Colloquium provides deeper illumination on Abraham Lincoln's work and legacy

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[October 09, 2015]  LINCOLN - Lincoln College held the 30th Annual Lincoln Colloquium this past weekend. On Friday and Saturday, Lincoln scholars from around the country presented information about Abraham Lincoln's work and legacy. The event was held and the new Lincoln Heritage Museum.

Lincoln College history professor Ron Keller stated that the purpose of the event was to look at new perspectives on how Lincoln's legacy is important to this day, from how he is viewed both globally and locally, to his character lessons, how he has been viewed both positively and negatively, and how his legacy continues to live on.

Lincoln's legacy on an international scale was the focus of the Friday session presented by William Pederson, a political science professor and Director of the International Lincoln Center at Louisiana State University.

On Saturday, Lincoln scholars and historians presented topics ranging from Lincoln's character, to loathing his legacy, to the law's influence on Lincoln, and Lincoln's influence on the law.

Fritz Klein, Abraham Lincoln Interpreter at the Lincoln Institute for Education, discussed his work in "Interpreting Lincoln's Legacy."
 


Klein is currently involved in a play about Lincoln right after he is shot. In the role, Klein shows what is in Lincoln's mind after the bullet hits him. Lincoln is first struggling to understand what just happened to him, then wishing he could get advice, and finally coming to terms with being shot. Klein noted that though it is based on an historical event, it is very much an interpretation of Lincoln's thoughts during these final moments.

When asked by an attendee if he is overwhelmed by representing Lincoln's life, Klein asserted that he is often overwhelmed by the responsibility of playing Lincoln, especially when asked a question he does not know.



Beginning at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, the colloquium ended with a panel discussion on “The Tangible Legacy in the Lands of Lincoln.” Ron Keller stated that those on the panel are on the front lines sharing Lincoln's history with one panelist leading a presidential museum, one working with a Lincoln collection at an Indiana library, one directing a heritage organization, and one leading Lincoln walks.

Before the panel discussion, Keller asked panel members to share how they are working to preserve Lincoln's legacy. Sara Gabbard, Executive Director of the Friends of the Lincoln Collection of Indiana and editor of the Lincoln Lore magazine, works with a collection of Lincoln artifacts that includes thousands of books and documents of Lincoln history and photos of Lincoln and his family. She stated that the library is digitizing the collection to provide more access to those interested in his life.

Sarah Watson, Executive Director of Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition, says they are coordinating the work and efforts of the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage area, which includes 42 central Illinois counties, by helping to preserve and tell the story of the life and times of Abraham Lincoln, keeping history alive and bringing it to life.

Dr. James Cornelius, Curator of the Abraham Lincoln Collection at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, helps preserve Lincoln artifacts and historic treasures, has written several articles about Lincoln, and has done extensive research on Lincoln's life. He said that the museum has 15 oil on canvas paintings about Lincoln on display in rotation and hopes to put up Everett's copy of the Gettysburg Address next February.

Guy Fraker, local Lincoln Historian & Eighth Judicial Circuit expert, was a consultant and participant in a recent documentary about Lincoln's life and is working to display more Lincoln collections and encourage more reading and research about Lincoln.

Fraker noted that when he initially wanted to learn about the Lincoln circuit, he looked at archives to find roads Lincoln crossed. He said that are still a few around, such as an unpaved road between Urbana and Danville.

Keller asked the panel about how they plan to compensate for budget shortages and how it affects the telling of Lincoln's story.

Watson stated that resource development and fundraising help. Gabbard reported that they have done capital campaigns in the past and have eight million dollars in endowments for continuing expenses. Dr. Cornelius pointed out that there are 18,000 museums in the country. He says that working at the local level and sharing living history through historical pageants is one way to continue sharing stories. Also citing the local level, Fraker suggested that promoting Lincoln heritage in towns helps.

hen an audience member from Chicago asked about sites there, Dr. Cornelius noted that there is a walking tour in Chicago.

Fritz Klein asked how much is being done in local communities to connect the Lincoln heritage to tourism and Watson replied that in some communities, it is about the interest level, but promotion is key.

Another audience member said generating interest in the Looking for Lincoln project can also help bring money to communities.

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When Keller inquired about what other states are doing to share Lincoln's history, Tom Mackie, who lives in Tennessee, said that Tennessee has networked with national parks to help make Abraham Lincoln's life a centerpiece of tourism activities.

Asked by an audience member if Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois have continued to coordinate to tell their stories, Watson said that these states are working together to reinvigorate the story of Lincoln's life in the Midwest.

Keller questioned the panel about how to make Lincoln's legacy relevant to people of other races. Fraker said he is deeply disturbed by seeming lack of interest and reported that he would love to share Lincoln's story with more African American youth because there is no better example than Abraham Lincoln to show that freedom was important.

Watson said the heritage coalition is putting together a camp for next summer where they will discuss the topic of citizenship and tie it in to emancipation.

Dr. Cornelius stated that he would like to get the message of Lincoln as a self-made man out to more people both locally and globally.

John Barr, Lincoln scholar and history professor in Texas, said that we need to remember race problems started in the 1900s soon after emancipation and he believes there needs to be better treatment of people from other races in order to generate interest in Lincoln's legacy.

Klein believes that we need to know how to address young people and find out what they are thinking.

One audience member suggested that part of the problem is some people's general lack of interest in history, which Barr said is not a new problem.
As the session drew to a close, Keller asked the panel what Lincoln's legacy should be?

Dr. Cornelius said that when international college students come in to the museum, they often do not understand our government system, so he feels that Lincoln's legacy was to change history peacefully.

Gabbard finds the best moments are when school children "discretely" come and ask her how they can learn about Lincoln's life.

Fraker stated that Lincoln's legacy are his lessons to keep your eye on the prize, listen to the other side, never be doctrinaire, and appreciate people that disagree with you.

In closing, Keller suggested that making a difference in the world is one way to lead on Lincoln's legacy.

After the sessions, Tom McLaughlin, the new director of the Lincoln Heritage Museum said, "It has been an amazing weekend with lively discussions and more people than expected attending." Robin McClallen, museum assistant, said that there were around 80 or 90 attending. McLaughlin said, "It was great to see so many Lincoln enthusiasts coming to the campus."



Those who came to the Colloquium acknowledged that it was a great weekend. Roger Rudich said that he attends every year and hears great speakers and this year speakers were especially great.

Francie Staggs, who works as a volunteer at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, said she especially enjoyed listening to Fritz Klein, having seen him portray Lincoln in "Last Full Measure," the play about Lincoln's thoughts during his last moments. Staggs also found Dr. Douglas Wilson's session "Abraham Lincoln: Character or Calculation?" interesting especially when he suggested that Lincoln was secretive because he had a lack of candor, held things in, and gave no full disclosure. She wondered if these traits had to do with his childhood.

150 years after Lincoln's assassination, he is still considered by many to be one of the greatest presidents, and the colloquium brought new perspectives on Lincoln's presidency and his ongoing legacy to enthusiasts from across the country.

[Angela Reiners]

 

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