Looking for Lincoln
More than just the Almanac:  Abraham Lincoln and the Duff Armstrong murder case
Wednesday, April 12, 2023, 7 p.m.

[April 11, 2023]    The almanac trial is probably Abraham Lincoln’s most famous case. Immortalized by the 1939 Henry Fonda movie Young Mr. Lincoln, it portrays a prosecution witness who saw the killing under the bright light of the moon. During the trial, Lincoln earned an acquittal for his client when he used a farmer’s almanac to show the moon was not up at the time of the murder.

Did Hollywood get it right?

Join John Lupton and Dr. Samuel Wheeler from the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission to shed some “moon” light on the Armstrong murder trial of 1857. John Lupton is the Executive Director of the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission. Samuel Wheeler is the Director of History Programs for the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission.

Viewers can watch and participate in this free live program on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at 7 pm on the Looking for Lincoln YouTube and Facebook video channels. Questions can be submitted by viewers for the hosts to answer at the end of their presentation.

The program is recorded for viewing after the premier and is available on the Looking for Lincoln Facebook and YouTube video channels. Reservations are not required, and there is no cost to view the event.

“We are proud to host this series of Looking for Lincoln conversations,” says Sarah Watson, Executive Director of Looking for Lincoln. “These live, digital programs cover a range of topics that depict the life and times of Abraham Lincoln in the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area. Few individuals have so profoundly influenced American history as did Abraham Lincoln. Millions around the world are inspired by the story of Lincoln's rise from humble beginnings to President of the United States, his qualities of integrity and courage and his decisive leadership traits that carried a fragile nation through one of its most trying periods.”

These programs are free and broadcast live on Looking for Lincoln’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, and will end with a question and answer session with the virtual audience. The program is recorded for viewing after the live premier, and is available on the Looking for Lincoln Facebook and YouTube video libraries.

The Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition is the coordinating entity for the 43-county Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area. It is a partnership of organizations and individuals dedicated to enhancing the communities and landscapes of central Illinois through recognition and support of their significant natural, cultural and historical legacies. Few individuals have so profoundly influenced American history as did Abraham Lincoln. Millions around the world are inspired by the story of Lincoln’s rise from humble beginnings to President of the United States, his qualities of integrity and courage and his decisive leadership – traits that carried a fragile nation through one of its most trying periods.

For more information about the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition and the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, go to www.lookingforlincoln.org.

[The Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition]