Symposium explores Lincoln's early love, career, and legacy in Chicago
World-renowned Abraham Lincoln scholars, including Michael Burlingame, will speak at a symposium at Cantigny Park on Saturday, June 21.
Organized by the Abraham Lincoln Association, each speaker will focus on a different aspect of Lincoln’s life or legacy from his legendary first love, Ann Rutledge to the mark he left on Chicago.
The four speakers include:
• Michael Burlingame on “John Locke Scripps — Lincoln’s First Biographer”: Undoubtedly one of the world’s preeminent Lincoln experts, Burlingame has written and edited 20 Lincoln books, including the definitive, two-volume biography “Abraham Lincoln: A Life,” designated one of the five best books of the year by The Atlantic.
• Guy Fraker on “Young Abraham & Ann Rutledge — A New Salem Infatuation?”: Fraker is the respected author of “Lincoln’s Ladder to the Presidency” and “Looking for Lincoln in Illinois,” both essential explorations of Lincoln’s time on the 8th Judicial Circuit. Fraker’s extensive research and engaging presentations have made him a popular lecturer and tour leader, bringing the early career of Lincoln vividly to life.
• Mark Pohlad on “Abraham Lincoln — The Lawyer and Politician in Chicago”: Dr. Pohlad, associate professor of at history at DePaul University, is renowned for his studies on Abraham Lincoln’s depiction in art and photography. He has published widely in historical journals and is currently completing a significant work on Lincoln’s legacy in Chicago, slated for release by Southern Illinois University Press.
• Scott Schroeder and David Weigers on “The Lincoln Sculpture Project — A Digital World Tour”: Schroeder, a dedicated Lincoln historian and health care professional, and acclaimed photographer Weigers present a visually stunning and informative digital journey through global sculptures of Abraham Lincoln. Both men are deeply involved with Lincoln-related scholarship and multimedia projects, serving on advisory boards of esteemed Lincoln organizations.
Free and open to the public, the Abraham Lincoln Association invites all history buffs for a day of learning and mingling with scholars and fellow enthusiasts from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 21, at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Advance registration is required by contacting Kay Smith at kaysmith.ala@gmail.com or 217-LINCOLN.
Presentations from last year’s symposium are available on the association’s YouTube channel.
About the Abraham Lincoln Association
The Abraham Lincoln Association was incorporated more than a century ago by a prominent group that included the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, a former Vice President, U.S. Senators and Representatives, Governors, and newspaper executives.
In 1925, under the leadership of Association President Logan Hay, Paul M. Angle became the Association’s first executive secretary.
This appointment was the beginning of the Association’s Golden years. Paul Angle, Benjamin Thomas, Harry Pratt — names now revered by all Lincoln scholars — were remarkably productive in establishing the Association’s distinguished programs of research and publication.
Visit abrahamlincolnassociation.org or follow facebook.com/ALA1809/.