SKCGS General Meeting Online – Lee Grady presents “The Draper Collection and other Treasures of the Minnesota Archives”

Lyman Draper (1815-1891) was a lifelong student of early American history. Born and raised in upstate New York, he made it his life’s work to document the history of the “heroes” of the American Revolution, especially in the upper South. During the 1840s, Draper amassed a collection of research materials that included interview notes, correspondence, clippings, transcriptions, and original historical documents. He brought the collection to Wisconsin in 1852. The Draper Collection is now a treasure trove of genealogical and historical information about individuals who lived through the American Revolution and the War of 1812. It includes the papers of Daniel Boone, George Rogers Clark, Joseph Brant, and many others; and includes references to thousands of individuals. Reference Archivist Lee Grady will present an overview of the Draper Manuscripts, and provide practical tips for genealogical researchers.

Lee Grady is Senior Reference Archivist at the Wisconsin Historical Society. He has master’s degrees in American History, and Library and Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.  He has been on the staff of the Historical Society for over 25 years and has a wide range of experience with the Society’s archival collections.