 Music by Edmund G. Laird, II.
Tape 2 Last part of Donald A. Rydgren's History of the Lincoln Collection First part Llyod Ostendorf, "Lincoln, His Photographs, and His Photographers".
Tape 3 Last part Llyod Ostendorf, "Lincoln, His Photographs, and His Photographers".
Barbara Benson, "Delaware, A Divided State", 1992-11-15.
Scope and Contents

note on tape indicates "last minute or so is missing"

Arnold Goldsborough, "Gettysburg", 1993-11-14.
Dr. Eric Rise, "Abraham Lincoln and Civil Rights During the Civil War", 1994-11-13.
Scope and Contents

note on tape indicates "end missing b/c end of tape"

Evelyn Swensson, "Songs that Lincoln Liked", 1995-11-19.
Peter Kolchin, "Lincoln and Slavery", 1996-11-24.
Evelyn Swensson, "Songs that Lincoln Liked", 1998-11-22.
Dale Fetzer, "Spiritual Lincoln", 2000-11-19.
Tim Murray, No Title Given, 2001-11-18.
Thomas J. Reed, "Lincoln's Suspension of Civil Rights During the Civil War", 2002-11-24.
Peter Kolchin, "Lincoln-Myth and Man", 2003-11-23.
Scope and Contents

also as a CD-ROM

Carol Hoffecker, "Lincoln & Delaware", 2005-11-20.
Scope and Contents

also as CD-ROM

Mark Turner, "Lincoln as a Modern Leader", 2007-11-18.
Scope and Contents

also as CD-ROM

Print, Suggest