When recent economics graduate Shinbi Lee first stepped into the Rare Book and Manuscript Library, she wasn’t just excited. She was a little worried.
“I was super scared to hold the artifacts in my hands,” she recalled. Lee found herself handling the delicate materials in the library's collection as part of an undergraduate research project.
“But everyone at the RBML was super chill about having a 22-year-old handle 100-year-old documents. I’m super glad the library has these artifacts that students can come and engage with,” she added.
The research project was part an independent study Lee undertook at the suggestion of economics professor Isaac DiIanni. It sent her deep into the archives to retrieve handwritten letters, financial records, and other artifacts that trace the evolution of economic thought.
An amateur archivist himself, DiIanni was inspired by a similar archival exhibit he curated for Business Pathways Academy students in fall 2025.
“While working on that project, I thought it would be great to have economics students curate a larger exhibition, so I started brainstorming ways to bring this experience to economics,” he said.
DiIanni floated the idea of the project to some of his students during office hours, where Lee and 11 other students expressed interest.
“Shinbi was particularly enthusiastic about the idea, and we decided that it would make a wonderful independent study for her to lead this effort,” said DiIanni.
“I wanted to do something special for my last semester on campus. I’ve really enjoyed Professor DiIanni’s classes, so when he asked if I’d help with a project in the archives, I couldn’t say no,” Lee explained.
A new club revives an old campus icon
As the project took shape, the group formed an unofficial “club” and dubbed themselves the Economics Archivist Club. They set their sights on one prominent figure in U of I’s history: David Kinley, who founded the Department of Economics at U of I and would become the university’s sixth president.
“So many students take a class in David Kinley Hall and don't realize what he did for the University of Illinois,” Lee pointed out.
A Scottish immigrant, Kinley began his career at U of I as an instructor of political economy in 1893. He went on to hold almost every administrative role at the university before becoming its president. Under his leadership, U of I established itself as a leader in teaching, research, and discovery.
“It’s remarkable that such an instrumental figure in the university’s history was an economist!” said Professor DiIanni.
“I hope it’s a point of pride for the students and that they realize that, as economics students, they are a part of something bigger than themselves.”
Campus experienced a building boom during Kinley’s presidency that saw the construction of many beloved campus landmarks including the Main Library.
A century later, in that same library’s archives, Lee and her classmates dug through Kinley’s scrapbooks, uncovering forgotten portraits and personal letters, extending the story Kinley began while adding their own voices to the legacy of economics at Illinois.
“We found a lot of letters to and from David Kinley. Some were condolences he received after his wife died while they were on a trip in China,” she said. “These were very personal letters that gave you a sense of who David Kinley was and what he was like; they can’t be found online, so it was super cool to read through them.”
“There were so many pictures of him, too. One of my favorites is a photo of him next to the statue in front of the Main Library. He has such a straight face and isn’t looking at the camera which makes it so hilarious,” she added.
From the stacks to the showcase
In addition to Kinley’s records, the archives and RBML preserve a stunning catalogue of more than 25,000 cubic feet of records, publications, and personal papers.
Lee and her classmates unearthed several items that told the history of economics around the world, including ancient papyrus receipts, balance scales, pre-modern forms of currency, centuries-old ledgers, and so much more.
The most compelling artifacts were handwritten letters from prominent economists of the past, like Adam Smith, David Ricardo, and Thomas Malthus.
“It was fascinating to see these historical figures’ writing style and what their handwriting looked like,” recalled Shinbi. “I couldn’t believe my university just has a stack of David Ricardo’s notes!”
The dozens of boxes that were sifted through provided a trove of items to display.
“I had so much fun looking at box after box and imagining what people would enjoy seeing on display,” said Lee about curating the display.
The display was open for just a few hours in the RBML, with visitors drifting between two rooms. One devoted to David Kinley and the other to economic artifacts and handwritten letters by classical economists.
“This display highlighted the long arc of economics, and the central role that our university has played in shaping it,” said George Deltas, chair of the Department of Economics.
Although Lee has graduated, she hopes her classmates will carry the torch of the Economics Archivist Club.
“I hope exhibitions like this can become an annual event and undergrads can dig into more files and take time to explore this amazing resource U of I has,” said Lee.
“I’m so happy with the results of this project,” added DiIanni. “It's so encouraging to see so many students interested in continuing to research and make new exhibits. I’m looking forward to seeing what the students want to include next year!”
Want to be an economics archivist?
Reach out to Professor DiIanni and Shinbi to learn how you can join the club!
