Category Archives: Illustrations

Great National Horse Show and Equestrian Fair, 1865

Posted on September 23, 2018 by editor

The 11th annual Great National Horse Show and Equestrian Fair, held on the outskirts of Springfield in August 1865, was neither national nor, apparently, all that great. But it did draw Harper’s Weekly, the era’s most popular magazine, to central … Continue reading →

Posted in Amusements, Illustrations, Maps, Spectacles, Sports and recreation | Leave a comment

Fashions in men’s hats, 1904 (John Lutz store)

Posted on August 27, 2018 by editor

Hats were a high-fashion item for men in 1904, and John Lutz, one of downtown’s longest-lasting hatters and haberdashers, offered a lot of choices. When he died, Lutz (1856-1921) had sold men’s clothing from the same address, 204 S. Sixth … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Illustrations, Prominent figures, Social life | Leave a comment

The first Lincoln home (214 S. Fourth St.)

Posted on February 11, 2018 by editor

Immediately after their marriage on Nov. 4, 1842, Abraham and Mary Lincoln rented a single room at the Globe Tavern, 315 E. Adams St. In the fall of 1843, following the birth at the Globe of their son Robert, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Hotels & taverns, Illustrations, Lincoln, Abraham, Markers | 3 Comments

Downtown business map, 1913

Posted on August 19, 2016 by editor

The Oct. 7 and 8, 1913, editions of the Illinois State Register, published during the Illinois State Fair (then held in the fall) included a map of the area surrounding Springfield’s courthouse square that showed many of the city’s downtown … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Business, Illustrations, Maps | 6 Comments

Measles vaccinations, 1966 (photo)

Posted on October 27, 2015 by editor

In February 1966, Illinois Department of Public Health officials predicted a major measles outbreak unless local agencies set up crash immunization programs. “We will have a severe epidemic with deaths and encephalitis … unless there is widespread use of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Illustrations, Medicine, Public health, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

‘Poor House Rules’ — the drawings of Alfred S. Harkness

Posted on February 26, 2015 by editor

Alfred S. Harkness (1866-1941) was an artist, illustrator and engraver whose specialty — at least for part of the time he lived in Springfield — was public health illustration. Harkness had been a member of the artist staff of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts and letters, Illustrations, Media, Medicine, Prominent figures, Public health, Social services, Springfield Survey | Leave a comment

1850s Springfield, in four mysterious paintings

Posted on March 18, 2014 by editor

The four paintings below show all four sides of the Springfield square in the late 1840s or early 1850s. They are unusual in two ways: their perspective, presumably from the cupola of what now is the Old State Capitol; and … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts and letters, Historic Sites, Histories, Hotels & taverns, Illustrations, Maps, Photos and photosets, Prominent figures, Springfield, State government | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Funeral of President Lincoln (sketch)

Posted on October 21, 2013 by editor

Illustrator William Waud and his brother Alfred, both born in London, covered the Civil War for Harper’s Weekly, Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper and the New York Illustrated News.  William Waud then followed the Abraham Lincoln funeral train across country. His … Continue reading →

Posted in Historic Sites, Illustrations, Journalism, Lincoln Tomb, Lincoln, Abraham | Tagged | Leave a comment

Old Market House

Posted on October 13, 2013 by editor

A 1905 drawing by A.V. Arnold shows the Old City Market and City Jail, which were in the middle of Sixth Street between Washington and Jefferson streets. The offices of the Illinois State Journal are on the right, along with … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Illustrations, Local government | Leave a comment

George Power Farmstead

Posted on October 12, 2013 by editor

The George Power Farmstead , east of Cantrall off County Road 9.5N, is Sangamon County’s best remaining example of a 19th-century farm layout — and perhaps the site where fledgling lawyer Abraham Lincoln argued his first case. Kentucky-born George “Squire” … Continue reading →

Posted in Early residents, Historic Sites, Illustrations, Lincoln, Abraham, Local government, Prominent figures | Tagged , , | Leave a comment