Center for Lincoln Studies

UIS to host Lincoln Legacy Lecture on “Lincoln and the Age of Disruption”

bwood8 — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 15:25:13 +0000

UIS to host Lincoln Legacy Lecture on “Lincoln and the Age of Disruption” bwood8 Wed, 10/01/2025 - 10:25

Legacy of Resilience: Black Springfield 1900-1910

jfrie — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 17:28:45 +0000

Legacy of Resilience: Black Springfield 1900-1910 jfrie Fri, 08/15/2025 - 12:28

The Legacy of Resilience project explores the Black community in Springfield, �山��, before, during, and in the wake of the August 1908 race riot. In the past, there have been attempts to interpret the violence of this race massacre, but little work has been done to understand and interpret the Black Springfield community that was impacted by this violence. This project centers the Black Springfield community—their joy, their strife, and their everyday lives—as a way to understand what was lost through violence as well as the community’s resilience.

Research on this project began in Fall 2024 and when completed it will use digital methods to make our research searchable and available to the public, display that data in a digital map that will give the public a better understanding of Black Springfield before, during, and after the race riot, and include interpretive elements helping the public better understand key people and places within Springfield’s Black community in the early 1900s.

Project Team

Jacob K. Friefeld, Project Co-Director

Devin Hunter, Project Co-Director

Brian Mitchell, Public Humanities Fellow

Anna Newby, Graduate Research Assistant

UIS Lincoln Studies director featured on HBO Max, Magnolia Network series ‘Back to the Frontier’

lavela1 — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 18:49:40 +0000

UIS Lincoln Studies director featured on HBO Max, Magnolia Network series ‘Back to the Frontier’ lavela1 Thu, 07/24/2025 - 13:49

Getting to know you: Jacob Friefeld

eewest2 — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 19:57:02 +0000

Getting to know you: Jacob Friefeld eewest2 Tue, 07/15/2025 - 14:57

23rd Annual Mary and James Beaumont Endowed Lincoln Legacy Lecture Series

jfrie — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 19:49:08 +0000

23rd Annual Mary and James Beaumont Endowed Lincoln Legacy Lecture Series jfrie Mon, 06/30/2025 - 14:49

*Due to the ongoing government shutdown, Jon Grinspan had to postpone his visit. We will instead be joined by Jason Emerson*

On Thursday, October 16, 2025, The University of �山�� Springfield Center for Lincoln Studies presents the Mary and James Beaumont Endowed Lincoln Legacy Lecture Series featuring Jason Emerson and Colleen Shogan speaking on the topic of Abraham Lincoln and the Age of Disruption.

Jason Emerson is author of Giant in the Shadows: The Life of Robert T. Lincoln and will discuss Robert Lincoln's relationship with racial equality and his father's legacy. After the end of the Civil War, post-war Americans faced the continuous disruption over the issue of civil rights for Black Americans. For the son of the Great Emancipator, Robert T. Lincoln, this issue was more significant than for most. As a public servant and captain of industry, Lincoln found himself in the spotlight of racial justice, needing to make executive decisions that had -- or could have -- national implications. From confronting the hazing of Black soldiers and cadets by white officers when he was secretary of war, to dealing with Black sleeping car porters fighting for an increase in wages when he was president of the Pullman Car Company, Emerson asks us to consider if the son of Lincoln advanced racial equality or failed to uphold his father's mantle?

Colleen Shogan, who served as the 11th Archivist of the United States and the first woman in American history appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate to lead the National Archives, will bring our topic to the present and discuss our current age of disruption. Shogan's lecture will emphasize the vital role of cultural institutions, archives, libraries, and museums in preserving democratic values by safeguarding historical truth and public memory. Drawing inspiration from Abraham Lincoln and the Declaration of Independence, she will warn against the growing politicization of these institutions, arguing that nonpartisanship is essential for civic trust and national unity.

Admission to this event is free and open to the public.

Jason Emerson
Colleen Shogan

Emerson is the author or editor of eight books, including The Madness of Mary Lincoln. He is also a former park ranger at Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield. Learn more about his work on his website.

Shogan is a noted author and political scientist. She is deeply committed to civics education and is a senior advisor at More Perfect, an alliance of 37 presidential centers and hundreds of civic leaders and organizations, that invites Americans to consider the most enduring lessons of our history while informing the future of our democracy.

Along with the Center for Lincoln Studies, this event is co-sponsored by NPR �山�� and Looking for Lincoln National Heritage Area.

When

Thu, Oct 16 2025, 6:30 - 8:30pm

Location

UIS Student Union Ballroom (2251 Richard Wright Dr, Springfield, IL 62703)

Event Type

Lecture

Department

Center for Lincoln Studies

Great-grandson of civil rights icon Ida B. Wells to speak at Juneteenth event

bwood8 — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 17:15:50 +0000

Great-grandson of civil rights icon Ida B. Wells to speak at Juneteenth event bwood8 Mon, 06/09/2025 - 12:15

Leading WELLS: Lessons in Courage and Leadership from Ida B. Wells

jfrie — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 21:05:04 +0000

Leading WELLS: Lessons in Courage and Leadership from Ida B. Wells jfrie Thu, 06/05/2025 - 16:05

Dan Duster is the great-grandson of American Civil Rights activist and hero Ida B. Wells. Duster will discuss Wells’s struggles and triumphs in the 1800s to motivate people to overcome obstacles and stand up against injustices in the workplace, schools, and communities.

Duster has helped community organizations, corporations, and schools implement plans for restorative justice. He has also worked with the National Governor’s Association and Congressional Tri-Caucus and was present at the White House for the signing of the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Bill.

The Juneteenth Lecture is an annual lecture organized by the Center for Lincoln Studies in partnership with Juneteenth Inc. and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

The event is free and open to the public but at ticket is required.

Get Tickets Today!

When

Tue, Jun 17 2025, 6:30 - 7:30pm

Location

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, 212 N. Sixth St., Springfield

Event Type

black history

Department

Center for Lincoln Studies

Juneteenth Lunch and Learn Panel: The Resiliency of Black History Beyond Erasures

jfrie — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 08:00:10 +0000

Juneteenth Lunch and Learn Panel: The Resiliency of Black History Beyond Erasures jfrie Tue, 06/03/2025 - 03:00

The Resiliency of Black History Beyond Erasures delves into the enduring strength and adaptability of Black history in the face of attempts to marginalize it. Black history is a tapestry woven with stories of triumph, resiliency, and cultural richness that have persisted despite systemic efforts to diminish their significance.

This resilience is evident in the preservation of oral histories, the vibrancy of cultural traditions, and the ongoing contributions of Black individuals to society. By celebrating this resilience, we recognize that Black history is not just a record of the past but a living, evolving narrative that continues to shape and inspire future generations.

The Juneteenth Lunch and Learn series was created in the spirit of "freeish" which underscores the journey toward true liberation and acknowledgment, ensuring that the legacy of Black history thrives beyond erasures.

When

Fri, Jun 13 2025, 12 - 2pm

Location

�山�� State Museum

Event Type

black history

Department

Center for Lincoln Studies

Making Our History: Artists Render Lincoln's Legacy

jfrie — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 21:39:49 +0000

Making Our History: Artists Render Lincoln's Legacy jfrie Fri, 02/07/2025 - 15:39

In 2021 and 2022 Graham Peck, Wepner Distinguished Professor of Lincoln Studies at UIS, co-directed an art residency with UIS Director of Visual Arts Brytton Bjorngaard that was generously funded by the University of �山�� Presidential Initiative: Expanding the Impact of the Arts and Humanities. Bjorngaard and Peck worked with twenty �山�� artists to interpret Lincoln’s contemporary legacies. Bjorngaard photographed their art, and Peck wrote short essays to historically contextualize their work. The Storyteller Studios shot videos that showcase the artists’ methods and conceptual approaches. �山�� State University Assistant Professor of Teacher Education Meghan Kessler made accompanying K-12 teacher modules. You can find the modules, photos, videos, and essays at Professor Peck's website.

Pictured: Pillar of Light by Judith Joseph

Getting to know you: Jennifer Harris

eewest2 — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 19:50:54 +0000

Getting to know you: Jennifer Harris eewest2 Wed, 01/29/2025 - 13:50