Archive for July, 2008
« Previous EntriesDick Durbin Pays Tribute to John Y. Simon in U.S. Senate
Tuesday, July 29th, 2008
United States Senate
July 25, 2008
Mr. President, in 1887, 2 years after the death of Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman wrote in a letter to his old Army Chief of Staff, “Grant’s whole character was a mystery, even to himself.”
Today, more than 120 years later, the world has a far better understanding of Ulysses Grant [...]
John Y. Simon Memorial Service
Monday, July 28th, 2008A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, August 24, 2008, in Shryock Auditorium on the SIUC campus.
The following obituary was published on July 22, 2008 in the Southern Illinoisan:
CARBONDALE – John Younker Simon died at 9:12 a.m. Tuesday, July 8, 2008, at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. He was 75.
John was [...]
Odds and Ends: The Lincoln Marriage, 1860, Jeff Davis, & the ALPLM
Friday, July 25th, 2008
How about another fast-paced edition of “Odds & Ends” to round out the week that was?
I have enjoyed reading the first few reviews of Daniel Mark Epstein’s new book on the Lincoln marriage. Washington Post, New York Times, and a new one from the Miami Herald.
U. S. News & World Report ran an article on the Election [...]
Apparently Davey Crockett Never Wore a Coonskin Cap
Thursday, July 24th, 2008Several weeks ago I received an email from the folks at Studio Macbeth. They told me they had created new digital images of “Lincoln.” My curiosity was peaked, so I took a look at them. I was impressed. However, it seems some folks did not have the same reaction.
Under the headline “Digitally Created Abe Lincoln Photos [...]
Another Look at Lincoln > Obama
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008
I suppose I see the resemblance to Barack Obama a little more clearly in this print; however, I still say this strange character looks more like Lincoln than Obama.
Ron English, the artist responsible for this image, has signed a few hundred of these prints, measuring 18 x 24 inches. If you have a thousand dollars lying [...]
Wal-Mart’s Lincoln
Monday, July 21st, 2008I was trying to find a picture of the new Wal-Mart Supercenter in Springfield, Illinois when I came across this bone-chilling representation of the sixteenth president, at least I think that is supposed to be him.
Dubbing the doll “Goth Abe Lincoln,” the girl who snapped this photo explained her reaction upon seeing it for the first time:
this was [...]
Slashing the Celebration: Gov. Rod Blagojevich
Wednesday, July 16th, 2008More details on Governor Rod Blagojevich’s plan to slash $1.4 billion from the Illinois budget are starting to leak out. The message is startling: history be damned, the governor could care less.
State historic site managers could tell a discerning journalist a thing or two about measured expectations. They have learned to bite their tongue, grit their [...]
I’m Back
Tuesday, July 15th, 2008A big “thank you” to everyone who commented on the story about Professor Simon. Your comments were so thoughtful and I know his family and friends will be pleased to read them. He lived a wonderful life, reached out to many people, and will be greatly missed.
Several stories have come across my desk during the past week. [...]
Professor John Y. Simon
Tuesday, July 8th, 2008I have sad news to pass along to you. Professor John Y. Simon passed away this morning.
My heart goes out to his wonderful family, his many friends all over the country, and to the hundreds of former students who admired him.
It is a devastating blow.
I can tell you he’s the reason I’m here in Carbondale.
I admired his [...]
Why Lincoln?–Part 1
Tuesday, July 8th, 2008The father of the Whig Party was dead.
Henry Clay breathed his last on June 29, 1852. Seven days later, citizens in Springfield, Illinois held two memorial meetings for the perennial presidential candidate. The first was conducted at the Episcopal Church by the Reverend Charles Dresser, while the second was a decidedly secular affair. Business was suspended and [...]