Abraham Lincoln

Jake Friefeld, director of the UIS Center for Lincoln Studies, alongside Kate McKenzie, director of development at NPR Illinois, spoke with Community Voices about the upcoming Mary and James Beaumont Endowed Lincoln Legacy Series. This event will include talks from NPR Morning Edition’s Steve Inskeep, and Sarah Anderson, Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of California Santa Barbara Bren School. It will take place on Thursday, Sept. 12, at 6:30 p.m. at the University of Illinois Springfield Student Union Ballroom.To register visit: https://web.cvent.com/event/ba2aa356-f660-48f1-a601-b7aa0c5e1a36/summary

Inskeep is a reporter and Morning Edition host. He's also the author of Differ We Must: How Lincoln Succeeded in a Divided America.

The annual Lincoln Birthday Symposium and Banquet, usually held on February 12 on Lincoln’s actual birthday, is being celebrated on February 17 to take advantage of the three-day Presidents’ Day weekend.

The "Abraham Blue" mural on the Peoria County Courthouse is getting an update.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum hosted another lecture to shine a light on Lincoln and American history. The lecture titled "Lincoln, Race, and the Future of American Freedom" was given by author Dr. Lucas Morel.

Historian W. Dale Weeks wrote the book "Cherokee Civil Warrior: Chief John Ross and the Struggle for Tribal Sovereignty." In a forum presented by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Weeks discussed the Civil War from the perspective of the Cherokee nation and the negotiations between President Lincoln and Ross.

Jack LeChien, the Belleville historian and co-chairman of the Gustave Koerner House Restoration committee, had heard people speculate for decades on whether Abraham Lincoln had slept in the city during his 1856 visit. If so, where?

The Looking for Lincoln Stories podcast shares stories about the people and places of Abraham Lincoln’s time. It also highlights lesser known stories about African Americans who lived in the area. Heather Feezor is the director and David Blanchette writes for the podcast. They spoke to Community Voices about slavery and indentured servitude in Illinois and how African Americans at the time were affected by Illinois law.

Anne Moseley is the director of engagement and curator of the Sangamon Experience and acting director for the Center for Lincoln Studies. She spoke to Community Voices about her love of history and shared her favorite local Illinois stories. She also gave details on upcoming presentations to celebrate Black History Month, including the presentation "Memories of State Government," on Feb. 15 and "Untold African American Stories," on Feb. 21. More information can be found at the Sangamon Experience Facebook page.

Bob Bunn will provide more details Monday Feb. 13, at Lincoln Land Community College. The lecture will be at the Trutter Center at 9 a.m.