University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The items in the Digital Collections of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library contain materials which represent or depict sensitive topics or were written from perspectives using outdated or biased language. The Library condemns discrimination and hatred on any grounds. As a research library that supports the mission and values of this land grant institution, it is incumbent upon the University Library to preserve, describe, and provide access to materials to accurately document our past, support learning about it, and effect change in the present. In accordance with the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read statement, we do not censor our materials or prevent patrons from accessing them.

If you have questions regarding this statement or any content in the Library’s digital collections, please contact digitalcollections@lists.illinois.edu

American Library Association’s Freedom to Read Statement

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at the University Library

Elizabeth Ambrose Merrill Letter (Digitized Content)

The digitized content of the Elizabeth Ambrose Merrill Letter consists of a letter from Elizabeth Ambrose Merrill to Anna Burnham of Fort Towson, Oklahoma. Writing from October 23 to November 8, 1837, Merrill described the events leading up to the murder of Elijah Lovejoy by an anti-abolition mob in Alton, Illinois.

The Illinois History and Lincoln Collections unit at the University of Illinois Library manages the physical items of the Elizabeth Ambrose Merrill Letter (MS 1134). The collection was completely digitized in 2025. For more information, contact an archivist at ihlc@library.illinois.edu.