Guide to the Lawrence O. Lawson (1842-1912) Scrapbook, 1880 - ca.1941

  • Identification0/22/1
  • Title
    • Guide to the Lawrence O. Lawson (1842-1912) Scrapbook
    • Lawson, Lawrence O. (1842-1912) Scrapbook
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Date1880 - ca.1941
  • OriginationLawson, Lawrence O., 1842-1912
  • Physical Description1.00
  • RepositoryNorthwestern University Archives Deering Library, Room 110 1970 Campus Dr. Evanston, IL, 60208-2300 URL: http://www.library.northwestern.edu/archives Email: archives@northwestern.edu Phone: 847-491-3354
  • AbstractThe series consists of an oversized scrapbook of materials detailing the exploits of Lawson and the crews of the U.S. Lifesaving Station at Evanston. Included are newspaper and magazine clippings, correspondence, and a few photographs dating largely from the period 1880-1912. A small number of clippings date from the years after Lawson's death and into the 1940s.
  • NamesLawson, Lawrence O., 1842-1912
  • Subject
    • Lifesaving stations--Michigan, Lake
    • Shipwrecks--Michigan, Lake

Charlotte M., Ruth P., Raymond O., and John W. Lawson, children of Captain Lawrence O. Lawson, donated the scrapbook to the Northwestern University Archives in May of 1951.

Processed by Kevin B. Leonard; September 16, 1997. Finding-aid scanned and reformatted by Rachel C. Teuer; August 12, 2004.

This scrapbook has been microfilmed as Microfilm #28. The film may be requested and used in the University Archives.

The series consists of an oversized scrapbook of materials detailing the exploits of Lawson and the crews of the U.S. Lifesaving Station at Evanston. Included are newspaper and magazine clippings, correspondence, and a few photographs dating largely from the period 1880-1912. A small number of clippings date from the years after Lawson's death and into the 1940s. Several of the items provide biographical information on Lawson while most pertain to Great Lakes shipping and, in particular, shipwrecks and incidents involving the Evanston Lifesaving Station and its crews.

Of particular note are clippings and documents pertaining to the rescue of the crew of the steamer Calumet off Highland Park on Thanksgiving Day, 1889. For their heroic efforts in the Calumet rescue, the United States Lifesaving Service awarded gold medals to Lawson and his crew.

Related information may be found in the Lawrence O. Lawson biographical file and in the Lifesaving Station and Lifesaving Crews photograph files held by the Northwestern University Archives.