Archive for May, 2007
« Previous Entries Next Entries »A Call for Papers
Thursday, May 17th, 2007The Illinois State Historical Society invites proposals for papers to be delivered before the 2008 Illinois History Symposium, which will be held in Springfield on March 6-8, 2008. The theme for the 2008 Symposium will be “The Legacies of Abraham Lincoln.” Papers on Lincoln and his contemporaries as well as the legacies of that generation, [...]
"It Must Have Been Terrifying"
Wednesday, May 16th, 2007In a war that furnished dozens of iconic images, I’ve never been able to shake this one from my mind. Taken two days after the Battle of Antietam, it is, to say the least, a disturbing image. Two dozen dead Confederates have been gathered and are waiting to be buried on the battlefield. Their clothes [...]
A New Discovery
Tuesday, May 15th, 2007It happened again. There was a box in a vault at the Department of Library and Archives in Frankfort, Kentucky. No one knew what was in the box. And then Ron Elliot opened it up. It was a court document. An old, handwritten, three-page document, dated May 1853. The handwriting looked familiar. Elliot scanned to [...]
Scotland in the American Civil War?
Monday, May 14th, 2007Scotland is proud of its sons who fought in the American Civil War. Yes, you read that right! The Reverend Dr. Bill Mackie (pictured above) has organized a ceremony to honor the Scottish veterans of the American Civil War. The ceremony will take place on July 21, which is the 146th anniversary of the First [...]
Was Lincoln a Christian?
Friday, May 11th, 2007There has been plenty written on this subject, but there is hardly a clear-cut answer for this one. Though his parents were Baptists, young Lincoln never joined their church. In New Salem, he allegedly wrote an “Infidel Book,” in which he denied several of the basic tenets of Christianity. Though his wife joined churches in [...]
What’s Left to Say About Stonewall Jackson?
Thursday, May 10th, 2007As long as people remain interested in the Civil War, Jackson will remain one of the most interesting figures in American history. And for good reason. His actions during America’s most tragic war are studied by tactical commanders all over the world. Orphaned by the age of seven, Jackson eventually graduated from the United States [...]
"Young Abe Lincoln"
Wednesday, May 9th, 2007Lincoln State Park in Spencer County, Indiana has big news. The state’s new biennial budget includes more than $1.6 million for the site. Officials already have plans for the money. From 1987 to 2005, the site featured a musical drama called, “Young Abe Lincoln,” which focused on Lincoln’s formative years in southern Indiana. The show [...]
4,000 Miles to Illinois
Tuesday, May 8th, 2007I remember my eighth grade class trip. We sold candy bars all year to pay for a full day at Six Flags in St. Louis. A two-hour bus ride, a dozen rides on the roller-coasters, a two-hour bus ride back, and we were home by 8 pm. I came across an article today about a [...]
A Letter to Mary Owens
Monday, May 7th, 2007On May 7, 1837, twenty-eight-year-old Abraham Lincoln wrote a long letter to his girlfriend, Mary Owens. He had been living in Springfield for less than a month. The transition to the new town was not easy: This thing of living in Springfield is rather a dull business after all, at least it is so to [...]
Platt Family Scholarship Prize Essay Contest
Friday, May 4th, 2007So here’s the question: “How did Lincoln’s study and practice of law prepare him for the challenges he would face during his Presidency?” Your answer could make you $1,000 richer! The annual Platt Family Scholarship Prize Essay Contest is open to any full-time student enrolled in an American college or university during the Spring 2007 [...]
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