Nearly 300 Lincoln scholars and enthusiasts gathered in the days preceding Dedication Day a Gettysburg’s Wyndham Hotel for the 26th Annual Lincoln Forum Symposium, “Abraham Lincoln and the New Birth of Freedom.” Forum chair Harold Holzer, Director of the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunt College, was excited to be able meet live after a year’s absenc “Although we tried our best to stay connected last year over
Springfield panel: Erin Carlson McWhirter. All photos by Leon R 10 – American Battlefield Trus 40 – Book Reviews 32 – Central Virginia Battlefi
America’s Monthly N Zoom, there is still nothing like a live symposium that includes shared meals, experienc lectures, small-group discussions and opportunities for Q&A. The Forum is more than a meeting; we like to describe ourselves as a ‘family,’ “so it was really thrilling to see all those people the ballroom.” Vice chair Jonathan White, Associate Professor of American Studies at Christopher Newport University, echoed the benefits of meeting live. “We really value the idea of the Forum as a family and you can see that in how our speakers interact with each other and with symposium attendees. I think our speakers really enjoy talking with Forum members. Our members are very knowledgeable about Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War and that leads to great conversations with the speakers, not only during the sessions, but also in the hallways and at meals.” The conference w organized as separate panels and presentations, but there were many interesting overlaps between some presentations. The broad topics addressed by multiple speakers and panelists included: events and places that impacted Lincoln’s beliefs and
36 – Emerging Civil Wa 45 – Events ust 28 – The Graphic War
on Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed, and the process of finalizing the surrender Lincoln’s assassination, Caroline E. Janney.
Influences on Lincoln’s Development A panel discussed the infl of Springfield on Lincoln’s development. Participants we Erin Carlson Mast, CEO of th Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation; Wheeler, Illinois state hist Kathryn Harris, retired head Library Division of the Abra Lincoln Presidential Library Christian McWhirter, a histo at the Lincoln Presidential Library. H Lincoln Forum . . . . . . . . . . . see pa via Unfinished Fight