Richard E. Steen (1915-2002) Papers

The Richard E. Steen Papers document the life of Northwestern University graduate, Richard “Dick” Enoch Steen (Class of 1938), primarily his travels through Europe after graduation. The collection begins with Steen’s biographical materials dating before, during, and after his time at Northwestern, including notebooks kept in the mid-1930s filled with diary entries, newspaper clippings, quotes, comics, programs, and more. The bulk of the collection includes correspondence, diaries, souvenirs, and five scrapbooks with annotated photographs taken by Steen during his European trip, June-November 1938. Other materials included in the collection are documents related to Steen’s role as Northwestern Alumni Regent of the Washington D.C. area, New Trier High School yearbooks and class notebooks, and Steen’s Northwestern University diploma.

Materials added in 2021 include photos of Steen and of various trips/events (including some Northwestern-related photos and some photos of his trip to Europe) on loose scrapbook pages, one photograph of Steen and Richard Nixon, and letters documenting a donation made by Steen to Northwestern. The Nixon photograph and donation letters include cover letters from Steen’s son, Jim, regarding the enclosed items.