Teaming To Bring Lincoln Artifacts To Washington

I've posted several items in recent months about the impending closure of the Abraham Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The museum has unfortunately suffered from years of declining attendance and Lincoln Financial, the owner and operator of the museum, has said enough. The closure date is in a few days.

Several groups and institutions across the country hope to be the ultimate winner of the "contest" to see who will house this remarkable trove of Lincoln items. Announced today in The Washington Post is a teaming arrangement between The Library of Congress, Ford's Theater, The National Museum of American History (Smithsonian), and The Lincoln Cottage, the former Soldiers' Home in Washington. This arrangement will no doubt provide formidable competition to the other major institutions, such as The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois.

Representatives of this teaming arrangement make the claim that Washington, D.C. is the most logical city to house this priceless collection. After all, Lincoln lived in Washington while president and was of course assassinated and died there as well. Indeed the leader of the group states that no other institution in America can match the visitorship and financial backing of the team in Washington.

The final decision by Lincoln Financial is by January 2009. I'll keep my readers posted.

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Visit The Lincoln Museum In Harrogate, Tennessee

I've posted previously about the Abraham Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois and the unfortunate closing of the Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne, Indiana. But did you know that a Lincoln Museum exists in the state of Tennessee? It's true.

The Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum is located on the grounds of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, located about 55 miles northeast of Knoxville. The present building was open in 1977 but the university has held important Lincoln artifacts since the 1920's. Included in the museum's collection are photos, books, rare diaries pertaining to Lincoln, scrap books, letters, and so forth. This link provides a nice list of the items in the museum's collection, each item fully described.

I've been to the museum, but it was many years ago, perhaps only after it had recently opened. The museum can't compare to the "glitz" of the Lincoln Museum in Springfield, but it is still a valuable source of information for the Lincoln enthusiast. If you visit, you will not be disappointed!

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Update About Lincoln Museum Collection

In March of this year Lincoln Financial Group announced it is closing the famous Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The museum houses an extraordinary collection of Lincoln memorabilia, including books, manuscripts, photos, and other unique pieces associated with the nation's 16th president. It's served as a invaluable repository of information for Lincoln scholars, researchers, and fans. Unfortunately, the museum has suffered from declining attendance and a company which values the financial bottom line over corporate good will.

According to the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, the state of Indiana and Allen County (where Fort Wayne is located) have put together a strong proposal to keep the collection in Indiana. A group headed by retired Lincoln Financial CEO Ian Rolland spearheaded the package presented to the company.

While the group feels it has made a strong case, it's up against formidable competition. The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library in Springfield, Illinois are it's chief rivals to take over the collection.

However it turns out, it appears that the general public will be able to get access to the collection and in the final analysis, that's what really counts. Let's hope it stays in Indiana, where it has resided for decades.

To access my other postings about this continuing story, click here and here.

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Mary Todd Lincoln at The National First Ladies' Library and Museum

Abraham Lincoln scholars and researchers have long been almost as fascinated by his troubled relationship and marriage with Mary Todd Lincoln as much as by Lincoln himself. Innumerable books have been written about their marriage and a PBS documentary further investigated their relationship. And certainly, a large number of biographies have been written just about Mary Todd Lincoln as well.

An excellent resource for further understanding this complicated woman is the National First Ladies' Library and Museum located in my home city of Canton, Ohio. This National Historic Site was the home of Ida Saxton McKinley, the wife of the nation's 25th President, William McKinley. This Library/Museum is the only such site dedicated to research of every First Lady in our country's history from Martha Washington to Laura Bush. Each First Lady's basic biography is located on the website as well.

The Museum portion of the complex houses special exhibits, including gowns worn by the various First Ladies, photos, various letters and documents, etc. The Museum also hosts book signings by nationally recognized authors such as Cokie Roberts of ABC and NPR who appeared in 2005 to sign her book "Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation."

Researchers should take advantage of the Mary Todd Lincoln bibliography compiled by the Library. The bibliography is an extremely comprehensive list of books, magazines, articles and other publications about her, and her marriage to Lincoln.

The complex was the brainchild of Mary Regula, the wife of Ralph Regula, who is the 16th Congressional District Representative to Washington, D.C. Some people, myself included, have commented that this Library and Museum is a shining example of congressional pork-barrel spending and a vanity project for Mrs. Regula. On the other hand, the complex does serve an important role for providing a greater understanding of the women who helped to shape the lives and presidencies of our nation's Chief Executives. It is well worth the visit.

Should Hillary Clinton win election to the presidency in 2008, I imagine the name will have to be changed to the National First Spouses' Library.

Canton, Ohio is located about 60 miles south of Cleveland. The city is also the home of the Professional Football Hall Of Fame. Drop by and visit both!

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