2015 Surratt Conference

[L Verge]

Top on the list is Terry Alford with Fortune's Fool. He will be signing at Friday night's reception and during breakfast and lunch on Saturday before he heads for another conference in D.C. A special guest will be Jennifer Loux, who will be signing her late-father's wonderful John Wilkes Booth Day by Day. Jennifer took over the final work with publisher McFarland after her father's death. She is also the one who has guided the Surratt House project to replace the historic marker at the Garrett Farm through the Virginia governmental network that controls such sign placement.

Our own Betty Ownsbey will be signing her updated Alias Paine, and speaker Dr. James Marten will be there with his bio on Cpl. James Tanner, the amazing double amputee who took down the statements of those being questioned as Lincoln lay dying.

Scott Trostel, our expert on the Lincoln funeral train will be at the Authors' Hour as will Frank Williams, editor of the Enigma of Mary Lincoln, and Harold Holzer with his Lincoln and the Press book that just won the Lincoln Prize. Fred Hatch's new book on the injustice of the military court will have him at the authors' tables. Rich Smyth's and Jim Garrett's new book is so new that I can't remember it's name! However, we're rushing it in for them to sign. And, Wild Bill Richter will be signing his latest historical novel, The Assassinator.

John Fazio is hoping to have his book, Decapitation of the Nation, out in time also. In addition, we will have a small display of Booth material by Society member Tom Gordon and his son in the same area. This will be from 4:30-5:30 on Saturday before the doors open for the banquet at approximately 6:30 that evening.

I have not been in to work for nearly a week because these wobbly legs don't enjoy testing them through snow and slippery conditions - not to mention very low temperatures. I didn't think I would ever say this in 2000 when we started our conferences, but I'm a little concerned about space during the conference. Come prepared to become very close friends with people on either side of you! We are trying to keep a classroom setting where attendees have table space in front of them on which to write notes, lean against, or even put their head down and take a nap. However, such an arrangement takes up more space than theater-style seating with just chairs to perch on.

[LincolnToddFan]

Way to go Laurie. I'm out here sending out the most positive vibes I can muster for a GREAT conference...break a leg, all of you!

No sneaky puns, slippery winter ice, or JWB innuendo intended...I mean that in the BEST way possible!

[BettyO]

Wish you could come to the Conference! It's going to be tons of fun....and we always have a blast!

[L Verge]

Another stroke prevented!

I received a message from Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer yesterday that he will be unable to speak at the Surratt conference in two weeks under doctors' orders. Last year, Harold literally destroyed one shoulder in a fall and has already undergone three surgeries as well as fighting a persistent infection. He is facing a fourth surgery in the near future.

On March 19, he will be honored at an event in New York as the winner of this year's Lincoln Prize, and within a few weeks, he will be a guest at the White House. His doctors are concerned about too many activities.

An emergency email to another Lincoln scholar who has been on the conference roster for nearly a year solved our problem, however. The Honorable Frank J. Williams, retired Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, and president of the nationally recognized Lincoln Forum - as well as numerous other historical organizations, will be speaking on his massive collection of Lincoln memorabilia and has agreed to extend his remarks to cover the topic Why Lincoln Matters, which Harold was going to present.

P.S. Frank served(s) as a Presidential adviser on the legalities of what to do with those interned at Guantanamo, so you might want to ask his opinion on that situation... Shades of military tribunals 150 years ago.

[LincolnToddFan]

Sorry to hear about Mr. Holzer...ouch! Wishing him a speedy recovery.

But I am a big admirer of Frank Williams!

[L Verge]

(03-08-2015 02:21 PM)LincolnToddFan Wrote:  Sorry to hear about Mr. Holzer...ouch! Wishing him a speedy recovery.

But I am a big admirer of Frank Williams!

Both are excellent speakers.

[STS Lincolnite]

Harold will be missed but still a stellar line-up nonetheless. I know Frank will do an exemplary job as a pinch hitter in Harold's spot in addition to his other scheduled topic. I am getting more excited for the conference as the day draws near.

Thanks Laurie for all you and your team do to put this together. I know it is no small undertaking and the fact that it seems to grow every year is a testament to everyone's hard work. Great job!!

[HerbS]

Yes,I planned on coming,but my ALS makes it too difficult to travel that far!

[Wesley Harris]

Counting down the days....

[ReignetteC]

I am especially excited about the tours on Friday and Sunday. For those who will (and will not) see the Lincoln carriage on Friday's tour, this may be of interest:
https://archive.org/details/curiosrelicsvehilinc_2

[L Verge]

Dress in layers for the conference in order to deal with DC weather. For the past few days, it has been lovely and warm in the 60s. For Friday, they are predicting mid-40s and rain. Saturday (while we're all indoors) is supposed to be clear and warm - then back to showers and cooler on Sunday for the Manhunt.

BTW: Only Barnes & Noble has as many brand-new books on Lincoln and the assassination as we do right now. And, I suspect that we may have a few more than they do on those specific topics. We also managed to get 100 of each of the Smithsonian goodies.

Forgot to mention earlier that, for those of you who do not have your own personal transportation, we have arranged for our Park Rangers to meet you in the hotel lobby on Friday morning at 8 am to get you to the Surratt House in time for the 9 am tour to DC. It's only a 14-passenger bus, so please be mindful of those without a car. Watch for signs and a uniform with badge, but our Rangers don't wear Smokey the Bear hats.

It will also be back at the hotel at 5 pm to get those who did not go on the tour but still need a ride. It will bring you back to the hotel about 7:30, after the reception (which is going to be crowded if we can't use outdoor space for some seating). Our big room holds 55 at tables, and we are now trying to resurrect TV trays in order to expand into the main library - which we hate to do because of the food and drink issue...

[Thomas Thorne]

Dear Laurie
As a non driver I am overjoyed about the "Park Ranger" 5 PM pick up and 730 PM return.

Last year I walked from Colony South to Surratt House. I shall never do that again. It's like rolling off a mountain top and praying you arrive safely. I felt I had a better chance with John Carradine and his reptilian friends from "The Prisoner of Shark Island.":)
Tom

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thomas, I have no idea how you managed to handle the car-gators and get away from the "isle" respectively over the streets. I tried to take a walk and ended up circling around the hotel.

Well, my fervent prayers for warm(er) spring weather this year obviously went unheard...

[RJNorton]

(03-16-2015 08:33 PM)ReignetteC Wrote:  I am especially excited about the tours on Friday and Sunday. For those who will (and will not) see the Lincoln carriage on Friday's tour, this may be of interest:
https://archive.org/details/curiosrelicsvehilinc_2

That is a fascinating booklet, Reignette. I had never seen it before. Thanks for posting the link!

[Susan Higginbotham]

Any chance that there will be some leftover copies of Fortune's Fool for those of us who can't make the conference? I hate having to wait until the official pub date . . .