Lincoln Collection Preservation
By: Nadia Bashir
Updated: December 13, 2010
The Allen County Public Library is asking for help to preserve its Lincoln Collection, a group of more than 50,000 items documenting the life and family of president Abraham Lincoln.
The library hopes to post many of the items online. It needs $12 million to do so but to date it has only raised $8 million. At least $10 million is needed to start the process. Online viewing will cut down on direct contact with the items to better preserve them, as well as make the materials accessible to more people.
The collection includes toys that belonged to Lincoln's kids, and signed copies of the Thirteenth Amendment and the Emancipation Proclamation. Experts say it is one of the largest collections of Lincoln memorabilia in existence and should be considered a national treasure.
The Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation has awarded a $1 million dollar challenge grant. The ACPL in conjunction with the Indiana State Museum is hoping the community will step up to donate the remaining amount of money.
The library hopes to post many of the items online. It needs $12 million to do so but to date it has only raised $8 million. At least $10 million is needed to start the process. Online viewing will cut down on direct contact with the items to better preserve them, as well as make the materials accessible to more people.
The collection includes toys that belonged to Lincoln's kids, and signed copies of the Thirteenth Amendment and the Emancipation Proclamation. Experts say it is one of the largest collections of Lincoln memorabilia in existence and should be considered a national treasure.
The Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation has awarded a $1 million dollar challenge grant. The ACPL in conjunction with the Indiana State Museum is hoping the community will step up to donate the remaining amount of money.
