A Few Appropriate Remarks

Lincoln Featured in Upcoming Online Conference by Smithsonian

The Smithsonian will be offering a virtual conference on February 4 and 5. Lincoln fans, check this out!

"The Smithsonian is honoring Abraham Lincoln’s bicentennial with special exhibitions and programs, and you will be able to participate in the national celebration through the first Smithsonian Online Education Conference: Abraham Lincoln. Throughout the days of February 4 and 5, 2009, you’ll explore Smithsonian research and collections related to Lincoln’s life – everything from portraits and diaries to documents and historical artifacts. Alongside Smithsonian curators, you’ll look at Lincoln’s life and legacy from the perspectives of history, science, and art."

Registration is free. See the conference agenda and sign up!

Four 2009 Stamps Honor Lincoln's Bicentennial Birthday

Rail-splitter, lawyer, politician, president.

These 2009 stamps from the U.S. Postal Service are featured in the Spring 2009 USA Philatelic catalog that was in my mailbox today. To be issued February 9, 2009, at Springfield, Illinois, the stamps feature a scratchboard design by artist Mark Summers.

I can see I'll be spending a lot of money on everything from the Ceremony Program to a nice Commemoration Folio that folds out into a "broadside" of the Gettysburg Address.

Indiana State Museum Already Reaching Out to Lincoln Fans

I posted here yesterday about the Lincoln collection from the Lincoln Museum at Ft. Wayne being recently acquired by the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. I hoped that the Indy museum would eagerly welcome Lincoln fans. Already, they are!

I can't figure out how to make a reader comment more visible on this blog home page, so I tell you here that Indiana State Museum rep Michelle says they are excited about the collection and look forward to welcoming Lincoln fans. When? "Expect to see the first Lincoln exhibit in early 2010."

Great news! Thanks, Michelle. Thanks, Indiana State Museum.

Lincoln Museum of Ft. Wayne Finds Indy Home

Saddened to hear about the closing of the Lincoln Museum of Ft. Wayne, Indiana (long-time publishers of the awesome Lincoln Lore), I made a special trip to visit it in June 2008. Just two weeks before they closed, it was a special treat to see the museum. Fantastic.

What happy news it was to hear today (thanks to EverythingLincoln.com visitor Bruce) that the museum collection will be moving to Indianapolis at the Indiana State Museum.

In the running to acquire the collection had been the Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield. Though it is definitely a place any Lincoln fan should visit, I found the Springfield museum to be the least visitor friendly and to have the worst photo policy of any Lincoln place I've visited (in fact, I can't think of any museum I've visited with a less-friendly photo policy). In contrast, Lincoln College (Lincoln campus), the Lincoln Museum in Ft. Wayne, and the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop of Chicago had extremely friendly policies and had staff who were just as friendly, graciously sharing their knowledge in stimulating conversations.

Lest I digress ;-), the point is that the wonderful collection that had been acquired and maintained in Ft. Wayne will still be available for public viewing--and I do hope that the Indiana State Museum will eagerly embrace Lincoln fans who come to visit.

Gettysburg Address at National Museum

Through January 4, 2009, the White House copy of the Gettysburg Address will be on display at the National Museum of American History. It is one of only five copies in Lincoln's handwriting known to exist. Can't make it in person? Check out their online exhibit.