Papers of Louis A. Warren

[Rob Wick]

I need some help here. I'm trying to locate the papers of Lincoln biographer Louis A. Warren. I've searched NUCMC and WorldCat and the only thing I can come up with is a Warren Collection, which is three volumes of material he used in writing about Lincoln.

My first thought was that he donated his papers to the Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne, since he was director there and it was named for him, but Google has turned up nothing, and I'm not even sure that he did this. Does anyone here have any contacts on what used to be the Lincoln Museum or might have any idea where I could look?

I've also contacted James Cornelius at the ALPLM, asking him if he might know something.

Thanks.

Best
Rob

[L Verge]

Rob - This is strictly a shot in the dark, but didn't many of the collections at the old Lincoln Museum go to the Allen County Library in Ft. Wayne? Somehow, I remember people waiting to hear where the bulk of the National Life holdings would go.

[Rob Wick]

You are correct, Laurie, but when I checked their catalog, nothing like that came up. Usually NUCMC is pretty good if there are a collection of papers available, but I'm beginning to wonder if they aren't somewhere outside of an archive collecting dust. In Tarbell's papers, there are about 50 letters from Warren to her and about 35 or so letters from her to him. In Sandburg's papers there are only three from him to Warren and seven or so from Warren to him (copies of which I have). Given that Tarbell, Sandburg, Barton, Beveridge and others all have massive collections available, it seems odd that Warren doesn't. I've not been able to check my e-mail yet to see if James Cornelius has responded yet. Thanks.

Best
Rob

[L Verge]

Would Tom Schwartz know?? Harold Holzer???

[Rob Wick]

It's certainly possible. Roger, I don't have Tom's e-mail address. Do you think you could contact him and ask? I am friends with Harold Holzer on Facebook, so I can send him a message.

Thanks, again, Laurie.

Best
Rob

[Donna McCreary]

Items at the former Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne, Indiana were divided between the Allen County Public Library and the Indiana State Museum. Try calling Cindy Van Horn at the Allen County Library. (260-421-1379) Since she worked at the Fort Wayne museum, she knows everything.

[Rob Wick]

Thanks Donna. I will contact her tomorrow.

I was able to check my e-mail and James had a good point. It's possible they were taken to the library and haven't been processed yet, so they may not be available yet. I know the Library of Congress hasn't processed Roy P. Basler's papers yet, so that isn't out of the question.

Best
Rob

[Rob Wick]

Well, the mystery is solved. The Allen County Public Library does have the Warren Papers, and as James Cornelius suggested, they are unprocessed. The librarian also told me they have about nine files on Sandburg, mainly clippings, etc. The papers cover Warren's tenure as director, which would have been from the 1920s up through 1956. She said it totals about 24 cubic feet. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Best
Rob

[RJNorton]

Rob, I do have Tom's new email address in Iowa. In fact I heard from him earlier this month. I will write and ask.

I hope he can help...in his email he said, "I no longer feel like a Lincoln geek. I've been Hooverized!"

[RJNorton]

Rob, we must have been writing the posts at the same time. So, no need to contact Tom?

[Rob Wick]

Roger,

You are correct. I do appreciate your help, though.

Best
Rob

[Laurie Verge]

Doesn't it feel good when you find missing pieces?

[Rob Wick]

That it does, Laurie. Now on to the next puzzle (whatever that may be).

Best
Rob

[Rob Wick]

It never fails to amaze me regarding the kindness of those in the Lincoln field as well as, in general, most librarians and archivists. I have been working this morning with Jane Gastineau from the Allen County Public Library regarding Warren's papers, and she is going to do a quick search of the correspondence files to see what material on Sandburg might be there. She did this not at my behest, but on her own volition. Of course, I don't expect her to do my research work for me, but I just had to mention her kindness to my fellow forum members, because I've had experiences that certainly weren't as nice with some librarians. She also advised me that they are in the process of digitizing 20 filing cabinets full of vertical file material on Lincoln (which is where I think the Lincoln Kinsman files came from) and that she would jump the Sandburg files to the front of the line so that I may have access to them in a couple of months.

That, my friends, is a true professional.

Best
Rob

[Donna McCreary]

(08-14-2012 12:20 PM)Rob Wick Wrote:  It never fails to amaze me regarding the kindness of those in the Lincoln field as well as, in general, most librarians and archivists. I have been working this morning with Jane Gastineau from the Allen County Public Library regarding Warren's papers, and she is going to do a quick search of the correspondence files to see what material on Sandburg might be there. She did this not at my behest, but on her own volition. Of course, I don't expect her to do my research work for me, but I just had to mention her kindness to my fellow forum members, because I've had experiences that certainly weren't as nice with some librarians. She also advised me that they are in the process of digitizing 20 filing cabinets full of vertical file material on Lincoln (which is where I think the Lincoln Kinsman files came from) and that she would jump the Sandburg files to the front of the line so that I may have access to them in a couple of months.

That, my friends, is a true professional.

Best
Rob

Just a little more of that "Hoosier hospitality." I am glad to hear this is working out well for you. It is also wonderful to learn that they are digitizing the vertical file material. That will be a blessing to many of us! Thanks for the update Rob.