Lovering Family Collection (Shabbona)

Collection — Volume: 1

Identifier: RHC-RC-029

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

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.

Dates

created: 1876-1965
Other: Date acquired: 00/00/1968

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on access to the collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights in the collection belong to the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.

Biographical or Historical Information

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.

Note written by

Extent

2.00 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement Note

Source of Acquisition

Virginia Lovering

Method of Acquisition

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).