Historic Southern Indiana

4th annual Lincoln Institute for Teachers "The Elusive Lincoln: Teaching and Learning about Abraham Lincoln through Documents and Images
June 14-15, 2007

This is the fourth in a series of annual programs focusing on Lincoln as the bicentennial of his birth approaches in 2009. This year's institute focused on historical evidence and how stories about Lincoln are created and change over time. Teachers form all grade levels and disciplines were invited to attend.

Harold Holzer, senior vice president for External Affairs at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the co-chair of the federal Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, was the keynote speaker. He addressed the images of Lincoln during his time and how they evolved after his death. He also conducted a free public presentation on Lincoln at the Cooper Union. Matthew Pinsker, the Pohanka Chair in American Civil War History at Dickinson College, discussed researching Lincoln. Thomas Schwartz, the Illinois State Historian and chief historian for exhibits and content at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, addressed telling the Lincoln story to a 21st century audience. Matthew McMichael, school services coordinator for the Indiana Historical Society, focused on images from the Indiana Historical Society's collection and Lincoln's visual legacy. Special resources sessions was offered by Martha Beckort, media specialist at Lanesville Community School Corporation, and Glen Longacre with the National Archives Great Lakes Region.

Speaker Biographies

Harold Holzer is one of the country's leading authorities on Abraham Lincoln and the political culture of the Civil War era. He is a prolific writer and lecturer and a frequent guest on television. Holzer serves as co-chairman of the United States Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, appointed by President Clinton in September 2000, and elected co-chair in 2001

Matthew Pinsker is the Pohanka Chair in American Civil War History at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. He writes frequently about Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. Among his books are Lincoln's Sanctuary: Abraham Lincoln and the Soldiers' Home, Abraham Lincoln: American President Reference Series, and William Still and the Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania. Pinsker spoke at the first Annual Lincoln Institute for Teachers.

Thomas Schwartz is the Illinois State Historian. He serves as the chief historian for exhibits and content in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and as director of Research, Collections, and Education in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois.

Matthew McMichael has been with the Indiana Historical Society since 2001 and currently serves as the school services coordinator. He became a certified teacher in Indiana in 2002.

Agenda

Link to Teacher Resources supplied by Martha Beckort, of Lanesville Community School Corporation: http://www.lanesville.k12.in.us/lcsyellowpages/lincoln/lincoln.htm

This program was an endorsed project of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission http://www.lincolnbicentennial.gov/.

This program was made possible through a matching grant from the Indiana Humanities Council in cooperation with the National Endowment for The Humanities.

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