Wayne Temple served during World War II as a junior officer on General Eisenhower's staff. Following the war he enrolled in college, and by 1956 he had a Ph.D. in history and was teaching at Lincoln Memorial University. In 1964 he moved to Springfield and began a long career at the Illinois State Archives. Since then he has earned the reputation as being one of the nation's most knowledgeable Lincoln scholars. 'Doc' Temple authored scores of speeches, short articles, and research notes about Abraham Lincoln, as well as a half-dozen important volumes, with particular focus on Lincoln's military, religious, surveying, and domestic life. He still worked at the State Archives at the time of his interview in 2015.
Interview Links
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Early family life, wartime service, education and early career
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Early profession career as historian, and Lincoln scholarship
Interview Session 03 (Audio)
Reflections on Lincoln scholarship, and relations with IL Secretary of State
Photos
Caption
Dr. Temple gave a presentation entitled “Lincoln’s Unused Tomb” in March, 2009 at the Illinois History Symposium, in Jacksonville, IL.
Where:
Jacksonville, IL
When:
March, 2009
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Illinois Secretary of State John W. Lewis, Jr. shakes archivist Harold T. Pinkett's hand during a meeting in the Capitol while archivist Wayne C. Temple (far left) and Assistant State Archivist Theodore J. Cassady (far right) look on.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption
Portrait of Wayne Temple by J. G. Randall, Urbana, Illinois, November 16, 1951, signed by both men.
Where:
Urbana, Illinois
When:
November 16, 1951
Ownership:
Original in Randall Papers, Illinois, Lincoln Collections, UIUC Library. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.