Andrew S. Draper Scrapbooks and Letterbooks, 1859-1917 | University of Illinois Archives

Personal scrapbooks and letterbooks concerning events in Draper's career. Subjects include the Independent Order of Good Templars, the Republican Party and politics in Albany New York, 1865-1892, Draper's support for Senator Roscoe Conkling and Ulysses S. Grant, Draper's election to the New York State Assembly in 1880, his subsequent defeat in 1881, his appointment and activities as New York State Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1886-1892, Superintendent of Public Schools in Cleveland, OH, 1892-1894, President of the University of Illinois, 1894-1904, and New York Commissioner of Education, 1904-1913, including his opinions on the administration of education, the teaching of agriculture and trade in public schools, and collegiate football reform.

The file also contains three bound volumes of typescript transcripts of letters between Draper and his cousin and legal partner, Alden Chester, 1859-1904, concerning their personal and business dealings, political activities, and family lives; a letterpress copybook of personal letters (1901-1903); five volumes of Draper's public papers and published addresses; and several books by or about Draper. Items in this record series were purchased in December 1998 from Associated Appraisers in Providence, RI, with the exception of two scrapbooks noted in the SFA.