CHICAGO (November 2, 2009) - This winter, join the Newberry Library in commemorating the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln. The Library of Congress exhibition, With Malice Toward None: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition will be on display through December 19, 2009 and features rarely seen treasures from the library’s archives.
Highlights of With Malice Toward None, include:
· The Bible upon which the 16th president took his oath of office on March 4, 1861. Barack Obama swore the oath upon the same Bible on Jan. 20, 2009.
· A draft of the Gettysburg Address that Lincoln gave his personal secretary John Nicolay. It’s believed to be the earliest copy that exists.
· Contents of Lincoln’s pockets the night he was assassinated including two pairs of spectacles and cases, a pocketknife, a five-dollar Confederate note, and a button.
· The first-ever public pairing of 11-year old Grace Bedell's letter to Lincoln suggesting that he grow a beard, and Lincoln's humble reply;
· The blood-stained notes of Lincoln's family physician describing the President's tragic final hours - his decline, death and autopsy.
Also on display is Honest Abe of the West, an exhibition of the Newberry's own collections about Lincoln. Both exhibitions are free and open to the public. Call (312) 255-3514 to schedule a group tour today.
Add to your educational experience by attending one of the Newberry’s free lectures. On November 17, art historian Mark Pohlad will examine images of Lincoln that appear in the two exhibits; Pohlad will discuss will how artists from Mathew Brady to Salvador Dalí have engaged Lincoln’s images since the nineteenth century. On December 5, literary scholar and advisor to the Library of Congress, Jennifer Fleischner, will tell the fascinating story of the relationship between First Lady, Mary Todd Lincoln, and Elizabeth Keckly, a seamstress and former slave.
General information:
Location: 60 West Walton Street, Chicago IL 60610
Public Information: Call (312) 255-3700 or visit www.newberry.org
Exhibit Hours: Monday, Friday, and Saturday, 8:15 am - 5:30 pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 8:15 am - 7:30 pm
Admission is free unless otherwise noted.
NOVEMBER
Many Pictures But No Portraits: Abraham Lincoln in the Visual Arts
Tuesday, November 17, 6:00 pm
Speaker: Mark B. Pohlad, DePaul University
Lincoln’s friends noted that photographs often did not capture Lincoln’s likeness. In an illustrated talk, art historian Mark Pohlad will discuss this problem by examining Lincoln images that appear in two exhibitions on display at the Newberry: With Malice Toward None, a traveling show from the Library of Congress, and Honest Abe of the West. He will also consider how artists, from Mathew Brady to Salvador Dalí, have engaged Lincoln’s images since the nineteenth century.
This program is supported in part by the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Admission is free. No reservation is required.
DECEMBER
Mrs. Lincoln and Mrs. Keckly: The Remarkable Story of the Friendship Between a First Lady and a Former Slave
Saturday, December 5, 1:00 pm
Speaker: Jennifer Fleischner, Adelphi University
Jennifer Fleischner, a literary scholar and advisor to the Library of Congress’s Lincoln bicentennial exhibition, With Malice Toward None, tells the fascinating story of the relationship between First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln and Elizabeth Keckly, a seamstress and former slave. Professor Fleischner’s book on Lincoln and Keckly, which was nominated for the Lincoln Prize, places the women in historical context of slavery and emancipation and draws a sensitive portrait of race relations during the mid-nineteenth century.
This program is supported in part by the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Admission is free. No reservation is required.
Great Lakes Dredge and Philharmonic Society
Thursday, December 10, 5:30 pm
As one of Chicago’s favorite caroling groups, the Great Lakes Dredge and Philharmonic Society is celebrating their 75th anniversary this year. On the evening of December 10 at 5:30pm, the Newberry Library Associates Council will host a reception complete with holiday treats and libations followed by the annual caroling event.
For reservations, please call (312) 255-3778 by December 3, 2009. Ticket prices are $20 in advance and $25 at the door—admission for children 12 and under is free. Space is limited.
ABOUT THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY
The Newberry Library, a preeminent humanities research and reference institution, is home to a world-class collection of books, manuscripts, maps, music, and other printed materials related to the history and culture of Western Europe and the Americas. The collections span many centuries and feature items such as illuminated medieval manuscripts, rare early maps, rich genealogical resources, and the personal papers of Midwest authors. The Newberry offers exhibits based on its collections, theatrical performances, lectures and discussions with today's leading humanists, seminars and workshops, and teacher programs. Visit us in-person at 60 West Walton St., Chicago, or at www.newberry.org to learn more.