“He’s somebody we can all learn something from”

I just can’t not do it. If you’ve got a passion, you know what I mean. You pursue it because you’re drawn to it, you must do it, you just can’t not do it.

For me that passion is Abraham Lincoln – sharing his story, using it to inspire others, learning from it myself. Fortunately, this blog connects me to people who share that passion. When I can find the time, I like to tell their stories. Sometimes, they tell their own stories so well, I need serve only as the conduit through which the story flows to the rest of you. This is one of those times.

David Wiegers, a Lincoln buff from Gurnee (Ill.), was one of the earliest followers of my blog and one of the first to post a comment. Wiegers has his own passion. He’s crossed the United States photographing Lincoln statues – more than 200 of them. When he was featured recently on WILL television, Wiegers captured the essence of why so many of us are drawn to the Lincoln legacy. He said of the sixteenth President, “He’s somebody we can all learn something from.”

I recently asked Wiegers to tell me a little about his passion, including his plans for a book featuring the Lincoln statues. He did such a fine job telling the story that I see no need to rewrite it. So, Dave, congratulations! You’re the first guest author on Lincoln Buff 2.

A Life Worth Remembering: The Monumental Legacy of Abraham Lincoln

by David Wiegers

“Every statue should tell a story. It should portray a moment in our nation’s history or a man’s life that’s worth remembering.” Sculptor Gutzo Borglum

President Abraham Lincoln certainly lived a life worth remembering. He lives and is remembered by his eloquent words and remarkable life. One of the most important ways we remember Lincoln and the life that he lead is through the monuments and statues we have erected commemorating his life and times.

There are more statues, monuments and memorials dedicated to President Abraham Lincoln that any other American. In the United States there are approximately 225 “major” or “significant” pieces of public and private art erected to honor Lincoln in the United States . Outside America numerous statues honoring the memory of Lincoln stand in many foreign countries. Lincoln is memorialized in Mexico , Russia , Cuba , England , Scotland , Norway and Austria .

The 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln has arrived and, monuments celebrating the life of the 16th president continue to be dedicated in the United States despite the fact that Lincoln has been dead for 144 years. In the past 24 months alone, new statues commemorating the life of Abraham Lincoln have been erected in:

• Springfield (Ill.)
• Sterling (Ill.)
• Pontiac (Ill.)
• Jonesboro (Ill.)
• Hodgenville (Ken.)
• Tacoma (Wash.)
• Lockport (Ill.)
• Washington (D.C.)

In 2009 and 2010, new Lincoln works will be dedicated in:

• Jacksonville (Ill.)
• Bloomington (Ill.)
• Shelbyville (Ill.)
• Metamora (Ill.)
• Hillsboro (Ill.)
• Decatur (Ill.)
• Hillsdale (Mich.)
• Louisville (Ken.)
• Springfield (Ken.)
• Leavenworth (Kans.)
• Gentryville (Ind.)
• Gettysburg (Penn.)

Others are surely in the planning stages and not yet announced to the public.

With the Bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth being celebrated in 2009 and 2010, I believe that it is time for an updated, definitive work on the statues of Abraham Lincoln. It has been over 50 years since the last books on this subject were published.

In 1932, the first comprehensive cataloging of the bronze statues of Abraham Lincoln in the United States was done on behalf of the Lincoln National Life Foundation. The book was Heroic Statues in Bronze of Abraham Lincoln, written by Franklin B. Mead and was published by The Lakeside Press. Mead’s work covered only “heroic” or life-sized or larger studies of Lincoln . A good portion of the book was given to a complete telling of the story of a new Lincoln work commissioned by the Lincoln National Life foundation and created by the noted sculptor Paul Manship entitled The Hoosier Youth.

Donald Durman’s book, He Belongs to the Ages – The Statues of Abraham Lincoln, was published in 1951 and F. Lauriston Bullard’s book, Lincoln in Marble and Bronze, came out in 1952. Neither of these books is in now in print.

My book will update the literature on the subject of Lincoln sculpture and make available a complete catalog of all of the “major” public statues of Abraham Lincoln and select private pieces.

The purpose and ultimate goal of my project is to release a book that will update the information collected by Durman and Bullard and include updated information and photographs of the statues of Abraham Lincoln featured in those authors’ books. I will also tell the story of the works created and dedicated since 1952.

In the first sentence of the preface to his 1951 book, Durman said, “For many years there has been a need for a definitive work on the statues of Abraham Lincoln.” I believe that it is once again time for a new definitive work on the statues of Lincoln.

My project to document the statues of Abraham Lincoln will commemorate and celebrate the life of Abraham Lincoln by compiling in one place the 225 or more statues in the United States dedicated to Lincoln’s life, virtues, thoughts and ideals.

Between September of 2004 and April of 2009, I have visited over 30 states and have photographed 200-plus Lincoln statues in parks, public building, museums and private collections.

One thing that I hope comes about as a result of my book is a greater appreciation of these works of art. So many of these marvelous images of Lincoln are in deplorable shape and need cleaning and restoration. Perhaps raising the awareness around the country to the plight of some of these statues may help spur local communities and corporations to step forward with the funds to restore them.

The book, which has been photographed and written by Dave Wiegers, is not complete. I have just started to write the background on the statues I have selected for in-depth treatment. There are still about 15-20 new statues to be dedicated over the next 12 months and it is my intention to include as many of the new Lincoln works being erected around the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial in this work.

I am currently working a book proposal and readying it to send out to prospective publishers. Once a publishing house has agreed to take on this book, it will take approximately a year to get the book to print.

Lincoln Buff 2 says “Thanks”
Dave, I’m sure readers will appreciate as much as I the sharing the story of your passion with us.

Featured photos
The photographs above are of Wiegers and of a Lincoln statue recently dedicated in Springfield (Ken.).

Wiegers says the Kentucky statue is significant for two reasons:

• The sculptor is a woman from California, Paula Slater (pictured with the new statue.) There aren’t many major Lincoln pieces by women.
• It commemorates Lincoln’s parent’s marriage and his search for their marriage certificate in Washington County, Ken.

The Morencai Lincoln home is near there, as is the homestead where Nancy Hanks and the Lincolns lived. Weigers says, “It a beautiful area and worth a side trip if you get down towards Hodgenville.”

See where the statues are
In case you're wondering where the existing statues are, there's a really cool interactive map on the PBS website which celebrates the fine documentary, Looking for Lincoln, produced by the Kunhardts. The map links to photographs Wiegers took of the statues.

Know of another new or planned Lincoln statue?
Please share the news with Dave at dbwiegers[at sign]comcast[dot]net. He’s also learned of statues planned in :

• Joliet (Ill.)
• Lincoln City (Ind.)
• Rapid City (S.D.)

*My thanks to Mike Kienzler, aka The Abraham Lincoln Observer, of The State Journal-Register. With his editor's eagle eye, Mike noticed I had the forgotten the "i before e" rule in spelling Dave's name. Dave, I am so sorry. I've fixed it. Ann

© Copyright 2009 Ann Tracy Mueller. All rights reserved.

My bags are packed. I’m ready to go.

Okay, so that’s not true. I haven’t even started to get ready. Folks, I’m going to slow down on the blogging soon to get organized for the big celebration.

Off to Lincoln’s stomping grounds
I’ll be celebrating Lincoln’s birthday in Springfield next week. I’ve taken vacation from work and my family has been gracious in giving me the week off at home. As for the family, I’m not sure if it’s because they a.) know I’d be miserable to live with if I couldn’t go, b.) want me out of their hair or c.) love me and want to see me happy. I think it’s a little of all three.

I have some great opportunities ahead of me – to continue learning about Lincoln, meet people whose work I admire, do some volunteer work for the Bicentennial and join in the celebration.

If you’re in Springfield, how will you know it’s me?"

• First, look for the person with the biggest smile, because I will be happy!
• Second, if you’re at a scholarly event, look for the person taking the most copious notes. I know, it looks like overkill, but that’s how I absorb new information – something about the hand, eye and brain working together, I guess. Besides, I need fodder for future blog posts, right?
• Third, look for my name badge. My friend, Tricia, is creating a really cool name badge for me with a Lincoln penny, my name and Lincoln Buff 2 on it.

If you see me, please be sure to come up to say “hi,” unless it’s on Sunday or Thursday when you might catch sight of me volunteering. I probably shouldn’t get too chatty then. Try to catch me later. I do love hearing from my readers, and it will be really neat to meet some of you.

I’ll be a-twitterin’
As of right now, I don’t plan to blog the week of Feb. 8-14, 2009. I do, however, plan to twitter, except when I’m volunteering. I should be adding a twitter link to my blog on Saturday night, Feb. 7. I’m not quite sure yet what I’ll include, but these are some of the things I thought I might twitter about:

• Lincoln sightings
• Lincoln sites
• Lincoln buffs
• Buff Lincolns (Hey, you don't think he had six-pack abs from splitting all those logs?)
• Lincoln scholars
• Lincoln trivia
• Bicentennial events
• And more

Don’t give up on me
If you’re reading my blog on a regular basis, please keep coming back. I’ve got a couple other neat things to tell you about yet this week. Please don’t forget to watch your local newspapers and visit these websites to learn about Lincoln events across the COUNTRY and in Illinois:

• U.S. Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
• Abraham Lincoln Online
• Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
• Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

And, keep an eye on C-SPAN for Lincoln events they'll be covering in the coming days.

Is it over when it’s over?
In case you’re wondering, my mission will not end with Lincoln’s 200th birthday. It will slow down for a while right after the celebration, as I regroup at home and study for an exam I’m taking for my real job. I’ll be back, though, with lots to tell you. My blog calendar is already chockfull of future story ideas and I’m sure I’ll have even more after my week in Springfield.

Are you Looking for Lincoln? If you’re not, it’s not too late to start. He’s all around you and he’s not going away any time soon.

Who’s your hero?

Come on, you know you’ve got one. Is it a teacher, a coach, a grandparent, a single parent? Whether you’re six or 96, you can share the story of a hero in your life – and if you’re a winner, you’ll win a trip to Springfield to visit Lincoln sites.

The “Looking for Your Lincoln Hero” Global Essay and Art Contest is a joint on-line venture between the My Hero Project and the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition designed to personalize Lincoln’s legacy for a worldwide audience.

Those of you who read my blog know I rarely use “canned messages” – press releases prepared by others. In this case, there’s a lot of information to share, so much of it is borrowed from the pen (or keyboard) of my friends at Looking for Lincoln, but reformatted and reorganized for online viewing.*

Lincoln – a hero through the ages
Abraham Lincoln exemplified the qualities of a leader with integrity, compassion, perseverance and an unwavering commitment to the moral principle that all people are created equal. He continues to be a role model for people today.

Honor your hero with an essay or artwork
The Looking for Your Lincoln Hero contest encourages young people and adults to think about the people in their lives who share some of Lincoln’s heroic qualities and write an essay about them. Art entries should feature the artist’s contemporary hero, and may include a brief description relating that hero's qualities to those of Lincoln.

Contest details are available on the My Hero website. Essays and artwork are due by March 1, 2009. Teachers and students can also be linked to learning materials supporting the project.

In all, 25 essay finalists will be selected from the following groups:

• Grades K-6
• Grades 7-12
• College
• Adults

One finalist from each age group will be selected to win a trip for two to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and Lincoln Legacy sites across the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area

And the judges are…

Contest judges include:

• Paul Rusesabagina, the real-life hero of "Hotel Rwanda" who saved more than 1,000 people from the Rwandan genocide
• Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation and U.S. Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission co-chair
• Dr. Daniel Stowell of The Papers of Abraham Lincoln Project at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
• Eileen Mackevich, executive director of the U.S. Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
• Kathryn Harris, director of Library Services, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
• Dr. Marcia Young, board member, Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition

Finalist judges for artwork include:

• Stan Lee, creator, Marvel Comics creator
• Kay Smith, Artist Laureate of Illinois

Smith has also loaned some of her artwork for the website’s Lincoln Art Gallery.

Contest sponsors

The contest is supported by:

• National Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
• Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
• The Lincoln Institute
• Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission

Contest co-chairs are Senator Dick Durbin and LaHood.

Wonder why they’re doing this?
“This contest is designed to transport the legacy of one of our great American heroes to the present. Abraham Lincoln’s most admired strengths of principle and character throughout his life and during some of our nation’s most tumultuous times have been sources of inspiration for generations of Americans and people around the world. We are inviting writers and artists to share the story of someone in their life whose strength inspires them in a similar way,” said Senator Durbin.

“We are pleased to co-chair the ‘Looking for Your Lincoln Hero’ global online essay and art contest. We hope teachers everywhere will study Lincoln this year, encourage their students to find the Lincoln hero in their lives, and tell us about them in their essays and artwork,” said Secretary LaHood.

About My Hero Project
The My Hero Project is a not-for-profit, interdisciplinary website that honors the very best of humanity. All across the globe, students of all ages, along with their teachers, parents, and friends, use myhero.com to learn about those who better the world around them, whether that world is as small as a single household or as large as an entire continent. In turn, myhero.com visitors, who generate nearly two million page hits each month, are also able to share their own stories about people who help make a difference.

About Looking for Lincoln
The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, enacted last year by Congress, is managed by the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to preserving, interpreting and promoting the Lincoln Legacy in Illinois, including the iconic sites of Lincoln's Home, Law Office, Old State Capitol, Lincoln Tomb, historic New Salem, and the world-class Presidential Library and Museum. The Coalition also helps to tell the stories of many other significant sites across 42 counties of central Illinois where Lincoln enjoyed friendships, married and raised a family, mourned the loss of a child, practiced law, held public office, and debated famous political rivals on his unlikely journey to the White House. The National Heritage Area designation allows enhanced and expanded opportunities to educate, preserve, and interpret the heritage and culture across the region as it relates to Lincoln's life. To plan travel and learn first-hand about Lincoln's life journey, visit: http://www.lookingforlincoln.com/.

*Special thanks to Hal Smith of the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition for enthusiastically sharing information about this neat contest with me via email and through a press release.

Look no further – Lincoln in Illinois

What Illinois community do you think of when you think about Abraham Lincoln? New Salem, maybe, or Springfield?

He certainly lived and worked in both, but more than 42 counties throughout Illinois can claim a connection to Lincoln. The Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition works with those communities to keep his legacy alive.

Looking for Lincoln was founded nine years ago, and those of us who live or work in places such as Bloomington or Galesburg have seen the Looking for Lincoln logo and signs around town.

National recognition and funding
The coalition got a big boost earlier this year, though, when the National Heritage Area was signed into law. The legislation was originally authored by Senator Dick Durbin and former Congressman, now Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, and signed into law by President George W. Bush.

The law authorizes Congress to appropriate up to $1 million a year for 15 years to support the preservation and interpretation of the historic and cultural heritage of Lincoln’s time. The Heritage Area will explore and develop these in the context of Lincoln’s life and its impact on the American cultural landscape. Projects using federal funding in the Heritage Area must be matched by local, state, private, in-kind or foundation funding.

When the Heritage area legislation was signed, Looking for Lincoln Director Hal Smith said, “The Heritage Area designation will help us more fully develop and interpret a rich and vivid visitor experience that reflects the impact Lincoln had on our history and culture. Our mission will be to create and market a visitor experience that is interesting, historic and fun for travelers from across America and around the world.”

The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area is the only heritage area in America named for a U.S. President.

Wayside exhibits
One way the coalition is creating that visitor experince is in partnering with communities to develop wayside exhibits which feature unique stories about Lincoln in each area. I had the opportunity this fall to attend the dedication of the wayside exhibit at the David Davis Mansion in Bloomington. The dedication truly was a moving experience.

By next summer, the coalition plans to have 220 exhibits at place in 47 communities throughout the state.

Looking for Lincoln History Hunt
Are you planning a family vacation to Lincoln site in Illinois? If so, the Looking for Lincoln History Hunt, available on the coalition’s website, is a great way to pique youngster’s curiosity and interest. Check it out.

Essay/art contest
In celebration of the bicentennial, Looking for Lincoln is also co-sponsoring a really cool Lincoln Hero essay and artwork contest. You can learn about the contest online, but I do want to share more later. This news is too neat to get buried at the end of a column, so I’ll give the contest its very own article soon.

Learn more about Looking for Lincoln
To learn more about Looking for Lincoln and for particulars on communities with Lincoln connections, visit the coalition’s website. They also keep an events calendar, so there’s one more place for you to learn where you, too, can live and breathe the rich Lincoln legacy here in Illinois. Be sure to check out the downloadable visitor's guide.

Illinois is throwing Lincoln a big bash

For some time now, I’ve wanted to tell you all about the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and all the cool things they’ve got on the agenda to make Lincoln’s birthday his best ever – right here in Illinois.

Lincoln lived here longest
After all, it was here that Lincoln lived from age 21 (1830) until he left on the train the day before his 52nd birthday (1861), headed for the White House. In the prairie state, he worked as a storekeeper, a postmaster, a surveyor, a lawyer, a politician.
Here, too, Lincoln grew from a storyteller into one of the most eloquent speakers of all time and from a self-taught lawyer to one who participated in some of the largest railroad cases of the day. If we’re to believe his partner Billy Herndon, it was also here the 16th president planned to return to practice law, had not John Wilkes Booth’s bullet put an end to Lincoln’s life and his partnership with Herndon.

Celebrating Lincoln no small task
With a life and legacy such as Lincoln’s to commemorate, the need for a commission to plan the celebration was a no-brainer and desire to do up right was there even before day one. This was our big chance to promote our favorite son and the places in Illinois with significance in his life.
Since its formation in 2006, the Illinois commission has been working hard to put on a big bash with a small budget, which grew even smaller in light of the state’s financial woes. And, they’re doing a bang up job!

Generosity, imagination, hard work
How, you might wonder, do you put on a once-in-a–century celebration in the midst of an ailing economy and a state budget crisis? One way the bicentennial commission did this was by seeking expertise and working together with groups who could help spread the good news. Through the ingenuity and generosity of a number of government and private entities, here are just some of the ways the commission is getting the word out about Lincoln and celebrating his legacy:

• “The Lincoln Log” – a day-by-day newspaper piece with explains Lincoln’s daily activities, running in more than 60 papers across Illinois in 2008 and 2009
• “The Voice of Lincoln” – a series of audio public service announcements on Illinois radio stations statewide – with Lincoln as the narrator
• Billboards throughout the Midwest with Lincoln’s face and a Happy Birthday message
• Links to the bicentennial website from other businesses and organizations
• Speakers spreading the word to organizations
• Cooperation between media outlets promoting Bicentennial in print, on the air and on the tube in January and February 2009
• A National Geographic coffee table book, “Abraham Lincoln’s Extraordinary Era,” with much content provided by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM)
• Traveling exhibits of reproduction artifacts from the $100 million Illinois Lincoln collection, thanks to funding from the National Endowment of the Humanities
• Lincoln documentaries featuring Illinois Lincoln sites
• A semi-truck size mobile exhibit, “Abraham Lincoln: Self-Made in America,” funded by the Illinois Bureau of Tourism and the ALPLM

What’s up
So, when Illinois throws a party for its favorite son, how do we celebrate? How’s this for starters:

• The Lincoln Academy of Illinois will present the State’s highest honor, The Order of Lincoln medal, to 30 people from around the world who have advanced the study and legacy of Abraham Lincoln on Saturday, Feb. 7.
• “The Lincoln Project,” a series of paintings by Chicago artist Don Pollack, opens Sunday, Feb. 8 at the Presidential Museum.
• The “Post-It Note Guy,” Chris Killham, will create a huge, Lincoln-related work of art in the windows of the land bridge that link the Presidential Library and Museum, beginning Feb. 8 and running several days.
• The U.S. Postal Service and U.S. Postmaster General will roll out the first issuance of the four Lincoln Bicentennial postage stamps on Monday, Feb. 9 at the Old State Capitol.
• Abraham Lincoln’s Farewell Address to Springfield in early 1861 will be the focus of a dramatic presentation on Wednesday, Feb.11 at the Prairie Capital Convention Center, a performance for all ages and an activity for families.
• A free “Birthday Bash” pops performance by the Illinois Symphony Orchestra that night with a Lincoln-themed concert is developed specifically for the Bicentennial and also family friendly.
• Bells will ring hourly in the Union Station bell tower playing “Happy Birthday” on Lincoln’s bicentennial, Thursday, Feb. 12.
• A 9:30 a.m. reading of the Gettysburg Address will originate from the Presidential Museum Plaza, with children throughout Illinois and the nation reading along wherever they are.
• The annual Lincoln’s Birthday wreath laying at the Lincoln Tomb will be in the morning, with a flag retreat ceremony planned for the afternoon.
• A special Postal Service cancellation for the new Lincoln Bicentennial stamps and commemorative envelopes will help commemorate Lincoln’s birthday.
• New United States citizens will be naturalized that day at the Old State Capitol.
• A free 1860s Period Ball at the Presidential Museum will be complete with birthday cake.
• The Abraham Lincoln Association will hold their Lincoln’s Birthday Banquet (by ticket) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel., with President Barack Obama joining the celebration.*
• Numerous lectures, living history events, book signings and more will keep visitors to Springfield hopping.
• A plethora of other events throughout the state help Lincoln buffs celebrate the big day.
• Oh, and did I think to say, we’re still hoping President Barack Obama can join us in Springfield for the big day. Keep watching this blog and your local media, in case he says “yes” to the big invite Springfield extended.*

Learn all about it
To learn all about Lincoln events in Springfield and throughout Illinois in the coming weeks and on Lincoln’s birthday, see the calendar of events on the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission website.

Be sure to read the information about sending Lincoln a birthday card. Handmade greetings are preferred and there is no age restriction for senders.

Time is ticking away until the big day. To watch the countdown, be sure to scroll to the bottom of the commission’s home page.

Looking for Lincoln info coming soon
The Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition has also shared exciting news about their work celebrating Lincoln in Illinois. I’ll share that with you in a future article.

Special thanks to Julie Cellini of the Illinois and U.S. Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commissions, who braved the first winter precipitation of the season and shared much of this information at a Dec. 3, 2008 Public Relations Society of America meeting in Springfield.

* Updated Feb. 2, 2009 - We learned today President Obama will be coming. What a special gift for President Lincoln's big day!

Lincoln laundry list

News in the Lincoln world is coming in fast and furious these days. Even though I receive a number of very specific Lincoln-related email alerts daily, it’s a challenge to keep up with all the Lincoln events planned throughout the country. It will surely be even more challenging the nearer Lincoln’s birthday gets.

Because of this, with little more than a month to the big day, I’m sharing a laundry list with you. On first glance, it’s surely overwhelming, but as you hone in on the locations closest to you, it won’t be so much so. In nearly every state and many communities, you'll find ways to celebrate this momentous day. If you're like me, you'll wish you could clone yourself on Feb. 12 to attend dozens of celebrations far and near.

Learn more
Many states have their own bicentennial commissions. If so, and if they have a website, I’ve provided a link to it. If there is no commission in your state, but the little birdies have shared information about events there, I’ve linked to an online article with information about the happenings.

A couple of great sources to learn about Lincoln events near you are the U.S. Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission website calendar and the Abraham Lincoln Online calendar. Both are exceptional and will likely have timely information, while mine is only as up-to-date as today’s media. Currently, all my links should take you to live websites or articles. As time goes on, however, some pages may be deactivated, so links may no longer work. In that case, I’ll try to remove them when I catch them.

Make the most of this opportunity
It’s exciting to be living at this moment in time, so please be sure to take advantage of Lincoln events near you and to read some of the many new Lincoln books or great old ones. Use this once-in-a-century opportunity to study our 16th president – and be sure to share what you learn with others. Spread the enthusiasm and knowledge!

Check out these Lincoln happenings

California
Sonoma Valley Regional Library seminars

Colorado
Lincoln’s Colorado legacy
Estes Park: Visit with the Lincolns

Connecticut
Connecticut Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission

Delaware
Delaware Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
Delaware Lincoln events

Idaho
Idaho Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
Student penny drive helps renovate Lincoln statue

Illinois
Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition
Galesburg Public Library: Commemorative children’s book
Illinois events statewide
Lincoln Log Cabin events
Lincoln, Ill.: Mary Todd Lincoln fashion show
Springfield: Lincoln play

Indiana
Indiana Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission

Kansas
Kansas Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial

Kentucky
Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
Kentucky Lincoln events

Louisiana
Louisiana Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission

Massachusetts
Massachusetts Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission

Michigan
Michigan Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission

New Jersey
Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission of New Jersey

North Dakota
North Dakota Lincoln events

Ohio
Ohio Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission

Oklahoma
Oklahoma events

Oregon
Oregon Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
Oregon essay contest

Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission

Rhode Island
Rhode Island Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission

South Dakota
Dakota Conference

Vermont
Vermont celebrations

Washington, D.C.
U.S. Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
Ford’s Theatre
Loew’s Hotel: Lincoln Bedroom experience package
National Archives celebrations
Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History “New Birth of Freedom exhibit”

Wyoming
Wyoming Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission

Keep looking for Lincoln
Wherever you are, don't stop Looking for Lincoln. You'll be amazed how often he turns up when you least expect it!

Looking forward – Peering back

This past week was a busy one for the Lincoln buff, with Lincoln activities five out of seven days. Let’s take a peek back at the culmination of my Heartland College Lincoln class and at other Lincoln events I attended in Central Illinois. Let’s also look forward to what the Lincoln buff has planned now that my course is completed.

Never too much Lincoln
I began a whirlwind week on Tuesday, Dec. 2, as one of nine students giving oral presentations of our term papers. To learn more about the class, the students and the paper topics, see my article, Lasting Mark Left by Lincoln Class.

Wednesday of last week found me joining hundreds of other Central Illinoisans fighting freezing rain on I-55 as I travelled to Springfield to a Public Relations Society of America meeting where Julie Cellini of the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission told us what the commission has done to prepare for the bicentennial, what they’ve accomplished to date and what we have to look forward to. I’ll tell you more in a future article. It’s exciting.

The Lincoln world was well represented at that meeting, with people there from the Bicentennial Commission, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. All have great accomplishments behind them and a great task before them in preparing for Lincoln’s 200th birthday. It should be a celebration to remember.

On Thursday, I was accompanied by my young granddaughter to the volunteer and foundation member reception at the David Davis Mansion. What little girl – or big – wouldn’t be excited about seeing a beautiful 19th century showplace dressed up in all its holiday finery – right down to a teddy bears’ tea party? Watch future posts for more information about this architectural and historic treasure in Bloomington (Ill.), which has strong connections to the Lincoln legacy.

On the two days I didn’t have Lincoln events, I was preparing for one. I spent Saturday and Sunday studying for my final exam. Lest I give the questions away to future students of this class, I won’t give you the topics. Let it suffice to say one involved something which touched Lincoln’s entire life – a heavy, but important topic. I absorbed it, though, and made it through my Monday night final, melancholy that this once-a-week intellectual fix was coming to an end.

During my lunch time on Tuesday, I attended the dedication for the first of a number of Looking for Lincoln wayside exhibits in the Bloomington-Normal area. The Bloomington exhibits are just a handful of the more than 200 which will grace sites with connections to Lincoln from one end of the Prairie State to the other by the end of 2009. I’ll tell you more about this ceremony, the wayside exhibits and the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition in future articles.

What’s on the horizon?
Although the class is finished, the Lincoln buff is just beginning. In 2009 and beyond, my schedule is ambitious. My first order of business is to complete an industry designation I’ve started for my real job. I’ll begin study this week and continue it through and beyond Lincoln’s February 12 birthday. So, if there are times when you don’t see a post for a day or two, don’t give up on me. Just realize I may have had to take time to study.

As for Lincoln, I won’t let him down. I plan to continue the blog and, to work toward my goal of growing my knowledge – and yours - of the life and legacy of Lincoln, I’ll be spending much of my vacation time attending Lincoln celebrations and scholarly events, including:

• Bicentennial activities and scholarly events in Springfield in February
• The Illinois State Historical Society and Illinois College’s symposium, “Lincoln in Ante-Bellum Illinois” in March
• The Lincoln Forum symposium at Gettysburg in November

In the coming years, I also plan to:

• refine and expand my paper on Lincoln and his mentors,
• continue my work on Lincoln and Sandburg and on Lincoln in Illinois literature, and
• begin an in-depth study of David Davis and his relationship with Lincoln.

The blog lives on
My original intent was to keep the blog active through 2010 to extend more than a year past the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth. However, a very wise Illinois historian recently reminded me the interest in Lincoln will surely intensify and continue as the commemoration of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War begins in 2011 and extends through 2015. Though that commemoration will likely be somber rather than celebratory like the Lincoln Bicentennial, it will serve as a time to continue to teach and to learn. God willing, I’ll be here and so will the technology so that this forum can continue to share what’s happening, what’s new in Lincoln scholarship and what I’ve learned. I’ll try not to let you down.

Bloomington: Don't miss dedication ceremony

Bloomington area residents: Don't miss the dedication ceremony for the Bloomington Looking for Lincoln wayside exhibits on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 12:30 p.m. at the David Davis Mansion. I'm sorry I didn't let you know earlier. Some little matter of a final exam had me preoccupied.

See the press release on the McLean County Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission website for more information.

And don't forget to visit the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition website to learn how this neat organization works with communities throughout Illinois to honor our favorite son.