Member of the UIS history faculty, 2001-2007. Dr. Paludan held the University's first distinguished chair, the Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies, established in 2001. Before coming to UIS, Paludan taught at University of Kansas, Rutgers University, and University College, Dublin. One of the nation's most preeminent American Civil War historians, Paludan wrote several books on the topic including The Presidency of Abraham Lincoln and Victims, a True Story of the Civil War, along with numerous other chapters and journal articles.

Notes, articles, drafts, transparencies, lecture notes, news clippings, correspondence and other items from Dr. Paludan's files, ranging from 1963 to 2006. The majority of the collection contains research files maintained by Dr. Paludan on various topics pertaining to U.S. History, particularly the Civil War and U.S. Constitutional history. The collection also contains his research for his 1981 book Victims, a True Story of the Civil War as well as files for classes he taught at UIS and the University of Kansas, 1987-2005.

Series I (Boxes 1-2) consists of general American Civil War research material. Topics include political, social, and economic facets of the conflict. Folders primarily contain information collected by Dr. Paludan with his personal notes.

Series II (Box 3, Folders 1-25; Box 7) consists of research material for Dr. Paludan's book Victims, a True Story of the Civil War, including several drafts of the text. Also contains general Civil War research material.

Series III (Box 3, Folders 26-56 - Box 6, Folders 1-12) consists of general historical research on Colonial America, Constitutional history and other topics. Some Civil War topics, research on the history profession, and other personal papers are also located here.

Series IV (Box 6, Folders 13-37) consists of lecture notes, syllabi, and exams from classes taught by Dr. Paludan at the University of Kansas and UIS, 1987-2005. Also includes videotape, news release, and text of speech from investiture ceremony of Paludan being awarded the first Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies (2005-11-07).

Series V (Box 8, RESTRICTED) contains graded student essays, tests, and assignments along with class rosters and grade books. Also includes information pertaining to the hiring of an executive director for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Center for Government Studies.

Series VI (Oversize File) contains posters and and other oversized material from Dr. Paludan's office.