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Prominent socialites, literary sorts, politicians and 'notorious'
men
'Blue
Room Salon' to re-create Mary Todd Lincoln's informal
gatherings at the White House
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[October 20, 2007]
SPRINGFIELD -- Mary Todd Lincoln liked to have
informal evenings of socialization and "enlightenment" in the 1860s
White House. These gatherings of colorful and interesting characters
will be re-created during the "Blue Room Salon" scheduled for Nov.
16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in
Springfield.
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 Mrs.
Lincoln was more educated and daring than most women of her day and
liked to surround herself with people, particularly men, to discuss
politics, war, love and literature. These people often included
prominent socialites, literary sorts, politicians and what were
characterized as "notorious" men. Gatherings featuring these people,
called salons, were held in the White House Blue Room, and Mrs.
Lincoln would move gracefully from one conversation to another,
immensely enjoying her role as a fashionable, well-informed hostess.
The Nov. 16 evening will feature a Mary Todd Lincoln
impersonator, a live period musical group and two "notorious men,"
authors of recent historical works. Guests can stroll from room to
room at the museum to mingle with these participants. Barry Landau,
author of "The President's Table: Two Hundred Years of Dining and
Diplomacy," will discuss his exploration of presidential dining
habits through times of social and economic change. Dr. Matthew
Holland, author of "Bonds of Affections: Civic Charity and the
Making of America," will discuss how Christian love shaped Abraham
Lincoln's politics as he presided over a fundamental moment in the
development of American democracy. The Prairie Aires will discuss
19th-century musical styles and perform on hammered and lap
dulcimers, Celtic harps, bodhrans, spoons, and chimes.
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 Tickets for the event are on sale for $50 each, which includes hors
d'oeuvres, dessert and coffee, and wines provided by event sponsor
Hill Prairie Winery
of Oakford. To order tickets, call 217-558-8934 or visit
www.alplm.org.
(See
publicity.) [To download Adobe Acrobat Reader for
the PDF file, click
here.]
Books and CDs may be purchased at the event and will be signed by
Blue Room Salon participants.
The Blue Room Salon highlights the conclusion of the popular
"Mary Todd Lincoln: First Lady of Controversy" exhibit at the
museum, which may be seen through Nov. 30 in the museum's Illinois
Gallery.
[Text
from Abraham Lincoln Presidential
Library and Museum news release received from the
Illinois Office of Communication and Information]
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