Veteran of presidential museums name to head Lincoln library

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. (AP) - Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has named the director of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum to direct the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

Alan C. Lowe's appointment was announced Friday and must be confirmed by the Illinois Senate. Lowe is expected to start his job at the Springfield museum on July 11.

In addition to overseeing operations at the Bush library in Dallas since 2009, Lowe previously worked at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library in New York and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California.

Lowe replaces Eileen Mackevich, who resigned in October. She left after Rauner appointed four new members to the board of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, which governs the library.

At the time, Mackevich said Rauner "wanted to go in a different direction."