Dr. Wayne C. Temple is a world-renown historian. He is the Deputy Director of the Illinois Archives and has written many books and hundreds of articles on Lincoln and other topics. He has written three books for Mayhaven: Abraham Lincoln, From Skeptic to Prophet; By Square & Compass, The Saga of the Lincoln Home; and his newest title, “The Taste Is In My Mouth A Little…”, Lincoln’s Victuals and Potables. He is frequently interviewed for print, radio and television about his research and writing. He lives with his wife Sandy in historic Springfield, Illinois.

When I met you, I was working on a little research project of my own: Mary Todd Lincoln. I doubt you remember that meeting, as I’ve noticed you are approached by many budding historians and writers.

Well do I remember you, Doris. You were so enthusiastic in your study of Mary Todd Lincoln, and you were using primary sources, rather unusual for many students.

You are an unlikely researcher. Weren’t you born on a farm in Ohio?

Yes, I was born on a very small farm in Thompson Township of Delware County, Ohio. We tilled our own acerage—less than a hundred—and farmed on the shares on surrounding farms. But my mother had been a school teacher and taught me to read, write and do arithmetic before I entered school in a little one-room building to which I walked a mile each way.

You once said your father was a tremendous influence. How so?

My father soon discovered that I did not like farming, although I continued to assist him even after I was married. However, he told me that whatever I did to do well and make something of my life. It impressed me that he wanted me to succeed in some field to my liking.

What did you initially study?

By examination, I placed in the top twenty in the State of Ohio and thus won a scholarship on academics and athletics to The Ohio State University at Columbus where I lived in the Buckeye Club under the famous horseshoe stadium. My chosen field of study was Chemistry, but I mostly studied my R.O.T. C. Manual on Field Artillery and made Corporal after the very first quarter of my Freshman year. Being already Classified 1-A, I knew I was about to be drafted, and I was, in a few weeks.

You took time off for the Second World War. How did that change your life?

From Ohio State, I was placed in the Army Air Corps and after basic training was selected to study Engineering at the University of Illinois. There, in A.S.T.P., I finished the course, got my certificate and eventually went to Army Communication Service—Plant Engineering Agency. In that exclusive branch, I crossed the Atlantic and put in air fields and personal communications for General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower. I have his photograph in uniform inscribed to me, one of my prized possessions. While in Europe, I wrote to my parents that I wanted to study for a Ph.D. in History if it survived the war. I did and was even decorated with the Bronze Star Medal for action at the Rhine River,. Today, my own medal is pictured on my car license plate with the simple number "8."

You told me that you could not return to the University of Ohio because of friends lost in the war.

Upon my discharge, I drove down to Columbus and climbed the stairs to the Buckeye Club. There I discovered that so many of my old friends had been killed in the war. From then on, the place, for me, was filled with ghosts, and I never have returned to Ohio State.

Why did you then choose the University of Illinois?

When I drove back to the farm, my parents asked what I would do, and I replied that the University of Illinois had a special place in my heart and was a very great institution and that I had enough Engineering credits to enter as a Sophomore in History. I already knew the History Staff and the wonderful Library which was much better than Ohio State's. I even had had Dr. Randall as a History teacher while there in the Army. The University of Illinois was most kind to me, the Registrar even obtained housing for me in the Ice Rink where I had eaten "chow" while there in the Service. Thus, I returned with glee in the Fall of 1946.

What led you into history?

Once, as an under grad, Prof. Randall had asked me to teach his class while he was away at a History convention. I was thrilled that he recognized me as a potential scholar. I became a History major and again took Prof. Randall's classes.

At last, I knew History was the subject that I loved and enjoyed. However, I still liked science and today am a member of the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association and assist the surveyors with their problems since the Illinois Sate Archives holds the original Federal survey records for Illinois.

You were fortunate to become a research assistant to the revered Randalls. He was writing on Lincoln, she was writing on Mary Todd Lincoln. How did you happen to find yourself in their realm?

In the summer of 1949 my G. I Bill was about to expire. But while I was back in Ohio helping my father with the crops, I received a telegram from Prof. Randall asking me to be his Research Assistant! I had not applied for that position which paid my tuition and also a salary. I assisted both Prof. Randall and Mrs. Randall with their research, etc. for four years, until Dr. Randall died Feb. 20, 1953. I served as a pallbearer at Prof. Randall's funeral, a great honor for me to be asked. I had helped with three volumes and other writings. I compiled the bibliography of his writings which was published. I then went onto the History Staff as a teaching assistant.

Did they influence your research? Your writing?

Of course, I learned not only the art of researching and writing history, but also some of the philosophy connected with being a professional historian. From Mrs. Randall, I learned to write so as to be interesting and also straight forward.

My forte is new facts and original research on Lincoln topics not previously known. Granted, they may be small subjects, but they help to fill in the gaps in our knowledge of Abraham Lincoln. I do not rehash material already well-known, as so many authors do.

Were there others who influenced you?

Prof. F. C. Dietz, Chairman of the History Department at the University of Illinois greatly influenced my professional career. I admired him as a writer and a wonderful lecturer. In fact, I once thought of majoring in English History instead of American History. But my association with Randall changed all of that. He was so kind to put me into teaching after Randall died. And Prof. Richard N. Current, stepped in and became my advisor so that I could finish my dissertation on Noah Brooks. One of my Lincoln books is dedicated to both of these fine scholars and gentlemen. After coming to work for the State of Illinois in 1954, I associate very closely with Randall's second Ph.D. Student, Dr. Harry E. Pratt, then Illinois State Historian.

You have a storyteller’s gift in talking about history. I have seldom seen you look at a note, you are full anecdotes, and, often, you are quite funny. Some of your irony, I think, is sometimes missed in your nonfiction works, but is there as well, and I hear and see it when you speak. Have you ever written fiction?

I have always liked to write. And, of course, I love original research. Few know it, but I have published a number of poems, too. My major was double: History and English. I hold the honor key for both History (Phi Alpha Theta) and English (Sigma Tu Delta) and also Phi Bet Kappa. In the case of the first to honorary fraternities, these keys are in addition to membership keys.

Do you have any suggestions, something you learned the hard way?

I have learned not to become a coauthor of anything.Yet, I sometimes fall into this trap. My only successful coauthorhsip was with my wife on the history of the Old State Capitol. We shared the labor and had no difficulty at all.

I learned at the Univeristy of Illiniois that a successful teacher did not read a lecture. I have followed this rule since then. Of course, one must read a lecture if one is quoteing some new documents that are long and involved.

You are such a prolific researcher, writer, lecturer. Did you ever start something you didn't finish?

Once, at the University of Illinois, the urge to write a novel concerning World War II crossed my mind, and I actualy began a chapter or two, but time was a factor. I had to learn French, instead, for the doctorate, as well as German, which I knew much better having taken several years of this language and having been in the country.

The novel, I presume, will wait for another time.