CHICAGO TAVERNS, MARY TODD LINCOLN'S MENTAL STATE, TRANSACTIONS WITH INDIANS ARE FEATURED IN LATEST JOURNAL OF ILLINOIS HISTORY

SPRINGFIELD, IL - Changing perceptions of Chicago taverns from 1833 - 1871, an argument that Mary Todd Lincoln had bipolar disorder, and transactions with Indians during the mid 1700s are featured in the latest issue of the Journal of Illinois History, a scholarly publication about the state's history.

 

            The cover article deals with the evolution of Chicago taverns from the city's early history until the time of the Great Chicago Fire.  Taverns provided a vital service by introducing travelers and settlers to the Chicago community, which was at first a culturally homogenous village and later an ethnically diverse city.  Early Chicago taverns in the 1830s were often old homes that could serve as hotels, meetinghouses, or dance halls.  By the end of the Civil War such multifaceted institutions neared extinction, and were rapidly replaced with establishments that focused on drinking.  By the 1870s, nearly all Chicago taverns had evolved into bars that served thirsty locals and travelers eager to hear local gossip or relax in a familiar environment.  The article was written by Adam Criblez, a doctoral student at Purdue University and author of "Tavernocracy:  Tavern Culture in Ohio's Western Reserve," which was published in the Northeast Ohio Journal of History in 2004.

   

            Another article, written by doctoral candidate Jennifer Bach at Arizona State University, argues that Mary Todd Lincoln had bipolar disorder.  More than a century after her death, Mary Todd Lincoln remains one of the most controversial first ladies in American history.  Scholars sharply disagree about her character, with some describing Mrs. Lincoln as an embarrassing shrew and others defending her as an intelligent and charming, but sensitive and beleaguered, woman.  Many of Mary Lincoln's problems stemmed from her fierce temper and extravagance.  Some have viewed these traits as evidence of a "character flaw" and have criticized her accordingly.  However, a careful study of her words and deeds throughout her lifetime, the author argues, as well as Mary's family history, suggests a pattern resembling that of bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depression. 

 

            The transactions between the British occupiers of Fort de Chartres, in what is now Randolph County, Illinois, and Native Americans in the region are the subject of another article.  Lieutenant Colonel John Wilkins took command of the fort in 1768 and with it became the government's de facto Indian emissary in the Illinois country.  Following the French and Indian War, the British government withdrew its Indian agents from frontier posts as a cost-cutting measure, leaving that difficult and potentially volatile duty to the colonies.  Wilkins kept a journal of his transactions to document his gift-giving to the Indians as a means of maintaining good will during those tight fiscal times, and likely intended to keep his superior, General Thomas Gage, informed of the situation through the journal.  The Algonquin tribes of the region had sided with the French and were reluctant to accept English authority, supporting Pontiac in his efforts to resist British control.  Wilkins had no previous experience with Indian relations, and his journal betrays his prejudices toward them:  "This Tomaroy Chief of the Kaskaskies is...I believe like most Savages very deceitfull" and "the Indians in that Neighbourhood, who through a profusion of Presents and Strong Liquors, were become a Set of idle vagabonds."  Wilkins attempted the role of "father" to the Indians, trying to resolve tribal disputes and guarantee safe and profitable trading for British merchants.  However, with the Crown reducing his Indian relations budget from 24,000 Pounds Sterling in 1768 to "almost nothing" in 1772, Wilkins's efforts to exert British influence and effectiveness over the Indians of the Illinois Country was severely hampered.  The article was written by Jeffrey A. Spanbauer, instructor of American history, western civilizations, and political science at Black Hawk College-East Campus in Kewanee, Illinois.

 

The Journal of Illinois History is the foremost publication for readers who value documented research on the state's history, and features articles, book reviews, essays and bibliographies that have been reviewed by some of the country's leading historians.  The Journal is published by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (www.Illinois-History.gov).  Subscriptions are $18 per year for four issues.  To obtain a sample copy, contact:  Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, Publications Section, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, Springfield, IL  62701, or call (217) 524-6045.