A Bad Week For Lincoln Enthusiasts

This week has brought some unfortunate news to enthusiasts of Abraham Lincoln. Earlier this week, it was announced that the Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne, Indiana is closing its doors this June. The museum, run by the Lincoln Financial Group, has suffered from declining attendance for a while now. The museum's collection includes a shawl worn by Mary Todd Lincoln, some toys played with by the Lincoln children, a cane used by Abe himself, and numerous photos. The prize of its collection has to be a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Lincoln. All said, there are some 79 items in the collection. Unfortunately, roughly 20 employees at the museum will lose their jobs as a result of this action.

There is a slight bright spot, though. Lincoln Financial will explore possible ways of sharing this wonderful collection through exhibitions both real and virtual. Let's hope that the public can have continued access. It would be a shame if these treasures become hidden from public view.

The other unfortunate piece of news for us this week comes from Professor Brian Dirck of Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana. For a few years now, he's run the premier Abraham Lincoln blog, the A.Lincoln Blog, at http://www.alincolnblog.blogspot.com/. His blog is extremely well-written and is an outstanding resource for people who wish to know more about our nation's 16th president. On what is his last post, Professor Dirck states that he will erase this blog within a few more days. Let us hope that he changes his mind and leaves all of his posts up. It would be a great loss of learned insight into Lincoln and his life, career, and presidency. We wish him well, but lament the loss of such an excellent blog!

When I started my own Lincoln blog a few months ago, I had no idea that another one already existed. I've tried very hard to avoid duplication of his efforts by checking his blog before I posted any information to mine. I've personally learned a great deal by reading his blog. While I have a good deal of knowledge about Lincoln, my level of understanding, I'm sure, pales in comparison to Professor Dirck's.

I have a fair number of readers of this blog, and the number who are return visitors is growing. I just want to assure you that I will maintain and continue to add to this blog in the hopes of informing and entertaining those who drop by.