Remembering Abraham Lincoln

Every February, we celebrate Presidents Day as a national holiday to honor our first President, George Washington, and our sixteenth President, Abraham Lincoln. Feb. 12 is the actual date of Lincoln’s Birthday.

On Friday, Feb. 12, 1909, the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, a great day of celebration was held in Springfield, Illinois. The daylong celebration was organized by the State Centennial Commission and the Lincoln Centennial Association. Separate events planned over many months by different committees took place throughout the day.

The highlight was a memorial program and banquet, held in Springfield’s armory with 750-800 people in attendance. Speakers and attendees included Ambassador Bryce of Britain and Ambassador Jusserand of France, Sen. Dolliver of Iowa, prominent American politician William Jennings Bryan, and James Connolly, former Illinois Congressman and one of the organizers of the event.

Robert T. Lincoln and his wife Mary Harlan Lincoln attended the daylong celebration and were special guests at the banquet.

According to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, “The Committee on Souvenirs procured one thousand copies of the book, Speeches and Letters of Abraham Lincoln, one for each plate at the banquet, as a souvenir of the occasion.”

Henry County Heritage Trust received the souvenir book when it took ownership of materials from the former Iowa Wesleyan University in 2023. It is thought that Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lincoln donated the book to the University. Subsequently, Henry County Heritage Trust generously donated this artifact to the Harlan-Lincoln House where it is on display along with the signatures of the people of note who attended, including Robert Todd Lincoln.

The Harlan-Lincoln House is open March — October, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 2 — 4 p.m. or by special appointment on the website https://harlanlincoln.org.