Lincoln Heritage Museum to host two special events on Friday
Student History Walk and special evening lecture with Harriet Tubman

 

[March 09, 2017]  LINCOLN - Two special events will be held Friday, March 10, at the Lincoln Heritage Museum on the Lincoln College Campus.

Fifth grade student history walk

Fifth graders from Lincoln District 27 will embark on a historical journey in the morning and early afternoon, while on Friday evening, Kathryn M. Harris, the first woman and the first African-American to serve as President of the Abraham Lincoln Association, will be the featured speaker at the Museum’s Lecture Series Presentation. Harris, who is known for her portrayals of historic 19th Century African-American Women will appear in the persona of her favorite character, Harriet Tubman. She will speak at 6:30 p.m.

The fifth graders from Central, Northwest, and Washington-Monroe Elementary Schools will present “A Walk Through the 1860s,” bringing historical characters to life through living history presentations. Student presentations will be in the first and second floor galleries and in the Lincoln Center Atrium. Museum volunteers will guide visitors through the galleries.

“Fifth graders study the Civil War Era and these living history presentations allow them to bring to life the lessons they have learned. The Civil War was not only a turning point in our country’s history, it was also a profoundly personal event that touched the lives of virtually every American at the time,” explained Anne Moseley, Assistant Director of the Lincoln Heritage Museum. “Historical portrayals allow students to bring their history books to life.”

Between 140 and 150 students will participate in the Civil War Walk. Northwest fifth-graders will perform at 9:00 a.m. followed by Washington-Monroe students at 10:45 a.m., and Central School students will start their presentations at 1p.m.

Evening lecture with Harriet Tubman

“We are excited to host Kathryn Harris for our Lecture Series Friday evening. Kathryn is well known both for her work at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield and for her one-woman shows portraying Harriet Tubman and other 19th Century African-American women leaders,” said museum director Tom McLaughlin.

In addition to becoming the first woman and first African-American to lead the Abraham Lincoln Association since its inception in 1909, Harris served for more than 25 years in various capacities at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and its predecessor, the Illinois State Historical Library. She retired in 2015 as the Library Services Director of the Presidential Library.

[Christina Xamis
Public Relations & Media Manager
Lincoln College]