This year’s topic is “Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address”, commemorating the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s immortal speech. The lectures, and a reception and book signing that will immediately follow, are free and open to the public. No reservation is required.
The Lincoln Legacy Lecture Series brings nationally known scholars to Springfield to present lectures on topics that both engaged Abraham Lincoln and the citizens of his era and are still timely today.
This year’s featured speakers are Dr. Martin P. Johnson, assistant professor of history, Miami University-Hamilton, and Dr. Joseph R. Fornieri, professor of political science and Director of the Center of Statesmanship, Law, and Liberty at Rochester Institute of Technology. Dr. Michael Burlingame, Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at UIS, will give opening remarks on the relevance of the Gettysburg Address for Americans today, and serve as moderator.
Johnson’s lecture will discuss “Lincoln’s Journey to Gettysburg”, tracing Lincoln’s new vision of the American experiment in the words of his speech. In his lecture, “Abraham Lincoln’s Political Faith in the Gettysburg Address”, Fornieri will consider Lincoln’s statesmanship in preserving the nation’s political faith at Gettysburg and the meaning of its “new birth of freedom” in defending, affirming, and extending the Founders’ legacy of equality and self-government.
Johnson’s research has focused on the American Civil War and the politics of the Lincoln Administration. His most recent book, Writing the Gettysburg Address (University Press of Kansas, 2013) resolves longstanding mysteries about how Lincoln wrote his most admired speech. Fornieri is the author of several books on Lincoln’s political thought including Abraham Lincoln’s Political Faith (Northern Illinois University Press, 2005) that explores Lincoln’s religion and politics.
Burlingame and central Illinois photographer Robert Shaw have collaborated on a new book, A Day Long to Be Remembered – Lincoln in Gettysburg (Firelight Publishing, 2013). Slides of Shaw’s photographs of Gettysburg will be shown before the lectures begin at 7:00 and the book will be available for purchase after the program.
The Lincoln Legacy Lecture Series is sponsored by the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership in cooperation with the Lynn Chair in Lincoln Studies. Cosponsors of this year's event are the Abraham Lincoln Association, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Public Affairs and Administration, Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund, Engaged Citizenship Speaker Series, Jim and Linda Gobberdiel, Illinois Issues, Illinois State Library, University of Illinois Alumni Association, and WUIS Public Radio.
Seating in Brookens Auditorium is limited; however overflow seating will be available in the Public Affairs Center, Level 1, Conference Room C/D, where the audience can watch a large-screen live video feed. Those unable to attend in person can watch a live webcast by going to www.uis.edu/technology/uislive.html at the time of the event.
For more information, contact the Center for State Policy and Leadership at 217/206-7094.
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