Everyone who has had even a half-decent education knows who Abraham Lincoln is, and not just for his very impressive facial hair. We all know — and most of us love — Lincoln for his role in ending the Civil War, his Gettysburg Address, the Emancipation Proclamation, and (for all of the die-hard Illinois fans) his being from Illinois. (Kentucky? What’s that?)
The upcoming exhibition, “A Nation in Tears: 150 Years after Lincoln’s Death,” to be held at the Rare Book and Manuscript Library from February 12th to May 4th, is tailor-made for nearly any visitor—from college students with time on their hands to history buffs to parents looking for something educational that also doesn’t involve coats and snow boots.
John Hoffman, one of the curators for the exhibition and Head of the Illinois History and Lincoln’s Collection at the University Library, talked me through a very impressive collection of memorabilia following Lincoln’s assassination. The included items range from paintings and photographs to newspapers and even songbooks and sermons. Since it is the sesquicentennial (or 150th anniversary for those, like me, who had no idea what sesquicentennial means), all the stops were pulled out, with the initial planning beginning in August of 2014, according to Hoffman. Exhibitions take an impressive amount of time to produce, starting with a diagram and progressing to the layout and setup, all involving numerous people to have everything prepared by its opening.
I asked Hoffman what the job of curator requires, and he described it as being in charge of deciding what to include in the collection, and, once decided, having items matted and framed appropriately. Quite a bit of work, given the enormity of the topic and the materials selected.
The exhibit is aimed towards people of all ages and interests, even those who haven’t studied Lincoln in years. Imagine the grade-school kid who will thank you later for sparking their interest in the country’s 16th president.
So put aside a day to visit this impressive collection. You won’t lack for information on your tour, and you will walk away with more knowledge and appreciation of an historic figure. (Also if you’re looking for even more Lincoln, Springfield will be holding a host of Lincoln memorials and exhibitions, notably the Illinois Boys in Blue: Part 4 of 4 “In Memory of Heroes.” It will be open until May 2015 and held at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, approximately a 90-minute drive from Champaign for those who are feeling especially adventurous.)
The Lincoln Exhibition will be held from February 12th to May 4th at the Rare Book and Manuscript Library, which is located in Room 346 of the Main Library, 1408 West Gregory Drive in Urbana. They are open from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.