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Collection Overview
Title: Lovering Family Collection (Shabbona), 1876-1965
ID: RHC/RC/029
Extent: 2.0 Linear Feet
Arrangement: This collection partially documents three subjects: the George Lovering Lumber and Grain Company of Shabbona (1881-1912); William K. Lovering’s 1800 mile drive from Detroit, Michigan to Salt Lake City, Utah in a Scripps-Booth automobile (1916); and facets of Shabbona, Illinois’ history (1895-1940).
Date Acquired: 00/00/1968
Subjects: Automobiles, Carriages & Coaches, Chautauquas, Coal trade, Family life--History, Grain, Lovering Family, Lumber trade., Shabbona (Ill.), Sleighs, Travelers' writings, Wagons
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
This collection partially documents three subjects: the George Lovering Lumber and Grain Company of Shabbona (1881-1912); William K. Lovering’s 1800 mile drive from Detroit, Michigan to Salt Lake City, Utah in a Scripps-Booth automobile (1916); and facets of Shabbona, Illinois’ history (1895-1940). Materials include financial account ledgers, business and personal correspondence, W. K. Lovering’s typed manuscripts under the pen name Bill Knell, photographs, catalogs, and programs. A very small amount of material discusses the automobile of the early 1900’s. Due to the wide variety of topics covered in the collection, research value in any one area is limited. Nevertheless, the records are of good quality for background information on agribusiness and rural area development.
Collection Historical Note
George Lovering, born in Boone County, Illinois in 1851, started his working career as a wagon maker. After moving to Shabbona, Illinois during the 1870’s Lovering opened the George Lovering Lumber and Grain Company in 1881 to sell lumber, grain, coal, and farm implements. Although George’s son, William Knell, joined the firm in its early years, by 1907 he turned to the automobile business. In 1916 William took part in a promotional stunt involving an 1800 mile drive from Detroit, Michigan to Salt Lake City, Utah in a Scripps-Booth automobile. In Utah, he traveled the back roads with Senator Sutherland, providing an attractive addition to Sutherland’s re-election campaign. Several years later, under the pen name Bill Knell, William unsuccessfully sought to publish an account of his remarkable journey.<span style="display: none"> </span>
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Northern Illinois University
Access Restrictions:
There are no restrictions on access to the collection.
Use Restrictions:
Property rights in the collection belong to the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.
Acquisition Source:
Virginia Lovering
Acquisition Method:
Virginia Lovering donated the Lovering Family Collection to the University Archives in 1968. J. Joseph Bauxer, University Archivist, transferred the collected to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center in July 1978.
Related Materials:
Researchers should note the other agribusiness collections held by the Regional History Center: Embree Lumber Company (RC 7); Lindenwood Grain Co-op (RC 11); Uplinger Lumber, Grain, and Coal Company (RC 22); George Heyward Company (RC 69); Northern Corn Belt Seed Growers, Inc. (RC 90); Colehour Grain Elevator (RC 91); and Farmer’s Elevator Company (RC 109).
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
[
Box 1],
[
Box 2],
[
Volume 1: Account Ledger, 1891-1922],
[All]
- Box 1
- Folder 1-2: General Account Ledgers, 1882-1890
- Folder 3: Purchase Orders and Invoices, 1876-1912
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Purchase Order Agreements, 1885-1892
- Folder 2: Customer Directory, no date
- Folder 3: Business Correspondence, 1888-1903
- Folder 4: Tax Statements, 1903-1904
- Folder 5: Personal Correspondence, 1921-1965
- Folder 6: Personal Pocket Account Ledgers (Distributed by John Deere), 1905-1908
- Folder 7: William K. Lovering Manuscripts and Publisher Rejections, 1940-1941
- Folder 8: Family Photographs and Negatives (20), no date
- Folder 9: Wagon, Sleigh and Carriage Advertisements, 1877-
- Folder 10: Chicago Wire and Iron Works Catalog, 1883
- Folder 11: Mexican Mutual Planters Company Catalogs (Chicago), 1902-1908
- Folder 12: Automobile Parts and Price Catalogs, 1909-
- Folder 13: Motor Age Magazine, May 1911
- Folder 14: Shabbona Public School Programs, 1895-1940
- Folder 15: Buyer's Guide and Farm Directory, Shabbona Area, 1938
- Folder 16: Shabbona Women's Club Program, 1916-1917
- Folder 17: Shabbona Congregational Church Re-opening Services, 1911
- Folder 18: Children's Toy-Making Instruction Manual, no date
- Folder 19: Lincoln Chautauquas, Waterman, 1916
- Volume 1: Account Ledger, 1891-1922
Browse by Box:
[
Box 1],
[
Box 2],
[
Volume 1: Account Ledger, 1891-1922],
[All]
Regional History Center 
