Scott W. Lucas Collection

Title

Scott W. Lucas Collection

Subject

Lucas, Scott W. (Scott Wike), 1892-1968
Legislators
Politicians
United States. Congress. House of Representatives
United States. Congress. Senate
Lawyers

Description

Scott Wike Lucas was an Illinois attorney and politician. Born in Cass County, Illinois, on February 19, 1892, Lucas attended public schools and Illinois Wesleyan University, where he played baseball and other college sports. While in college, during his summers, he played baseball in the Three-I League, a semiprofessional baseball league organized in Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa. After college, Lucas attended law school and was admitted to the bar in 1915.

Lucas served in the United States Army during World War I, rising to the rank of lieutenant. He would later continue his military association by serving as commander of the Illinois Department of the American Legion.

After serving as state's attorney for Mason County in the 1920s, Lucas ran in the 1932 Democratic primary as a candidate for the United States Senate from Illinois; however, he lost his primary bid to William H. Dieterich. Governor Henry Horner then appointed Lucas chairman of the State Tax Commission, which Lucas directed from 1933 to 1935. In 1934, Lucas won election to the United States House of Representatives from Illinois. Four years later, he won election to the U.S. Senate and was reelected in 1944.

Following President Harry S. Truman's reelection in 1948, Lucas became Senate Majority Leader. He served in that capacity only two years, losing the 1950 general election in Illinois to Republican Everett Dirksen. Lucas died on February 22, 1968.

The Scott W. Lucas Collection consists of 38 photographs from Lucas' early life and political career. In addition to images of such influential American politicians as John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, the collection contains several political cartoons satirizing Lucas and other politicians.

Collection Items

Scott W. Lucas and Walter Reuther
Senator Scott Lucas (middle) stands with Walter Reuther (2nd from right), President of the United Auto Workers and the Congress of Industrial Organizations, and four unidentified men at the UAW-CIO Fish Fry in East Peoria.

Luncheon in Honor of Movie Star Greer Garson
Several Democratic senators attend a Senate luncheon for actress Greer Garson.Standing (l-r): Marion McIntyre, John H. Overton (Louisiana), Carl Hatch (New Mexico), James M. Mead (New York), Scott W. Lucas (Illinois), Walter F. George (Georgia), and…

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Jr. and Edward J. Kelly
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Jr. stands with Chicago Mayor Edward J. Kelly and a man identified as "Adams" during a campaign stop in Chicago as part of the 1940 presidential campaign.

Scott W. Lucas, Campaign
With the head of the Democratic mascot thrust against his face, Senator Scott W. Lucas waves to the crowd with hat in hand while standing before a "Roosevelt and Lucas" campaign sign.

Scott W. Lucas, Senate Office
Scott W. Lucas smokes in his United States Senate office after his election in 1938.

Scott W. Lucas, Golf Outing
Chairman of the Illinois State Tax Commission Scott W. Lucas golfs with state auditors Edward J. Barrett, Ray Bergen, and John Stelle in French Lick, Indiana.

American Legion Convention
A uniformed Scott W. Lucas, in his capacity as Commander of the Illinois Department of the American Legion, stands between representatives of the Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Commander of Confederate Veterans Union an American…

Scott Lucas and Clyde Choate, Coal Mine
Politicians Scott W. Lucas (2nd from left), Clyde Choate (far right), and two unidentified men meet with a coal miner inside an unknown coal mine.

Scott W. Lucas and Franklin C. Gowen
Senator Scott W. Lucas (2nd from left) stands with Franklin C. Gowen (2nd from right) and an unidentified man between two soldiers of the Swiss Guard in a Vatican archway. Gowen served as the assistant to Myron C. Taylor, President Harry S. Truman's…

John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy
John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy smile as their photograph is taken. Photo signature: "With best wishes John Kennedy."

Alben W. Barkley
Alben W. Barkley, who was Vice President of the United States under Harry S. Truman, 1949-1953, poses for a portrait in profile. Photo signature: "To my good friend Scott Lucas; William W. Barkley."

James William Fulbright
United States Senator James William Fulbright of Arkansas poses for a portrait wearing a pin striped suit.Photo signature: "To Scott Lucas, a good friend, a fine Senator and a fair golfer, with warm regards; Bill Fulbright U.S.S. Arkansas."

World War I, Georgia
Several Illinois soldiers pose for a photograph at an army training camp in Georgia during World War I. Scott W. Lucas (first row, far left) served in the United States Army during World War I and rose to the rank of lieutenant.

Illinois State Normal University Baseball Team
Illinois State Normal University's baseball team poses for a group photo in front of Cook Hall (left) and Edwards Hall (right) on the school's campus.

Scott W. Lucas Family
Scott W. Lucas poses for a picture with his wife, Edith Biggs Lucas, and their son, Scott W. Lucas, Jr.

Bloomington Bloomers Baseball Team - Three-I League
The 1914 Bloomington Bloomers baseball team poses for a team photo. The Three-I league was a semi-professional baseball league that ran during the summer months. Kneeling (l-r): Craig, outfielder; Jackson, outfielder; Settles, second base; Lister,…

Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity
Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity members at Illinois Weslyan University pose for a group photo in front of their fraternity house.

Politicians at Lakewood Duck Lodge
United States Senator Scott W. Lucas (3rd from right) poses with five members of a hunting party for a group photo at the Lakewood Duck Lodge in Bath, Illinois. Photo identification (l-r): "Bocher," "Friend," "B. Henderson," "Ed Long," and "[Hon…

Illinois State Normal University Baseball Team
The Illinois State Normal University baseball team poses for a team photo in front of the university's Fell Hall.

Edward J. Barrett
Edward J. Barrett sits for a portrait. Barrett, a veteran of World War I and World War II, served as County Clerk of Cook County and as Illinois Secretary of State from 1945 until 1953. Image signature, "To my friend, Senator Scott W. Lucas; With…

Scott W. Lucas with Streator Sailors
Senator Scott W. Lucas meets with Edward Bradach, Louis Wargo, and Joseph Teyshak, three navy servicemen who survived the sinking of the U.S.S. Lexington during the Battle of the Coral Sea in World War II. The message on the front of the photograph…

Scott W. Lucas
Senator Scott W. Lucas poses for a portrait at his desk.

The Old River Pirate
A political cartoon shows United State Senator Scott W. Lucas of Illinois hunting ducks and Senator Wayne Morse of Oregon in a car while a man stand next to him with a horse. Lucas was a lawyer and a politician who served in the United States House…

Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson poses for a photograph in an ornately decorated room. Photograph signature: "To Scott Lucas from his devoted friend Lyndon B. Johnson."

Scott W. Lucas, James M. Slattery, and Henry Horner
Influential Illinois politicians Scott W. Lucas (left), James M. Slattery (middle), and Henry Horner (right), admire a pair of birds in Horner's office. Lucas was a lawyer and a politician who served in the Illinois House of Representatives, the…
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Collection Tree