Lincoln Forum at Gettysburg and new exhibit at the ALPLM

[Angela]

In the past week I had the incredible luck to be at the Lincoln Forum in Gettysburg which is held right before the November 19th.

There were so many great panels and while it would be considered spam to go into all of them, I would like to just point out one of my favorites which was given by Jonathan W. White about his new book “Emancipation, the Union Army and the Reelection of Abraham Lincoln”.

While the panel DID shatter some of the heroic ideas someone like me might have about the 78% soldier vote during the 1864 election, it also did answer some question I had and that I simply could not figure out on my own. He is an amazing speaker and I hope he will write more!

I also got incredibly lucky to meet Tom and Scott in person – HI GUYS! – and I cannot tell you how lovely it was to have Scott approach me with a sentence that went somewhat like “I know this is silly, but there is another German who is really into Lincoln – you would not happen to know a lady named Eva?” and I could shout right back “YES, yes, of course I know her!”. It also made for some great pics!

The second highlight was a road trip to Springfield with the amazing photographer David Wiegers, who is imo the leading expert on Lincoln statues and has traveled all states (except, I believe, Alaska) as well as several European countries to photograph them. Not only was I introduced to hidden gems on private property but also to wonderful statues and even an amazing collection of Ostendorf paintings in a bank in Lincoln.

We attended a preview of the new exhibit “Undying Words” which I would urge everybody to see. It features documents like the Gettysburg Address, the 13th amendment and so many more! Just check out the ALPLM website and expect to be blown away by what they have taken out of the archives to put up for a short while.

I cannot stress enough how much of an experience my visit to the Abraham Lincoln Bookshop in Chicago was. The owner, Daniel Weinberg, gives the most sensitive advice to a newbie like me, looking to start a Lincoln collection of her own.

I have done many roadtrips – but this one was simply exceptional. A rabbi, the father of a young boy who won a scholarship at the Lincoln forum, put it best when he described his experience as coming into not a group of people interested in the same thing, but coming into a family as a new member.

                           

[RJNorton]

Angela, kudos on your wonderful road trip and photos! Angela, there are more nice photos here! (you probably already knew)

I still recall buying a copy of Roscoe's "Web of Conspiracy" at the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop in around 1970. As I recall the shop was located on Chestnut Street at that time.

[Angela]

Roger - thank you so much for your kind words!
Yes, I follow that Facebook page religiously but wasn't aware of the earlier history. It is now located right downtown, yet we DID get a parking spot right across the street!
Have you seen the "Virtual Book Signings" they do? While some friends get to attend their wonderful presentations every other weekend, to me this is heaven - I relax on my couch with a nice cup of tea and watch insightful talks - what a great idea!!!

[STS Lincolnite]

Angela,

So glad you posted! I had intended on posting on this topic as well, but since returning from Gettysburg and the Lincoln Forum Symposium I have been mired in work...probably will not let up soon. This is the first day I have really gotten a chance to read and now reply.

When I get a chance I will post a little more about the talks presented at the symposium in this thread and a couple of others with info that I learned and some I am still in the process of gathering. By the way, I agree that Johnathan White gave a great talk and really gave a much more common sense account of the 78% of the soldier vote that Lincoln received in the 1864 election than the fanciful "everyone suddenly saw the light and was 100% behind emancipation and equality for everyone" story that seems to have been the narrative for years.

It was definitely a great time and fantastic to meet Angela face to face for the first time (Tom B. and I have met and been friends for several years). Hope others on this discussion group can attend next year, as it would be great to meet face to face! And of course, if you can, attend the Surratt Conference in March - it is also fantastic and a great chance to meet face to face with many on this board.

And now back to work!

Scott

[Rsmyth]

Wow! Looks like a great trip. I am envious!

[L Verge]

Joan Chaconas and I have been on the board of advisers for the Lincoln Forum for about 15 years, and I attended regularly until the knees gave out. I highly recommend the conference each November because of the quality of the speakers and topics that they line up - as well as the friendliness of the participants, and of course, the charm of Gettysburg. It's a little harder to enjoy walking the streets of the town now that the venue has moved to a larger facility on the outskirts of the town, but still make sure to spend some time there.

[Lincolnphotog]

Hello Scott and Angela, I joined the group today and will be reading and posting regualrly as I can.

It was a great few days at the Forum. Three plus days of fun, friendship and learning. The roadtrip from Chicago to Springfield and then to Chicago was jam packed full of interesting stops and more great comraderie.

Yes, I have an Abe-session!!!!

[Eva Elisabeth]

Hi Angela! Hi Scott! Welcome David - great you joined! Last Xmas I received your wonderful "Abraham Lincoln East to West" - calendar for present from Angela!!

Angela, your trip makes me daydreaming - thank you for sharing this incredibly fantastic adventure and the photos!!! Divine!
Re: "Scott approach me with a sentence that went somewhat like 'I know this is silly, but there is another German who is really into Lincoln – you would not happen to know a lady named Eva?' and I could shout right back 'YES, yes, of course I know her!'" - it's a small world, and "coming into not a group of people interested in the same thing, but coming into a family as a new member" describes exactly what I felt and experienced at the conference back in March!!! And yes, one gets incredibly lucky to meet Tom and Scott in person!!! Thank you, Scott and Tom, for your kind regards and the cool photo Angela forwarded the other weekend!!! What a pleasant surprise that was!!

Scott, I hope you will soon get out of the mire and be able to "give us more"!!

[HerbS]

I have always wanted to attend the Gettysburg conference,maybe someday, I will go to it.The Surratt Conference is higher on my bucket listI have found that my German friends in the Rochester ,NY area love to study about the Civil War.

[L Verge]

(11-25-2014 05:04 PM)Lincolnphotog Wrote:  Hello Scott and Angela, I joined the group today and will be reading and posting regualrly as I can.

It was a great few days at the Forum. Three plus days of fun, friendship and learning. The roadtrip from Chicago to Springfield and then to Chicago was jam packed full of interesting stops and more great comraderie.

Yes, I have an Abe-session!!!!

Welcome aboard the USS Norton. Angela shared your photo links and the shots are very impressive. The Surratt House once sponsored a bus tour of Lincoln statues and sites in D.C., but I don't remember seeing the "Chippendale" Lincoln at the Office of the Recorder of Deeds. I would definitely have remembered that one.

Love your "Abe-session."

[Eva Elisabeth]

David, may I ask, do you have a favorite statue - and if, why that one?

[LincolnToddFan]

(11-25-2014 05:04 PM)Lincolnphotog Wrote:  Hello Scott and Angela, I joined the group today and will be reading and posting regualrly as I can.

It was a great few days at the Forum. Three plus days of fun, friendship and learning. The roadtrip from Chicago to Springfield and then to Chicago was jam packed full of interesting stops and more great comraderie.

Yes, I have an Abe-session!!!!

Welcome aboard, I hope you have as wonderful a time here as I have so far. May I borrow "Abe-session" from time to time? I have the same thing!