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« Previous EntriesNew Lincoln Documents from the Black Hawk War Emerge
Thursday, November 10th, 2011While such documents by themselves do not necessarily lead us to re-evaluate everything we know about Lincoln’s service in the Black Hawk War, they are nonetheless significant. At the very least, remind us that Lincoln’s wartime service was important to him and his contemporaries. Perhaps too, as Veterans Day approaches, it is important for us to remember that Lincoln, like so many of our friends, family, and neighbors answered the call to duty.
Slavery In Washington, D.C.
Friday, February 25th, 2011The New York Times ran a very good piece today by Adam Goodheart on slavery in the nation’s capitol. Among other things, Goodheart tells readers about a curious auction that took place on the day of Lincoln’s first inauguration. Human beings were being auctioned off just five miles from where he took the oath of office; however, [...]
Fugitive Slave Act
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011Many thanks to the students and teachers at Iles Elementary school in Springfield, Illinois, where I spoke about the Fugitive Slave Act this afternoon. What a nice group of students!
Abraham Lincoln and Religion: Nov. 8th
Thursday, October 28th, 2010Several big things are on the horizon over the next few weeks. I wanted to pass along this speaking engagement: On November 8th, I will be speaking at Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska. The title of my talk is “Christianizing Lincoln: Historical Memory and the Religious Views of Abraham Lincoln.” Click HERE for more details.
College Freshman Discovers Lincoln’s Fingerprint
Thursday, February 19th, 2009This is one of the most remarkable stories I have come across in quite some time. I definitely learned something new this morning. The Hamilton Journal-News in Hamilton, Ohio is reporting that Abraham Lincoln’s fingerprint has been found! Lydia Smith, a Miami University freshman, was transcribing a number of letters at Miami’s Walter Havighurst Special Collections library, but there [...]
A New Prefix!
Monday, October 27th, 2008I was sitting at my desk this morning reviewing my lecture notes when I heard a strange greeting. “Good morning Dr. Wheeler.” When I spun around to see who said it, I saw my dissertation advisor standing in the doorway. “You’ll have to get used to hearing that now,” she said. Though it will probably [...]
When the World Comes Crashing Down
Thursday, September 11th, 2008Tonight at 9/8 Central, the History Channel will be airing a documentary, 102 Minutes that Changed America. It promises to be “an unfiltered look at history–as it happened–through video and audiotape captured by more than 100 eye-witnesses.” The following post was originally published at http://www.lincolnstudies.com on September 11, 2007. I suspect there is enough truth in it [...]
Lincoln’s Land: The Disappearing Prairie
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008I was digging through my filing cabinet of clipped newspaper articles when I stumbled on a piece from Springfield’s State Journal-Register, dated February 12, 2005. As the date suggests, the article was written to commemorate Abraham Lincoln’s 196th birthday. It appeared in the “Outdoors” section of the paper. For those of you unacquainted with this section, it [...]
New Semester
Monday, August 18th, 2008Today marks the beginning of a new semester. For the next four months, I will be teaching Illinois History here at Southern Illinois University. I’m really looking forward to the course. For the last two years, I’ve been writing my dissertation, Every Spot a Grave: The Poetry of Abraham Lincoln. I’m happy to say, I have completed a [...]
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 [...]
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