Surratt Society Fundraiser

[L Verge]

Those of you who attended the recent Surratt conference heard an excellent presentation on a very worthwhile project that Lincoln researcher, Karen Needles, has been working on for several years -- funding the whole thing on her own.

Karen has been working on transcribing and digitizing the tens of thousands of documents in the National Archives related to Abraham Lincoln. There has been no funding through the Archives or the federal government. A small amount of volunteers have assisted over the years, but the bulk of the work and the expenses has been borne by Karen.

At the conference, the Surratt Society presented her with a $500 donation to the project (which made her cry). To assist even further, the Society has established a fundraiser for this. See below:

We urge interested Lincoln students to send donations to the “Surratt Society” with 'Needles’s Project' in the memo line. Mail to Surratt House Museum, 9118 Brandywine Road, Clinton, MD 20735. Help us preserve the past and teach the future.

Over the past forty years, the Society has raised funds to mark the graves of conspirator Edman Spangler, Elizabeth Keckly (modiste to Mary Lincoln), and Frederick Aiken (lawyer for Mary Surratt). We have also raised several thousand dollars for the restoration of Rich Hill, one of the houses on the Booth escape route. It is our hope that this project will be well-supported also.

Note: Because it is a fundraising project of a government-sponsored group (not an individual), donations may be used for tax purposes.