NORMAL - The Stevenson family is a political dynasty Central Illinois can call its own. And now, a new collection from former U.S. Sen. Adlai Stevenson III sheds light on his observations and those of his ancestors.

From a tradition born of a 19th century figure's jotting down ideas and quotes on napkins, place cards and whatever else was handy, The Black Book was born. It traveled with three Adlais, beginning with observations on a young lawyer named Abraham Lincoln, traveling through the Cuban Missile Crisis and President Kennedy's New Frontier, and ending with commentary about the rise of China, global terrorism and more.

"It recalls the politics my family knew and participated in for the past 150 years," said U.S. Sen. Stevenson, now 78, of rural Hanover in northwest Illinois.

Stevenson will share stories from the work, dubbed The Black Book, on Thursday afternoon at Illinois State University. That's when he'll present "Democracy Remembered: Abraham Lincoln, Jesse Fell and the Stevensons" a 2 p.m. lecture at Milner Library. The event is free and open to the public.

A 300-page hardcover book, The Black Book retails at $29.95 and is available at www.adlai3.com.

It started as a rough brown loose-leaf binder carried by the original Adlai E. Stevenson I. He took notes on community activities, such as Jesse Fell proposing a series of debates between friend Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. Then, he brought it to Washington, D.C., where he served as vice president in the Grover Cleveland administration. (Incidentally, Normal founding father Jesse Fell is U.S. Sen. Stevenson's other great-grandfather).

When Vice President Stevenson died, the book was passed on. It was his grandson, Adlai Stevenson II, Illinois governor, and two-time Democratic presidential candidate, who widely expanded the collection. And his 1965 death brought the binder to U.S. Sen. Stevenson, who broadened it even more.

He decided to produce an edited combined version, with added commentary. "It's too rich to be lost," said U.S. Sen. Stevenson.

"The collection really represents a multigenerational political dynasty," said Greg Koos, McLean County Museum of History executive director, who helped with editing in the early stages of the book. He said the museum will have copies available soon.

"(The Black Book) is a wonderful multigenerational collection of quips and quotes that encapsulate much of our political history. Adlai has done an admiral job of editing these, and adding historical and contemporary political commentary," said Koos, noting the men used it as a valuable reference while writing their own speeches.

The book contrasts America's past with its present, said U.S. Sen. Stevenson, and categorizes the topics into chapters such as economics, war and peace, and religion.

"It's a reminder of how politics has changed. But it has lessons for the future too," he said.

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Who is who

Vice President Adlai E. Stevenson I (1835 - 1914)

Elected U.S. vice president, under Grover Cleveland in 1892. Democratic candidate for governor in 1912. Previously served as first assistant postmaster general in Cleveland's first administration; and member of U.S. House of Representatives. In 1900, was on the unsuccessful vice presidential candidate of William Jennings Bryan ticket. Son Lewis Stevenson served as Illinois Secretary of State.

Gov. Adlai E. Stevenson II (1900 - 1965)

Son of Lewis Stevenson. Democratic presidential candidate in 1952 and 1956; elected Illinois governor in 1948; appointed U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in 1961, served until his death. He served as assistant to U.S. Secretary of Navy in World War II; and helped design the United Nations, following the war.

Adlai Ewing Stevenson III (1930 -)

U.S. Senator from 1970 to 1981. Also served as Illinois state treasurer. Democratic candidate for governor of Illinois in 1982 and 1986. Stevenson's life has long focused on public policy and business-related activities in East Asia. He is an attorney, and a U.S. veteran, having served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. He's chairman of a SC & M Investment Management Co. He's also chairman of the Libertyville-based Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy.

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Go!

Who: Adlai Stevenson III, former U.S. senator

What: Speaks on "Democracy Remembered: Abraham Lincoln, Jesse Fell and the Stevensons," part of the Illinois State University Spring Speaker Series

When: 2 p.m. Thursday

Where: ISU's Milner Library, main floor

More information: Event is free and open to the public; for special accommodations, call (309) 438-7402. To learn more about the Bloomington Stevensons, visit www.adlai3.com and www.adlaitoday.org