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Current News
Spirit of Lincoln Stocking Stuffers
Saturday, December 19, 2020
Still looking for a perfect stocking stuffer for that Lincoln or history buff?
Kathryn Harris, SJR First Citizen 2020
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Congratulations to Kathryn Harris for being selected First Citizen 2020 by the State Journal Register. We can't think of anyone more deserving of this honor, plus she's a great friend of Looking for Lincoln.
Spirit of Lincoln performs at the Hoogland
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Springfield Theatre Centre announces the premiere of their recently filmed theatrical production, The Spirit of Lincoln, written by Ken Bradbury and Roger Wainwright, taking place November 13-15, 2020.
Upcoming Events
Lost Songs of the Civil War
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 7:00 PM
From camp ditties to re-written versions of popular songs of the day, Civil War soldier’s re-made music to fit their own tastes and reflect the struggles and hardships they faced. Award winning folk musician and folklorist Chris Vallillo takes us deep into the journals and letters of the Civil War troops bringing these rare and unheard gems back to life in a new program, Lost Songs Of The Civil War.
This program is funded in part by the Illinois Arts Council Agency. It will livestream on Looking for Lincoln's Facebook page and YouTube Channel.
A Conversation with Frederick Douglass
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 7:00 PM
Join us for a conversation with Frederick Douglass regarding advocating for the creation of the US Colored Troops to fight in the Civil War for the abolishment of slavery. The presentation will include excerpts for speeches by Frederick Douglass and President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. Douglass was portrayed by Bob Davis.
This program will conclude with a question and answer session from the audience.
This program is funded by Illinois Humanities. It will livestream on Looking for Lincoln's Facebook page and YouTube Channel.
Songs of the Underground Railroad
Wednesday, March 24, 2021 7:00 PM
Looking for Lincoln Conversations welcomes internationally known performer, lecturer and cultural ambassador, Reggie Harris as he performs the music of the Underground Railroad and discusses the impact of that historic route to freedom! A descendent of a black enslaved women and her white master in Lincoln’s time, Reggie has spent his life engaged in bridging the same racial divide that caused the civil war. The show will be hosted by musician and folklorist Chris Vallillo.
This program is funded in part by the Illinois Arts Council Agency and will livestream on Looking for Lincoln's Facebook page and YouTube Channel.
Regional Highlight
On May 29, 1856 Abraham Lincoln gave the "lost speech" at the Illinois State Republican Convention in Bloomington, Illinois to a group of over 1,000 people. The speech lasted 90 minutes and so transfixed his audience that the reporters in attendance forgot to take notes. The speech addressed the need to prevent the expansion of slavery. The speech helped rejuvenate the fledgling Republican Party in Illinois.