Born in England, Michael Scully immigrated to the U. S. when his father moved to his extensive estates in Illinois. Michael relates his story of a varied education, military service, and eventual life in farming, applying the principles of biodynamic and organic farming.
Photos
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William Scully, Michael's grandfather and the American family's patriarch, who purchased nearly 250,000 acres of land in Illinois and other states in the mid 1850s. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Photo from William Scully and the Scully Estates of Logan County, Illinois by Paul J. Beaver. May be restricted. Source citation is unknown. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator
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Michael's parents, Thomas and Violet Scully, taken in Courtley Manor, Chatenham, England in the 1920s. Where:
Courtley Manor, Chatenham, England When:
1920sOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
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An enthusiastic group of school boys at Hawtrey's, where Michael attended boarding school in England. Where:
EnglandWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
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A rowing competition at Harvard, where Michael attended college and enjoyed competing on the team. Where:
HarvardWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
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Michael and others toss a fellow crew mate into the water at a Harvard rowing competition.Where:
Harvard When:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
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Front: Thomas, Michael and Nadine Scully. Seated: Violet, the family nanny Anna Lisa, John on her lap, Merida, Jean, Olivia with baby Kirsten, Paula and the nanny Brenda with Richard. Back: Watkin Lewis, Michael Scully, Peter Scully and DavidWhere:
A Scully family portrait circa 1960When:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
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Michael Scully in his Army uniform during the Korean War. He served in Germany. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Public domain 
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Michael during WW II, while he served in the American Field Service as an ambulance driver. The photo was taken in front of the family residence in Lincoln, Illinois, probably after the war. Where:
Lincoln, IllinoisWhen:
probably after the warOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
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Michael with sons Thomas on pony Circulo (circle in Spanish) and John on the ground in red pants, on the family farm, Cockleburr, circa 1964. Where:
CockleburrWhen:
circa 1964Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
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La Bastide, the family estate in southern France. The photo was taken in the late 1970s.Where:
family estate in southern FranceWhen:
late 1970sOwnership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator
Caption
The gardens of La Bastide, the family estate in France, circa 1970sWhere:
FranceWhen:
circa 1970sOwnership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator
Caption
Michael and Jean Scully at Cockleburr, near Buffalo, Illinois, taken in 1978, as they appeared in a local newspaper. Where:
Cockleburr, near Buffalo, IllinoisWhen:
1978Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator
Caption
Violet in her gardens in Lincoln, Illinois, circa 1970. Where:
Lincoln, IllinoisWhen:
circa 1970Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
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Scully raised beef cattle as well as grain and other livestock on Cockleburr, where he experimented with biodynamic farming techniques. 1957-58.Where:
CockleburrWhen:
1957-58Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
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A winter shot of Cockleburr, taken in 1957. Where:
CockleburrWhen:
1957Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
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Violet Scully's residence in Lincoln, Illinois.Where:
Lincoln, IllinoisWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
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An aerial shot of the farm buildings and surroundings at Cockleburr. Note the large compost piles in the front center of the photo. Scully relied heavily on this natural fertilizer. Where:
CockleburrWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
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Peter and Michael Scully with their cousin Robin Scully (holding wood) were no strangers to hard labor when they helped their father work the land in the 1930s and 40s. Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
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Jean Scully wears the red checkered shirt and Michael has his hands in his pockets share a moment with their neighbors from nearby Buffalo on the farm in 1955-1956. Where:
UnknownWhen:
1955-1956Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
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Cockleburr in the winter. Where:
Cockleburr When:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
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Michael and Jean moved to this home in Springfield in the 1980s. Where:
Springfield When:
1980sOwnership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
An artist's rendition of the Springfield home.Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
May be restricted. Source citation is unknown. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator
Caption
Michael in front of the Union Station in Springfield. He was instrumental in the station's preservation as an historical landmark. The station is adjacent to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. Where:
Union Station in SpringfieldWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Narrator's Photo