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Today’s assignment: New Lincoln website

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Illinois

In the latest sign of Americans’ obsession with Abraham Lincoln, AT&T has awarded a $97,500 grant to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum to digitize part of its collection.

On Thursday, representatives from both organizations announced the project at AT&T’s flagship store on Michigan Avenue. A Lincoln impersonator greeted shoppers as they peered at a collection of original artifacts — the president’s quill pen, inaugural inkwell and a telegram to his wife — sealed in a glass case.

Visitors to the online database, “Under His Hat,” http://www.underhishat.org, can view three-dimensional photographs of some of the 16th president’s most iconic possessions. About 60 of the collection’s 52,000 historical materials are viewable online, including Lincoln’s stovepipe hat and the bloodstained gloves he carried the night he was assassinated. A homework assignment provides a glimpse of his childhood while campaign memorabilia retraces his life as a budding politician.

James Cornelius, the collection’s curator, said the digital portal was designed as an educational tool for teachers. The website includes suggested lesson plans under five different themes. Cornelius said it would eventually feature three more.

Go have a look and tell us what you think.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Nov 16, 12 @ 10:11 am

Comments

Dear ATT
Thank you so much for giving a small portion of the hundreds of millions of dollars you plunder from us to the public good. Even in death, your giving to politicians is unrivalled!

Comment by dang Friday, Nov 16, 12 @ 10:24 am
dang, I’m surprised there are still Communists in Illinois.

lol

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Nov 16, 12 @ 10:39 am
It is a good beginning.
It seems that often our Lincoln opinions end at our shores however. Lincoln is bigger than America. He is global. His statues, images, and influence was, and still is, honored globally.

On a website, accessible throughout the world, Lincoln scholars can use both Lincoln and the Internet to share this man’s legacy by including Lincoln’s place globally. Explaining why this guy is a global presence is a good thing to share with the world.

The website is parochial. It needs to aim broader and higher.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Nov 16, 12 @ 10:42 am
Wonderful. Lincoln was a selfless man. He had no apparent vices and dedicated himself to the cause of union. Amazing that he came from Illinois.

Comment by lincolnlover Friday, Nov 16, 12 @ 11:18 am
Very nice, a welcome addition to an online curriculum accessible to everyone.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Nov 16, 12 @ 12:03 pm
Lincoln as a cool dude? That is not a side that has ever been seen before—long live the Penny!

Comment by Belle Friday, Nov 16, 12 @ 12:41 pm
Well done. A tip of the hat to all involved.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, Nov 16, 12 @ 2:28 pm
Ironically, the Lincoln/Hamlin ‘60 website was just terrible.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Friday, Nov 16, 12 @ 2:30 pm
lincolnlover: He was in hid mid-20s when he moved to Illinois. He probably had formed a sense of ethics before arriving here.

Comment by Ronald RayGun Friday, Nov 16, 12 @ 3:17 pm
I like it. Kids will, too.

Comment by Ray del Camino Friday, Nov 16, 12 @ 4:03 pm