More Lincoln

I am changing the focus of this blog to feature the activities surrounding the current Lincoln exhibits in the Alvin Sherman Library gallery this month.

There are two Lincoln displays. The first is "Abraham Lincoln: a Man of His Time, A Man for all Times," a traveling exhibit from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History in New York City. This exhibit was developed with funding from the National Endwoment for the Humanities. The Alvin Sherman Library is one of only forty libraries in the United States hosting this display. It consists of six panels illustrating the life of Abraham Lincoln.

The second display features Lincolniana from the personal collection of Sheldon C. Kurland, Esq. a local collector. Incuded is a letter written by Lincoln, an original tintype of Lincoln, and contemporary books and newspapers.

Both exhibits are on display through Sunday, October 25.

We finished! Hurrah!

Yesterday was the last meeting of the Alvin Sherman Library's Lincoln in American Memory Discussion Group and a good time was had by all. We discussed Lincoln and his Critics with great fervor for almost an hour touching on politics and issues both past and present. Did I hear health care debate?!

At the end of the meeting all participants who had attended at least two sessions were awarded a certificate of participation! Congratulations!

And, of course, we gathered for a group portrait!

Lincoln and his Critics

Tomorrow is the last meeting of LIAM!

We will be discussing Lincoln and His Critics -- to get a jump on the discussion please watch Howard Holzer's video: http://lincoln.loa.org/LiamReaders/critics.php

ALBC in Miami

Get this on your calendar!

The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission will host a town meeting in Miami on Sunday, November 01, 2009 at the Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Center in downtown Miami.

Panelist will include:

• Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez
• Alberto Carvalho, Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent
• Dr. Marvin Dunn, Professor
• Alberto Ibarguen, Knight Foundation
• Cheryl Little, Florida Immigrant and Advocacy Center
• Gepsie Metellus, Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center
• Ruth Shack, former head of the Dade Community Foundation
• Dr. Darden Pyron, 19th century American history professor, Florida International University
• Dr. Donald Spivey, University of Miami.

Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. will be a featured speaker.

In addition there will be music and an exhibit at the Freedom Tower.

For more info go to:

http://www.abrahamlincoln200.org/calendar/miami-town-hall-11-1-09.aspx

Lincoln as Self-Made Man

Today's discussion was, as ever, wide ranging -- topics touched on included Lincoln stamps; new pennies; questions about the 1860 census; what Stanton said at Lincoln's death == was it Ages or Angels; Lincoln's meeting with Van Buren which was then compared to Clinton meeeting Kennedy; and the film Birth of a Nation! And that was just some of it!

Howard Holzer's interview makes for interesting listening after the discussion:

http://lincoln.loa.org/LiamReaders/self-made.php

Lincoln in Chicago

Next week I will be in Chicago for a conference. I have been doing a little research on Lincoln in the Windy City --I now plan to see an exhibit at the Chicago History Museum called Lincoln's Treasures. Here is a preview of some of the items in the exhibit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chicagohistory/sets/72157613566773602/show/

Lincoln spend a great deal of time in Chicago -- The Lincoln Institute has put up a page on Abraham Lincoln and Chicago. It makes for interesting reading.

Mourning Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln's assassination still resonates with us today. Americans were deeply shaken by his death and the mourning public’s response was overwhelmingly. Lincoln (who had barely been reelected to his second term in 1864) was elevated to martyrdom by the populace.

After the funeral ceremony at the White House, Lincoln's casket lay in state at the Capitol. It was then put on a train and began a journey north and west to Springfield, Illinois for burial. It took over two weeks to for the funeral cortege to cross the country with numerous stops including New York, Buffalo, Indianapolis and Chicago. People lined the tracks to view his passage and sermons and speeches were made at each stop memorializing Lincoln. For more on his funeral cortege see this well done website: THE ROUTE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S FUNERAL TRAIN.