Richard Yates, Sr. Collection

Title

Richard Yates, Sr. Collection

Subject

Yates, Richard, 1815-1873
Illinois. Office of the Governor
Governors
Politicians
United States. Congress. Senate
United States. Congress. House of Representatives
American Civil War (1861-1865)
Illinois

Description

Richard Yates, Sr., served as Illinois' thirteenth governor from 1861 through 1865. Prior to serving as governor, Yates was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1851-1855.  During his time as governor, Yates, who was anti-slavery, was active in recruiting troops for the Union Army. After finishing his term as governor in 1865, Yates won election to the United States Senate where he served one term, leaving office in 1871. After leaving office, President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Yates to serve as a United States commissioner inspecting a land subsidy railroad in St. Louis. His son, Richard Yates, Jr., also served as Illinois governor from 1901-1905 and in the United States House of Representatives from 1919-1933.

Images in this collection include several portrait of Richard Yates, Sr., taken at different points in his life, a collage of famous Illinois College alumni, and a newspaper image showing the outcome of a bet made on the outcome of the 1860 Illinois gubernatorial election.

Digitized versions of Richard Yates Sr.,'s gubernatorial correspondence are available on Chronicling Illinois in the Yates Family Papers and the Wabash Yates Collections.

Collection Items

Richard Yates, Sr.
Richard Yates, Sr., sits for a portrait during his time as a United States Senator.

Richard Yates, Sr.
Richard Yates Sr., stands for a portrait wearing a suit and bow tie.

Richard Yates, Sr.
Richard Yates, Sr., sits for a portrait wearing a suit and bow tie.

Richard Yates, Sr.
Richard Yates, Sr., sits next to a floral curtain while wearing a suit and bow tie during a portrait session. On verso: "Ill. Gov. 1861-65."

Richard Yates, Sr., and Others
Richard Yates, Sr., (seated) poses for a portrait with two unidentified gentlemen at his side.

Election Bet
A large crowd watches as George Kennedy rides in a cart around Winslow, Illinois. pulled by a donkey and George Eells as the result of an election bet. The writing at the bottom of the photograph reads, "Paying an election bet, the town went for…

Alumni of Illinois College
A photograph collage features notable alumni of Illinois College in Jacksonville including (from left to right, top to bottom): "W. J. Bryan, 81," "Newton Bateman, 42," "R. Yates, Sr., 35," "R. Yates, Jr., 80," "Jos. N. Carter, 66," "Theod. N.…

Richard Yates, Sr.
A portrait drawing features Richard Yates, Sr.

Richard Yates, Sr., Residence
A drawing shows several people walking and riding in carriages in front of the residence of Richard Yates, Sr.Photo caption: "Residence of Ex Governor Richard Yates East State St. Jacksonville Ills."

Richard Yates, Sr.
Richard Yates, Sr., stands next to a chair while wearing a suit and bow tie during a portrait session.

Richard Yates, Sr.
Richard Yates, Sr., sits for a portrait during his time as a United States Senator from Illinois.

Richard Yates, Sr.
Richard Yates, Sr., poses for a portrait. The image includes an autograph reading, "Your friend Richard Yates." On verso: "To my son. To urge you to close attention to business, to economy and sobriety, to be good and do good in Christian faith, to…
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