Lincoln presidency exhibition of documents and letters to be accompanied by lectures, discussion program, reception at UR Downtown Oct. 9-Nov. 13

August 22, 2013

A traveling exhibition, "Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War," will be on display at University of Richmond Downtown Oct. 9-Nov. 13. Events associated with the exhibition will include public lectures and a panel discussion.

The exhibition looks at Abraham Lincoln's presidency and his struggle to resolve basic questions that divided Americans at a perilous moment in the country's history. It includes a series of panels and displays featuring photographic reproductions of original documents, including a draft of Lincoln’s first inaugural speech, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Thirteenth Amendment, and letters, photographs and images from Civil War soldiers and their families.

Events will include:

  • "Lincoln: Real and Imagined," a lecture by Edward L. Ayers, president of the University of Richmond and historian of the American South, Oct. 9, 5:30 p.m., at the Library of Virginia. The talk will explore Lincoln’s image at the time of secession and during the war, comparing what his enemies said about him with his words and actions.
  • "Lincoln in Richmond: 1865 and 2011," a panel discussion by scholars from the university's Jepson School of Leadership Studies; Mike Gorman, Richmond historian with the National Park Service and on-set consultant to Steven Spielberg's film, "Lincoln"; and Rita McClenny, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, who helped to bring the filming of the movie to Richmond; Oct. 24, noon, at UR Downtown, 626 E. Broad St.
  • RVA First Fridays reception, Nov. 1, 5–7 p.m., at UR Downtown.
  • "Richmond and the Lincoln Legacy," a talk by Christy S. Coleman, president of The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar, Nov. 13, 5:30 p.m., at the Library of Virginia. The presentation will look at Lincoln’s divided legacy in Richmond.

The exhibition is made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. It is based on an exhibition of the same name developed by the National Constitution Center. The center and the American Library Association Public Programs Office organized the traveling version.

Local sponsors are the Jepson School of Leadership Studies, Library of Virginia, University of Richmond Museums and UR Downtown.

The exhibition and all events are free and open to the public, but advance registration for each event is required online at visit.jepson.richmond.edu or by calling 804-287-6522. To schedule a visit or a group tour, call 804-955-4003. For exhibition times and more information, call Shannon Best at 804-287-6522.