New Lincoln stamp to make its debut Wednesday

Postal Service releasing new Lincoln stamp at Old State Capitol

[February 10, 2014]  SPRINGFIELD — The Old State Capitol is preparing to make Abraham Lincoln's 205th birthday a truly historic one with celebratory events on Feb. 11 and Feb. 12, including the release of a new Lincoln-themed stamp.

There will be an unveiling ceremony at 1 p.m. Wednesday for the new Lincoln stamp, featuring an image of the Lincoln Memorial. U.S. Postal Service officials will be on hand, and the Lincoln Land Community College chorus under the direction of Sue Hamilton will perform.

Following the ceremony, visitors will have the opportunity to purchase commemorative envelopes.

On Tuesday, the state historic site will host the Abraham Lincoln Association symposium's keynote speaker, Dr. Bruce Levine. Levine is a professor of history and African-American studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His address is titled "Fall of the House of Dixie: 1864 and the Beginning of the End." The event begins at 7 p.m.

As the symposium continues on Wednesday, visitors can take in more history discussions. At 11 a.m., Dr. John F. Marszalek and Dr. Douglas L. Wilson will speak on the theme "Year of Decision: 1864." Marszalek is professor emeritus at Mississippi State University and managing editor of the Ulysses S. Grant Association. Wilson is professor emeritus and co-director of the Lincoln Studies Center at Knox College.

The stamp ceremony and these symposium presentations are free and open to the public.

The Old State Capitol, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, was Illinois' fifth capitol building and the first in Springfield. It was the site of many important moments in Abraham Lincoln's life.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency]