James Rush Lincoln was born February 3, 1845 in Frederick County, Maryland. He attended the Landon Military Academy, the Pennsylvania Military College, and the Virginia Military Institute. Once the Civil War began, Lincoln enlisted in the Confederate Army and served in the cavalry under Jeb Stuart.

After the war, Lincoln remained in Virginia until moving to Iowa in 1868. He became the superintendent of a coal mining company in Boone, Iowa and became the town's mayor. He came to Iowa State College (University) in 1883 and served as the Professor of Military Tactics until 1919. Lincoln also held the positions of Steward of the College (1883) and Professor of Mining Engineering (1892-1898).

Soon after coming to Iowa, Lincoln joined the Iowa National Guard and held commissions as Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, Inspector General, and Brigadier General. During the Spanish American War, he mobilized Iowa's troops and went to the front. Unable to actively serve in World War I, Lincoln remained at Iowa State training others for active duty.

He passed away August 4, 1922 in Ames, Iowa.

The collection contains correspondence, memorials, news clippings, and General Lincoln's Civil War military service records.

The collection is arranged in alphabetical order.