Friday, August 9, 2013

Lincoln Exhibition at The Reagan Presidential Library


Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth
on this continent a new nation,
conceived in liberty 
and dedicated to the proposition 
that all men are bread equal.
~Abraham Lincoln
Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863

Pocket Watch of Abraham Lincoln


Life and Times of Abraham Lincoln
June 1, 2013 - September 30, 2013
At the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Simi Valley, California

from the website: 
"Twenty-five renowned Lincoln collectors and DreamWorks Studios join the Reagan Library for a major Abraham Lincoln Exhibit. objects on display include President Lincoln's famous stovepipe hat, a bloodied pillow from the night he died, a Lincoln-signed Emancipation Proclamation and 13th Amendment, and sets from DreamWorks' "Lincoln" Movie."

Stovepipe hat of Abraham Lincoln. He used to store things in his hat, while he was wearing it! Amazing to imagine this was on his head ...


Lincoln is my nephew's favorite president, so this summer my parents and I decided to take him to the Lincoln Exhibition, at the Reagan Presidential Library. It was amazing to see many of his personal items and writings, in person. I'm so happy we made it!

Leather case, belonging to Mary Todd Lincoln 


Sets and costumes from the film Lincoln, by Stephen Spielberg 


... I know that the Lord is always on the side of right.
But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I
and this nation be on the Lord's side.
~ Abraham Lincoln, 


Set of Lincoln's office, from the film, Lincoln.


I walk slowly, 
but I never walk backward.
~Abraham Lincoln

One of many handwritten letters and speeches by Lincoln, in the exhibition ...


The better part of one's life consists of friendships ...
~Abraham Lincoln 
letter to Joseph Gillespie, 1849

Lincoln Presidential China - Lincoln chose the eagle, Mary chose the purple border, her favorite color.


Sleeping bonnet of Mary Todd Lincoln



Gutta-percha cases. It was common practice in the 19th century to carry one of these little cases with a photo and lock of hair. Above, Abraham Lincoln, and below, his son Willie who died in the white House in 1862, at the age of eleven.


Mary's gloves ...


My dad showing Benjamin, my nephew, remnants of the Civil War.


Below, medical tools of the time ... pretty horrific.


I pray that our Heavenly Father 
may assuage the anguish of your bereavement,
and leave you only the cherished memory 
of the loved and lost,
and the solemn pride that must be yours
to have laid so costly a sacrifice 
upon the altar of freedom.
~Abraham Lincoln
Letter to Lydia Bixby November 21, 1864

Uniforms of the civil war.


Below, the quill pen with which President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.


Whenever I hear any one arguing for slavery
I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.
~Abraham Lincoln
Speech to One Hundred Fortieth Indiana Regiment
March 17, 1865

One of several pieces of election paraphernalia, this campaign banner was from Logan County, Illinois, 1860.


Our reliance is in the love of liberty
which God has planted in our bosoms.
Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit
which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men,
in all lands,
everywhere.
~ Abraham Lincoln
Speech at Chicago, 1858

Grand Reception of the Notabilities of the Nation, 
at the White House 1865 
Hand colored engraving
(On the evening of the 2nd inauguration)
-Lincoln shook hands with an estimated 5 to 6 thousand people.




A fragment of the coat he was wearing, during the assassination, at Ford's Theater.


Mock up of the bedroom, where he was taken, after being shot. The pillow is the actual pillow on which he died, at the Peterson Boarding house, near Ford's Theater.


Steel engraving of Ulysses S. Grant, 1868
William E. Marshall


My nephew loved it, when we told him that U.S. Grant is actually his relative! ... A distant cousin or uncle. I'm not sure, my sister is the genealogy expert.


Anyway, these were such gorgeous engravings! Difficult to photograph, because of an incredible amount of glare. You can see that I took the photos, from an angle, but they lovely and detailed, with so much dignity and humanity. I love them.

Steel engraving of Abraham Lincoln, 1868
William E. Marshall


Peace does not appear so distant as it did.
I hope it will come soon,
and come to stay;
and so come as to be worth the keeping 
in all future time.
~Abraham Lincoln
Letter to James Conkling, August 1863


This 37 Star United States flag, was laid upon the casket of President Lincoln, in Philadelphia, PA., Independence Hall, April 21, 1865.


The library is in Simi Valley, up on a hill. Great views but quite windy! Below, is where we sat and had lunch.



Views from the Presidential Library


A piece of the Berlin Wall


And, of course, my nephew had to see it again ... Air Force One!


This plane flew 7 presidents, including Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, and George W. Bush. 

It's funny to see how un-techie it is. We forget how much has changed! Like the huge telephones and clunky VCRs and other equipment. Let's just say ... it's not exactly swanky or sleek inside. 

They don't let you take pictures inside the plane.

Air Force One Pavilion 


Boys love planes. Here's Ben. :)


The exhibition runs through September 30, 2013.
 Click here for more information.

Ken Burns, The Civil War: The Gettysburg Address


I leave you,
hoping that the lamp of liberty will burn in your bosoms 
until there shall no longer be a doubt
that all men are created free
and
equal.
~Abraham Lincoln

Blessings and light!
(I'm almost caught up on summer posting - back to Italy soon!)

7 comments:

Joop Zand said...

Hello Lucinda

Beautiful shots and an interesting tour,
thanks for sharing this with us.



Greetings, Joop

Have you seen already my other blog " Photo's in big size " you are welcome

donna baker said...

Oh Lucinda, what a wonderful outing. I so love history.

isabella kramer - veredit said...

That's such an interesting and beautiful post, many thanks for sharing your impressions with us.

I love museums - the touch of old times ...

wish you a very nice weekend my friend.

hugs from
isabella

Don said...

Very good post! As Lincoln said "Whatever you are, be a good one."

Test said...

Amazing... wish I could visit!

Cristina Deboni said...

Molto interessante reportage su Lincoln e il suo museo...belle anche le foto degli aerei..Complimenti, ciao Cri : )

Cobalt Violet said...

Grazie, per i commenti! :)
Thank you for the comments!!!