Browsing in Our Archives
Lincoln's Kentucky
By: James J. Holmberg
Curator of Special Collections
This edition of “Browsing” presents something different. Rather than the usual piece highlighting one item or a small group of items, we’re featuring a subject area – Abraham Lincoln and Kentucky via a new resource on The Filson’s web site. Feb. 12, 2008, marked the beginning of the nationally observed Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial. Born on Feb. 12, 1809, the two-year bicentennial brackets the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. The rise of this famous native Kentuckian from humble farm boy origins to one of our nation’s greatest presidents is well known. His determination to preserve the Union, even at the cost of a civil war, assured the future greatness of the United States. The country we live in today would undoubtedly be quite different if not for the determination and sacrifice of Lincoln and other Americans. We all know that a misguided Southern sympathizer, who did no good but much harm to the former Confederacy by his senseless act, assassinated Lincoln in April 1865. This tragedy was recognized by Southerners from Jefferson Davis to civilians seeking out a living in the war-torn South. Lincoln quickly gained martyr status and since then has only grown in stature. In celebration of the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth, many events, books, articles, lectures, exhibits, a movie and much more are being done or are planned. The Filson, just as it did for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial, has developed a bicentennial plan (p.13). One of those items is a web site entitled “Lincoln’s Kentucky.”
Funded in part by a grant from the
Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, “Lincoln’s Kentucky”
focuses on Kentucky during the span of Lincoln’s life (1809-1865),
his connection to Kentucky and Kentuckians, his legacy, and The Filson’s
Lincoln related collections. The site will also list bicentennial events, selected
Lincoln bibliography and links to other Lincoln web sites. The site
will be a resource for learning more about Lincoln and his native Kentucky.
The images illustrating this piece all come from The Filson’s collection and
are just a sampling of those that will be included on the site. To access the
site just go to The Filson’s web site homepage (www.filsonhistorical.org/)
and click on the link for “Lincoln’s Kentucky.”
The site has been a team effort, based in the Special Collections Department. Staff Suzanne Maggard, Jacob Lee and Sarah-Jane Poindexter deserve special recognition for the time and talent they’ve devoted to the project. “Lincoln’s Kentucky” is not only a way to browse The Filson’s Lincoln related collections but to provide information on this Kentuckian and his state.
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The Filson Historical Society
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