OHCLERMO-L Archives

From: Kate Riley <>
Subject: Re: Draper Papers
Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 06:47:57 -0600

Lyman Copeland Draper wasn't just hired by the State Historical Society
of Wisconsin Library- he WAS the Society. When the Society was founded
in 1848(?) it was little more than a gentleman's social club for
government officials slightly interested in history. When Lyman was
hired a few years later he completely transformed the organization into
an open and PUBLIC force for collecting everything he could get his
hands on (but especially the history of the settlement of the Midwest
after the Revolution). Without Lyman the State Historical Society of
Wisconsin would not be the world class research institution that it is
today.

wrote:
>
> Just thought I would advise everyone that the Draper Papers cover a wide
> area, and not particularly the Midwest. Lyman Draper lived (I believe on
> the Erie Canal) among Old Revolutioners. He was very enchanted by their
> stories and began writing down their information. His brother-in-law
> supported him as he traveled all over the then United States visiting old
> soldiers and/or their families, collecting along with the stories, lists and
> lists of person who were early settlers in an area, Bible records, deeds,
> etc, anything he could get his hands on, and was not, as I understand it, too
> particular about lifting public records. Late in life, he was hired by the
> Wisconsin Historical Society. He had all of his trunks of papers shipped to
> Wisconsin. He left all of his manuscripts, etc. to the Wisconsin Historical
> Society. When they went to his home to "collect", they found every room in
> his home stacked high with all of his "jewels" and were "hard put" to get
> through the home. Lou in Indiana
>
> ==============================
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This thread:

• Draper Papers by <>

  • Re: Draper Papers by Kate Riley <>