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MC 107. Grayton Mansion (Taylorville, IL) Photos

 File — Container: 1 box
Identifier: MC-107

Scope and Contents

This collection includes a wide variety of interior and exterior views of Grayton, a mansion that stood in Taylorville, Illinois, from 1911 to 1962. Grayton was built (1911-1913) by Taylorville banker Eugene A. Vandeveer (1853-1915) and designed by Chicago architect Frederick Wainwright Perkins (1866-1929).The three story, 27-room, stucco and timber Tudor style house stood on twenty acres, including formal gardens, a swimming pool, biergarten, garage house, carriage house, and stables. Grayton was furnished with reproductions of English Regency and French Empire style furniture. Vandeveer died in 1915 leaving the estate to his wife Eudora G. (Atwood) Vandeveer and three daughters Yolande, Vida, and Eugenia. In 1940 Eugenia married Edward W. Vollintine of Taylorville, and they resided at Grayton when they were not traveling or in residence at one of their other homes. After Eugenia's death in 1958, Edward continued to own Grayton, but after he remarried he moved into first the restored stables and carriage house and then a nearby townhouse. Vollintine had Grayton razed in 1962 and later sold the land to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. The collection is composed of photographic prints dating from as early as 1915 and as late as 1960. A few views show gardeners and groundskeepers, and one includes an unidentified man and woman in formal attire, but most feature interior views with furniture, or exterior views of Grayton and its gardens and statuary. There are several prints made by renowned Viennese photographer Arthur Benda, that may be interior views of Eugenia Vollintine's home in Munich. There is also a single architectural drawing featuring an early draft of Grayton's front elevation.

Dates

  • Created: 1915-1960
  • Other: Date acquired: 05/22/2017

Biographical or Historical Information

Note written by Christopher Schnell

Extent

0.50 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement Note

By original order, print group, and chronology.

Source of Acquisition

Roger Hickman, trustee of Vollintine Estate

Method of Acquisition

donation

Title
MC 107. Grayton Mansion (Taylorville, IL) Photographs
Subtitle
1915-1960
Status
Completed
Author
Chris Schnell
Date
08/08/2017
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
eng

Repository Details

Part of the UIS Archives/Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Archives/Special Collections LIB 144
One University Plaza, MS BRK 140
Springfield IL 62703-5407 US
217-206-6520