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Millikin slates symposium on 'Lincoln's Legacies' March 13-15 in DecaturAn extensive look into the life of Abraham Lincoln, and the influences around him, before he became our 16th president will be provided during a three-day symposium next month at Millikin University in Decatur. Titled "Lincoln's Legacies," the presentation by the Illinois State Historical Society of 17 sessions is scheduled Thursday through Saturday, March 13-15. Thursday programming begins at 10 a.m. with a research workshop on finding and using 19th century documents. Educators, students, independent researchers and historical society members may attend at no charge. An afternoon welcoming plenary will be addressed by symposium chair Michael Batinski, head of the Southern Illinois University History Department, and Kim Bauer, director of Decatur's Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. A keynote address will be given by Prof. Michael Burlingame of Connecticut College, author of "The Inner World of Abraham Lincoln" and editor of 10 volumes of primary Lincoln sources. After a variety of Friday morning sessions and brown-bag luncheon programs, speakers at 1:30 p.m. will discuss "Abraham Lincoln's First Slavery Case (Bailey v. Cromwell, 1841)" and "The Gentleman of the House: Abraham Lincoln and Domestic Gentility." Afternoon sessions will conclude with "On the Back of a Giant: Lincoln Legacy Owes a Debt to Stephen A. Douglas" and "Awakening the Giant: Lincoln Answers the Call of the Republican Party." Following the 6 p.m. symposium reception and 7 p.m. banquet, retired University of Illinois professor Robert McColley will speak on "Abraham Lincoln's Goals and Progress in Illinois, 1929-1976." A member of the State Historical Society for more than 30 years, McColley was its president from 1997 to 1999 and editor of its journal from 1997 to 2002. A 7:30 a.m. Saturday breakfast will precede a program on "The Madness of Mary Lincoln and the Discovery of Her Lost Insanity Letters." The speaker is Virginia historian and author Jason Emerson, who is writing a biography of Robert T. Lincoln. Included in Saturday programming are 1:30 p.m. sessions on "Compass and Chain: The Surveying Career of A. Lincoln in Central Illinois" and "Life on the Circuit: A Look at the Culture of Itinerant Lawyers in Lincoln's Illinois." For a complete schedule of symposium programs and registration information, call the Illinois State Historical Society at (217) 525-2781 or access http://www.historyillinois.org. Except for the Thursday morning research workshop, all symposium participants and guests must register. Attendance fees are $25 per day, or $40 for all three days ($35 for ISHS members). Extra charges are $50 for the Friday banquet, $20 for the Saturday breakfast, and $10 each for brown-bag lunches Friday and Saturday. Rooms may be available at the Decatur Conference Center on Highway 36 West. Call (217) 422-8800 and identify yourself as an Illinois History Symposium participant.
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