Lincoln Collection

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Fort Wayne, IN
Lincoln Collection

Internationally known collection of Lincolniana and related materials. In 1995 the Foundation provided a new home for the collection--The Lincoln Museum.

This internationally known collection of Lincolniana and related materials began in 1928 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, as the Lincoln Historical Research Foundation, a department of the Lincoln National Life Insurance Company. The collection grew over the decades to include thousands of objects, 19th-century photographs, books, documents, and art related to Abraham Lincoln and his times. Then in 2008, t

he Lincoln Financial Foundation closed the Museum and donated the collection to the State of Indiana.

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Community Guidelines

The Lincoln Collection is committed to fostering thoughtful, respectful, and engaging conversation about Abraham Lincoln and his era. We welcome a wide range of perspectives and encourage discussion that makes history accessible, human, and relevant. Discussion and interpretation of historical figures are welcome. We ask that claims be made in good faith and, where possible, supported by credible sources. To keep this space constructive and open to all, we ask that comments:

- Remain respectful and considerate of others

- Stay relevant to the historical topic at hand and avoid derailing discussions into unrelated subjects

- Use accurate, reliable information and engage with the historical topic in good faith

We will remove comments that include:

- Abusive, vulgar, offensive, racist, threatening, or harassing language

- Personal attacks, dehumanizing language, or content targeting individuals or groups

- Sexually explicit content

- Misinformation, conspiracy theories, or historically inaccurate claims presented as established fact without credible evidence

- Misrepresentation or denial of well-documented historical events, including narratives that minimize or obscure the central role of slavery and the causes of the Civil War

- Ethnically or culturally insensitive language, including the inappropriate or derogatory use of outdated terms

- Content intended to provoke, inflame, or derail discussion rather than contribute meaningfully, including slogan-based or baiting comments

- Modern-day political commentary not clearly connected to the historical topic

- Spam, advertisements, solicitations, or repetitive/irrelevant links

- Unlawful, defamatory, libelous, or obscene content

We recognize that history can raise strong opinions and interpretations. Our goal is to maintain a space focused on respectful, informed discussion—not misinformation or disruption. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in comment removal and/or user bans at the discretion of a Lincoln Collection moderator. In some cases, comment sections may be limited or closed. Our moderation team works to maintain a welcoming and discussion-focused environment. While comments are not monitored at all times, we review and address concerns as promptly as possible. The Lincoln Collection does not endorse any individuals, organizations, businesses, products, or services. Thank you for helping us create a space where history feels human, relevant, and worth discussing.

06/19/2026

Today’s the day! Join us at noon for the annual Rolland Lecture!

📅 June 19, 2026
🕛 Noon
📍Main - Allen County Public Library Theater
💻 Zoom (registration required): https://acpl.libnet.info/event/16587082

This event will be offered both in person and virtually.

• Virtual attendees: Please register using the registration link.
• In-person attendees: No registration required.

Drawing on speeches and letters by Frederick Douglass, some to British abolitionists that have not been seen since they were first written, the lecture presents an account of how the great abolitionist came to appreciate Lincoln’s anti-slavery statesmanship over the course of the Civil War. The lecture derives from a recently published book, Measuring the Man: The Writings of Frederick Douglass on Abraham Lincoln, co-edited by the lecturer, Lucas Morel, and Jonathan White.

06/17/2026

Following a trial in 1875, Mary Lincoln was declared insane and confined to a sanitarium for several months. A key factor in her release was the support of Myra Bradwell and her husband, James. Bradwell, a political activist and the first woman to pass the Illinois bar exam, advocated for Mary’s release by pressuring Robert Lincoln through letters and newspaper articles.

In one letter, Bradwell wrote, “I write you at the request of Mrs. Lincoln. She is at an insane Asylum… [and] she is quite well & as I think not insane.”

Their efforts helped secure Mary’s release and led to a second trial in 1876, where she was declared “restored to reason” and regained control of her finances. Mary then traveled throughout Europe for several years before poor health brought her back to Springfield, Illinois.

Historical image overlaid with a quote from Myra Bradwell's letter.

Mary Lincoln: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/digital/collection/p15155coll1/id/781/rec/1

Myra Bradwell letter: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/digital/collection/p16089coll38/id/7319/rec/2

06/15/2026

Parents of the future President of the United States, Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks were married in Hardin County, Kentucky, on June 12, 1806. The young couple welcomed their daughter, Sarah, a year later. They would go on to have two sons, Abraham and Thomas. One would not survive infancy, while the other would lead the nation. After various land disputes in Kentucky, the small family moved to Indiana in 1816. Tragedy struck two years later when Nancy died of milk sickness in 1818.

Composite image created from two separate photographs to illustrate the narrative.

Thomas Lincoln: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/digital/collection/p15155coll1/id/3329/rec/151

Monument at the Grave of Nancy Hanks Lincoln: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/digital/collection/p15155coll1/id/3897/rec/7

06/12/2026

New hybrid program happening next week!

📅 June 19, 2026
🕛 Noon
📍Main - Allen County Public Library Theater
💻 Zoom (registration required): https://acpl.libnet.info/event/16587082

This event will be offered both in person and virtually.

• Virtual attendees: Please register using the registration link.
• In-person attendees: No registration required.

Drawing on speeches and letters by Frederick Douglass, some to British abolitionists that have not been seen since they were first written, the lecture presents an account of how the great abolitionist came to appreciate Lincoln’s anti-slavery statesmanship over the course of the Civil War. The lecture derives from a recently published book, Measuring the Man: The Writings of Frederick Douglass on Abraham Lincoln, co-edited by the lecturer, Lucas Morel, and Jonathan White.

06/10/2026

Though he was the grandson of Robert Todd Lincoln, Lincoln Isham preferred a life far from the spotlight. Born in New York on June 8, 1892, he spent his childhood between New York and Vermont, often visiting his grandfather’s estate. After marrying Leahalma Correa in 1919 and becoming stepfather to her daughter, Frances Mantley, Isham embraced a private life filled with travel, including frequent journeys to England and the Caribbean. As a member of the last generation of Lincolns, he marked the closing chapter of the Lincoln family line.

Mary Lincoln Isham & Lincoln Isham: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/digital/collection/p15155coll1/id/243/rec/21

06/08/2026

In 1862, photographer William Mumler began capturing “spirit photos.” These pictures depicted both the living and the dead, using double exposure to combine the two. He became extremely popular after the outbreak of the Civil War, as many individuals wanted to reconnect with loved ones lost in battle. In 1872, Mumler created one of these images for Mary Lincoln. The image depicts Mary, seated in a black mourning dress, and her late husband, Abraham Lincoln, standing behind her with his hands on her shoulders. The image, taken 10 years before her death, brought Mary Todd great comfort and was the last photograph Mary ever sat for.

Mary Lincoln: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/digital/collection/p15155coll1/id/56/rec/3

Mary Lincoln:

06/03/2026

“There can be no neutrals in this war, only patriots and traitors.” – Stephen Douglas.

Before facing Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 presidential election, Stephen A. Douglas had already become one of the nation's best-known political figures. Known as the “Little Giant,” Douglas introduced the controversial Kansas–Nebraska Act, debated Abraham Lincoln before packed crowds, and ran against him for president. Though defeated, Douglas stood by the Union and worked tirelessly to prevent secession. He died on June 3, 1861, at just 48 years old.

Stephen Douglas: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/digital/collection/p15155coll1/id/100/rec/1

06/01/2026

As Robert Lincoln was sworn into office as Secretary of War in the spring of 1881, he likely did not realize the year would prove tumultuous for his family. While Robert adjusted to his new responsibilities, his family became accustomed to public scrutiny. On May 12, an Illinois newspaper claimed that Mary Harlan Lincoln, Robert’s wife, had taken “only a passing interest” in him romantically until after his father’s untimely death. That same day, another paper reported that Robert’s mother, Mary Todd Lincoln, was “much wasted in flesh” and declining toward death.

Robert’s cousin, Frances “Fannie” Wallace, also appeared in the news that week—in her obituary. Ill for several years, she died of “brain fever” on May 10 at the age of thirty-two. Robert had hoped to visit Fannie and her mother in Springfield, but news of her death reached him before the trip could be made. Her passing came as a profound shock.

Frances Wallace: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/digital/collection/p15155coll1/id/225/rec/2

05/29/2026

New hybrid program happening soon!

📅 June 19, 2026
🕛 Noon
📍Main - Allen County Public Library Theater
💻 Zoom (registration required): https://acpl.libnet.info/event/16587082

This event will be offered both in person and virtually.

• Virtual attendees: Please register using the registration link.
• In-person attendees: No registration required.

Drawing on speeches and letters by Frederick Douglass, some to British abolitionists that have not been seen since they were first written, the lecture presents an account of how the great abolitionist came to appreciate Lincoln’s anti-slavery statesmanship over the course of the Civil War. The lecture derives from a recently published book, Measuring the Man: The Writings of Frederick Douglass on Abraham Lincoln, co-edited by the lecturer, Lucas Morel, and Jonathan White.

05/27/2026

Killed at the young age of twenty-four, Union Colonel Elmer Ellsworth, a close friend to Abraham Lincoln, was shot after tearing down a Confederate flag in Alexandria.

He answered Lincoln’s call for volunteers in 1861 by raising the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry, which he fashioned after the French colonial Zouave troops. In May 1861, Ellsworth led his men into Alexandria to bring the city under Union control. At the Marshall House, a local inn, they met no resistance, and he made his way to the roof to tear down a Confederate flag.

Flag in hand, Ellsworth was making his way back down when he was shot and killed by the owner. He immediately became a martyr to the Union cause, his name living on in the rallying cry, “Remember Ellsworth!”

Composite image created from two separate historical photographs to illustrate the narrative.

Elmer Ellsworth: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/digital/collection/p15155coll1/id/103/rec/1

Abraham Lincoln: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/digital/collection/p15155coll1/id/34/rec/16

Address

900 Library Plaza
Fort Wayne, IN
46802

Website

http://www.lincolncollection.org/

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