Lincoln's birthday celebrated in style at North Central College

Marilyn Monroe likely was turning over in her grave about 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

Never has "Happy Birthday Mr. President" been sung with as much gusto as it was then when more than a dozen North Central College students and staff gathered to sing to a party-hat wearing bust of Abraham Lincoln in the basement of the college's Oesterle Library. Then they had cake, courtesy of the college's history department.

As part of the observance, the college also opened its rarely seen archive of Lincoln materials to display, among other items, a handwritten 1859 letter and a presidential telegram to Union Army Gen. Philip Sheridan, congratulating him on a successful battle.

Though the college has had the collection for years, Emily Prather, the technical services coordinator who oversees the college's special collections, said interest grew as Lincoln's 200th birthday approached.

"It's been getting more and more popular every day as students learn we have it," Prather said. "And some of them are just coming across it during their research of Stephen A. Douglas and their debates."

Naperville resident Art Johnson, one of the first to see the exhibit Thursday, took interest in the plaster life mask and authentic letters.

"It really is a treat to know these items are here and being taken care of," he said.

Prather said she is making it her goal this year to make sure more people know about the museum's special collections, including this one and an archive of past presidents' signatures.

"We want people to come see and appreciate these special items," she said. "They really are nice to look at when you put in perspective that they date back to the 1860s."

Anyone interested in seeing the collection after Thursday's exhibition can call the library and make an appointment with Prather.