UIS History Department

Nice work, Marcel!
(UIS Public History MA Alumnus Marcel, that is 😉)

Thanks to the generosity of Dana-Thomas House volunteer Allicent Smith (right) and her family, and the research of our staff team member Marcel Tworek (left), we have another piece of the house’s history to share with guests. Allicent’s family purchased the trunk pictured here from an auction of Susan Lawrence Dana’s belongings in 1943, and have now generously donated it to the historic site. Marcel documented the donation and the trunk’s story, his research identifying the trunk as being in the house ca. 1910 very close to the location where you see it in this photo. We look forward to showing you this amazing artifact on your next tour of the Dana-Thomas House!

Image: Marcel Tworek and Allicent Smith stand in the gallery of the Dana-Thomas House with the historic trunk Allicent and her family recently donated to the site.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Illinois State Museum Dana-Thomas House Foundation The Old State Capitol Foundation Vachel Lindsay Association Visit Springfield Enjoy Illinois

Wait, you didn't know about UIS History BA and MA alumnus Adam Krall's podcast "The Civil Weird?" Apologies accepted. No better time to start your binge than with the new episode "The Awesome Life and Strange Death of Leroy Key: The Andersonville Regulator Who Mounted Up":

The Awesome Life and Strange Death of Leroy Key: The Andersonville Regulator Who Mounted Up by The Civil Weird Podcast This episode, we delve into the Civil Weird tale of QMSgt. Leroy L. Key. Born in Mississippi to a slave-owning family, he broke away before the war and settled in Illinois—a decision that would shape his future in surprising ways. During the Civil War, Key fought in two regiments, one infantry, an...