Robert P. Howard's "The Illinois Governors: Mostly Good and Competent Men" was published in 1988 by then Sangamon State University's Illinois Issues and the Illinois State Historical Society. It is a comprehensive text on the governors of Illinois from 1818 to 1988, combining biographical and political histories. In 2007, the book was updated for the third time by Taylor Pensoneau and Peggy Boyer Long of Illinois Issues to include governors Jim Edgar, George Ryan, and Rod Blagojevich. This collection contains the supplementary material from the publication of the third edition, under the new title "The Illinois Governors: Mostly Good and Competent." It is comprised of images included and not used in the final printing, governor portraits, candid photos of political events and family members, as well as publication receipts and contracts.