Are we really doing this again?
Thursday, Dec 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A year ago, the Registrar and the Director of Research at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum voted against approving the purchase of a $15,625 flag, after it had already been bought in violation of ALPLM policy. Purchases above $2,000 must be reviewed by a collections committee in advance.
One of the objections raised was the flag’s provenance. In an eerie flashback to the now-infamous Lincoln stovepipe hat, the flag’s authenticity has been challenged. More on that here.
* In May, the Associated Press reported that one of the two “no” votes, Registrar Eldon Yeakel was fired by the ALPLM…
The museum fired Yeakel May 6, citing his poor performance and rules violations, but he blamed his “no” vote.
* And now we’ve learned that the Director of Research, who was the other “no” vote, was also fired…
A historian and director at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum who voted against the ALPLM’s purchase of a controversial flag last year was fired last week.
Brian Mitchell ran a number of community-based history projects in the area around the 1908 Springfield Race Riot, the New Philadelphia National Historic Site and the Freedom Corridor, linking together a number of Underground Railroad sites, in addition to his work as director of research and interpretation at the ALPLM. […]
Mitchell was fired in a meeting Thursday after a scathing performance evaluation, which he provided to The State Journal-Register. … Mitchell’s evaluation cited his “unwillingness to act as a front-line supervisor.” […]
Mitchell said he was told shortly after his arrival in Springfield that “one of my primary responsibilities was to make sure those sorts of things [the stovepipe hat] don’t happen. Four people told me that, including [ALPLM executive director Christina Shutt].”
- Notorious JMB - Thursday, Dec 19, 24 @ 12:40 pm:
It doesn’t get any more Illinois than this. We have a fantastic museum and library dedicated to a leader known world wide and it’s being royally screwed up through incompetence and malfeasance and people playing fast and loose with the rules. This is why we can’t have nice things.
- DuPage Saint - Thursday, Dec 19, 24 @ 12:45 pm:
According to the article you referenced the state will pay or maybe already paid another $18,000 for repairs and preservation. Perhaps it should be entered in the state flag contest
- @misterjayem - Thursday, Dec 19, 24 @ 12:55 pm:
I sure hope that none of this interferes with my selling them Lincoln’s iPad.
– MrJM
- Just me - Thursday, Dec 19, 24 @ 12:57 pm:
So the new “Director” who was the one who violated those rules and risked the museum losing their accreditation seems to like yes men.
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, Dec 19, 24 @ 1:28 pm:
Not terribly surprising.
It seems many of our institutions are just shells of what they once were.
Almost the same situation is happening at a historical museum near me. Lots of public money flowing through it, with little to no accountability. One guy was fired because the director didn’t like a post *his wife* made on a social media site.
Lots of little fish in little ponds floating around out there with Napoleon complexes.
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Dec 19, 24 @ 1:32 pm:
“… people playing fast and loose with the rules. This is why we can’t have nice things.”
Submit this is exactly what George Ryan intended. Remember Sen. Peter Fitzgerald’s 3 day soliloquy on the US Senate floor about Illinois, partly about the presidential library?
- Lincoln Lad - Thursday, Dec 19, 24 @ 1:34 pm:
Is the Gov’s office paying any attention to what’s going on there? It seems clear there is a problem. If not involved, they should get involved.
- btowntruth from forgottonia - Thursday, Dec 19, 24 @ 1:41 pm:
The historical museum where I live wishes they had that kind of money.
I have no idea how it stays open at this point…they do no advertising and don’t get much help.
- Four o' Five - Thursday, Dec 19, 24 @ 3:52 pm:
“Is the Gov’s office paying any attention to what’s going on there? It seems clear there is a problem. If not involved, they should get involved.”
You’d hope that at least a deputy guv is keeping an eye on things, given the various investigative bodies poking around there (and long list of AFSCME grievances).
- old guy - Thursday, Dec 19, 24 @ 3:56 pm:
This abuse of the professional staff by the ALPLM has got to stop. It is turning this gem into a lump of coal. What makes these Museum Directors believe they are Gods??