Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum News


	For Immediate Release: January 14, 2009	Contact: David Blanchette (217) 558-8970 Kay Smith (217) 558-9025
	The write way to celebrate a 200^th birthday Lincoln authors event in Springfield February 12 a who's who in Lincoln literature Springfield, IL — More than 20 authors of books about Abraham Lincoln's life and times, from children's books to scholarly biographies and everything in between, will converge on Springfield on Thursday, February 12 for an unprecedented, all-day Lincoln authors event in honor of the 16th President's 200^th birthday. Readings, discussions and book signings will take place at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Old State Capitol and Lincoln Home. "This gathering of Lincoln authors from around the world, who have written books for everyone from scholars to school children, is a veritable Who's Who in Lincoln literature and a unique opportunity for anyone who likes to read," said Illinois State Historian and world-renowned Lincoln expert Dr. Thomas Schwartz. A special feature will be a session for children from 1 to 3:30 p.m. in the Presidential Library classroom, where children's authors will read from their own books. The following authors are scheduled to participate in the February 12 Lincoln authors event: Bob Burleigh, Abraham Lincoln Comes Home. Michael Burlingame, Abraham Lincoln: The Observations of John G. Nicolay and John Hay as well as The Inner World of Abraham Lincoln and the newly-released Abraham Lincoln: A Life. Vernon Burton, The Age of Lincoln. Catherine Clinton, The Civil War: An Illustrated History and Mrs. Lincoln. David R. Contosta, Rebel Giants: The Revolutionary Lives of Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin. Rodney Davis and Douglas Wilson, Herndon's Lincoln, as well as The Lincoln Douglas Debates and Lincoln's Sword: The Presidency and the Power of Words. Dan Guillory, Living With Lincoln: Life and Art in the Heartland and The Lincoln Poems. Cheryl Harness, Abe Lincoln goes to Washington and Young Abe Lincoln 1809 – 1837. Daniel Walker Howe, The Political Culture of the American Whigs and What Hath God Wrought: The United States, 1815 – 1848. Betty Kay, The Lincolns from A to Z and What Did Lincoln Do…In 1832, In 1842, In 1862. Karen Kostyal, Abraham Lincoln's Extraordinary Era. Bruce Levine, Half Slave and Half Free: The Roots of Civil War and Confederate Emancipation: Southern Plans to Free and Arm Slaves during the Civil War. Russell McClintock, Lincoln and the Decision for War: The Northern Response to Secession. Wendell Minor, Abe Lincoln Remembers. Barry Schwartz, Abraham Lincoln and the Forge of National Memory and Abraham Lincoln in the Post-Heroic Era. Brooks Simpson, Union and Emancipation: Essays on Race and Politics in the Civil War Era and Think Anew, Act Anew: Abraham Lincoln on Slavery, Emancipation and Reconstruction. Wayne C. Temple, Abraham Lincoln, from Skeptic to Prophet and Lincoln's Travels on the River Queen during the last days of his Life. Elizabeth Varon, Disunion! The Coming of the Civil War. Jennifer Weber, Copperheads: The Rise and Fall of Lincoln's opponents in the North. Karen B. Winnick, Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers as well as Lucy's Cave: A Story of Vicksburg, 1863 and Cassie's Sweet Berry Pie. The authors will be located in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, the Old State Capitol State Historic Site, and the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. No admission fee is required to visit with the authors or have them sign books. Copies of their books may be purchased in the Presidential Museum Gift Shop or a special book store being set up that day in the Presidential Library. A selection of books from each author is now available for advance purchase at the Museum Gift Shop. The schedule for the Lincoln authors event is listed below. 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. – Presidential Library roundtable discussion; "Writing Lincoln for Children." Participants – Bob Burleigh, Catherine Clinton, Cheryl Harness, Betty Kay, artist Wendell Minor, Karen Winnick. 9 to 11:30 a.m. – Abraham Lincoln Association roundtable discussion at the Old State Capitol, "The Age of Lincoln." Participants – Michael Burlingame, Vernon Burton, David Contosta, Daniel Walker Howe, Russell McClintock, Elizabeth Varon. 9:30 to 10 a.m. – Children's authors book signings at the Lincoln Home. Participants – Bob Burleigh, Catherine Clinton, Cheryl Harness, Betty Kay, artist Wendell Minor, Karen Winnick. 10 to 11:15 a.m. – Presidential Library roundtable discussion, "Lincoln and his Contemporaries." Participants – Rodney Davis, Douglas Wilson, Karen Kostyal, Jennifer Weber, Bruce Levine, Brooks Simpson. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Luncheon at Abraham Lincoln Hotel, Michael Burlingame will be the guest speaker. Tickets $30 each. 1 to 3:30 p.m. – Presidential Library Children's Reading Room, children's authors will read for children. Participants – Bob Burleigh, Catherine Clinton, Cheryl Harness, Betty Kay, artist Wendell Minor, Karen Winnick. 1 to 2:15 p.m. – Painter Series Lecture at the Lincoln Home, "Literary Uses of Lincoln." Participants – Barry Schwartz, Dan Guillory, Wayne Temple. 1 to 2:15 p.m. – Presidential Library roundtable discussion, "The Break Up of the Union." Participants – Elizabeth Varon, Russell McClintock, Bruce Levine. 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. – Painter Series Lecture at the Lincoln Home, "The Personal Lincoln." Participants – Michael Burlingame, Catherine Clinton, Wayne Temple, Karen Kostyal. 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. – Presidential Library roundtable discussion, "Lincoln and the Civil War." Participants – Jennifer Weber, Brooks Simpson, Barry Schwartz, Vernon Burton. 4 to 4:30 p.m. – Children's authors book signings at the Lincoln Home. Participants – Bob Burleigh, Catherine Clinton, Cheryl Harness, Betty Kay, artist Wendell Minor. Book signings in the Lincoln Reception Room at the Presidential Library on February 12, where books may also be purchased, will feature: 9 – 10 a.m. – Brooks Simpson, Barry Schwartz, Dan Guillory. 10 – 11 a.m. – Catherine Clinton, artist Wendell Minor, Karen Winnick, Cheryl Harness. 1 – 2 p.m. – Michael Burlingame, Karen Kostyal, Bob Burleigh, Betty Kay. 2 – 3 p.m. – Rodney Davis, Douglas Wilson, David Contosta. 3 – 4 p.m. – Bruce Levine, Russell McClintock, Elizabeth Varon. 4 – 5 p.m. – Vernon Burton, Wayne Temple, Jennifer Weber, Daniel Howe. Visit www.lincoln200.net or www.presidentlincoln.org for more information about the Lincoln authors event and other activities surrounding the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial. ###