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Joseph Gurney Cannon Photo Album (Digitized Content)

232 Items Full Collection Description

The digitized content of the Joseph Gurney Cannon Photo Album contains digital copies of photographs from Cannon’s album, documenting the construction progress of the Danville Soldier’s Home in Illinois.

Joseph Gurney ("Uncle Joe") Cannon was a leading figure in U.S. politics during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He represented Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives for a total of 46 years, between 1873 and 1923, and served as Speaker of the House from 1903 to 1911.

Cannon was the leading force in bringing the Veterans Administration Hospital (formerly a branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers) to Danville, Illinois, in 1898. Cannon's photo album includes pictures of the hospital and its occupants, employees, surrounding grounds, and events. The buildings and grounds were later adapted for use by the Danville Area Community College.

The Illinois History and Lincoln Collections unit at the University of Illinois Library manages the physical items of the Joseph Gurney Cannon Photo Album and Book (MS 505). The collection was partially digitized in 2000 (individual photographs) and fully digitized in 2022 (full album). For more information, contact an archivist at ihlc@library.illinois.edu.