The collection consists of literary works and stage play scripts, many of which were written by Louis E. Laflin, Jr.; some of these were performed by members of Lake Forest College's acting clubs. The collection also includes Mrs. Bentley's papers and collected media and journal articles on ecological conservation and civic activity, including the city of Lake Forest, the Illinois and Indiana Dunes, and other areas of the United States. Of note are the 340 stereo travel photographs from Europe and the United States, and a photo-illustrated travel diary and scrapbook by Mrs. Cyrus Bentley, recounting a Yale reunion for the class of 1882 and her voyage across the Atlantic in 1891 (including stops in England, France, Spain, and Italy). The entire collection spans a range of dates from 1891-1975.
Phoebe Wrenn Norcross Bentley (Mrs. Richard)8 scripts of plays and poems: "The Young Marrieds" -- written by Laflin, Louis E., Jr., with annotations; "Men's Fashion Show - Armand Chateau" -- no author listed, with annotations "Our Presidents, God Bless Thee" -- no author listedl, with annotations "Kown Your Own Sesquicentennial" -- by Laflin, Louis E., Jr., with annotations "The Poets" -- written by Laflin, Louis E., Jr. "Today - 1975" -- produced by Laflin, Louis E., Jr. "Urbs in Horto" (2 copies) - no author listed, with annotations
1 script of play; written by MacKaye, Peter, with annotations
3 items: Nature Magazine -- "Weeds Above the Snow", by Palmer, E. Laurence; Garden Club of America Forum -- "Conservation Committee Waukegan News-Sun clipping -- "$1.5 Million Dunes Buildup Plan Readied"
41 items -- newspaper clippings, correspondences, pamhpets, and journal clippings of conservation issues in the United States
17 items
1 book (29 pages, with 26 photographs) -- narrative account of a Yale Class of 1882 reunion boat trip on the Great Lakes
340 stereo photographs of trips to Europe and the United States
8 items: "Urbs in Horto" program, written and produced by Hickey, R. and Harper, E.; Chicago Sun-Times article on the "Theatre of Understanding"; Invitataion to "Theatre of Understanding"; Cast list of "Theatre of Understanding"; The Friday Club membership application from Smith, Ella; List of family-friendly book recommendations; Character list for "Shady Business" or "Where is Everyone This Morning?" or "Division Under Glass"
1 book - by Norcross, Frederic F.; 35 pages, privately printed, Chicago
16 items -- materials relating to civic activity and conservation efforts in Lake Forest, including fair housing and the Lake Forest Preserve
33 items -- newspaper clippings, pamphlets, notes, and lecture about conservation issues in the United States
3 scripts of plays written by Laflin, Louis E., Jr.; 2 copies of "Plimoth Revisited"
4 items: Letter from Stebbins, Lewis Abyram to Bentley, Richard; Letter from Bentley, Richard to Stebbins, Lewis Abyram Invitation to Chicago Literary Club reading, "If a Man Shall Die, Shall He Live Again?". by Stebbins, Lewis Abyram Copy of "If a Man Shall Die, Shall He Live Again?", by Stebbins, Lewis Abyram, presented to Bentley, Richard
4 items - correspondences and itineraries froma Union Pacific trip to the Western U.S.
20 items -- newspaper clippings, correspondences, pamphlets, minutes, and journals
10 items -- newspaper clippings, journal clippings, organization statement, and copy of Illinois horticultural statues
1 book (66 pages) - scrapbook of photographs from a European trip (August 12-September 25, 1891), including handwritten descriptions