NARA Continues Celebration of Lincoln's Bicentennial in June
Press Release · Monday, May 11, 2009

Press Release
May 11, 2009

National Archives Continues Year-Long Celebration of Lincoln’s Bicentennial in June

Special programs and films celebrate important anniversary

Washington, DC…The National Archives continues its celebration of the 200th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth in June with special programs, book talks, and films. These events are free and open to the public, and will be held at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, which is fully accessible. Attendees should use the Special Events entrance on the corner of 7th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW. Summer exhibit hours are 10 am-7 pm, through Labor Day.

Film screening - Friendly Persuasion
Saturday, June 13, at noon, William G. McGowan Theater
William Wyler’s sensitive direction opens rich insights into those of the Quaker faith in Jessamyn West’s beautiful story of a Quaker family, committed by faith to nonviolence, but caught up in the backlash of the Civil War. Set in 1862, the family is confronted with a decision to choose between their principles and pacifism and their belief in the need to preserve the Union. Stars Gary Cooper (137 minutes, 1956). Presented by The Charles Guggenheim Center for the Documentary Film at the National Archives.

Book talk - Looking for Lincoln: The Making of an American Icon
Thursday, June 18, at noon, William G. McGowan Theater
Philip B. Kunhardt III will discuss Looking for Lincoln: The Making of an American Icon. This bookdescribes the myths, memories, and questions that gathered around Lincoln in the years between his assassination and the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial in 1922, and examines how our 16th President’s legend came into being. Kunhardt tells the story through the voices of those who knew the man and through stories carefully selected from long-forgotten newspapers, magazines, and family scrapbooks. A book signing will follow the program. The book is available from the Archives Shop. Call (202) 357-5271.

Film screening National Treasure II
Saturday, June 20, at noon, William G. McGowan Theater
Treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates is back and looking for the truth behind the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. He finds John Wilkes Booth’s diary and is determined to uncover the mystery within its 18 missing pages. (118 minutes, 2007). Presented by The Charles Guggenheim Center for the Documentary Film at the National Archives.

Related Exhibitions

Public Vaults permanent exhibition
The Public Vaults exhibition of the National Archives Experience features a Lincoln telegram, an image of Lincoln and his general after Antietam, a facsimile of all five pages of the Emancipation Proclamation, a letter congratulating Lincoln on his re-election, an interactive exhibit about the Lincoln assassination and the Booth conspiracy, and the original 1850 census volume that lists Abraham Lincoln as an attorney in Springfield, Illinois.

BIG!  Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the National Archives
Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery, through January 3, 2010
The National Archives celebrates its 75th year in 2009 with a new exhibition featuring big records, big events, and big ideas. The exhibition features a number of Lincoln-related items, including an enormous map of the Gettysburg battlefield, and a rare photograph of President Lincoln at the dedication of the Civil War cemetery at Gettysburg. Also on display is a huge (175 page) telegraph from James W. Nye, governor of the Territory of Nevada, to President Lincoln, and a very large original design proposal for the Lincoln Memorial.
Public Vaults and BIG! related items are available in the Archives Shop. Call (202) 357-5271.

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To verify the date and times of the programs, the public should call the Public Programs Line at: (202) 357-5000, or view the Calendar of Events online. The National Archives is fully accessible. To request an accommodation (e.g., sign language interpreter) for a public program please e-mail public.program@nara.gov or call 202-357-5000 two weeks prior to the event.  To contact the National Archives, please call 1-866-272-6272 or 1-86-NARA-NARA (TDD) 301-837-0482.

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For Press information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at 202-357-5300.

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