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* I missed this press release on Friday…
At a time of intense division in the nation, First Lady MK Pritzker announced that she is donating an iconic bust of President Lincoln to his presidential library in Springfield to inspire unity among Illinoisans and Americans.
Acclaimed sculptor Leonard Volk created the commanding depiction for the 1860 presidential campaign. It proved incredibly popular and helped establish Lincoln’s image among voters eager to know more about the presidential candidate.
The bust being donated to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum once belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln and was displayed in their Springfield home.
“President Lincoln’s vision for national unity amid poisonous and violent division rings true today more than any other time in my lifetime,” said First Lady MK Pritzker. “This iconic bust of President Lincoln is valuable for more than just the history it represents; it is valuable for the future that it inspires. I hope that the people of Illinois visit his presidential library to take in this breathtaking sculpture, and have the opportunity to reflect on the need for unity in our own time.”
Gary Johnson, chairman of the ALPLM’s Board of Trustees thanked First Lady Pritzker for the generous donation.
“This treasure helps tell the story of Abraham Lincoln’s journey from politician to president to national icon. It humanizes Lincoln while still managing to capture the strength and determination the nation would soon need,” Johnson said.
“We were overjoyed to learn that this amazing piece of President Lincoln’s legacy is coming to the ALPLM. It’s both a powerful piece of art and an important piece of history that deserves to be seen by Lincoln fans everywhere,” said Christina Shutt, the Library and Museum’s Executive Director. “We plan to display the bust as soon as possible so Lincoln admirers everywhere can visit us and appreciate its impact.”
First Lady Pritzker purchased the bust at auction last week for $400,000. The bust is being shipped directly to the ALPLM.
Volk’s sculpture helped blunt attacks Lincoln faced when he ran for president, explained Dr. Ian Hunt, the presidential library’s head of acquisitions.
“The image captured by Volk dispelled criticism of the future president as awkward, homely or weak. Volk’s work instead conveyed a sense of strength, integrity and character which certainly helped propel Lincoln into the White House,” Hunt said.
This copy of the bust was given to the Lincolns by the sculptor on May 18, 1860, the day after Lincoln won the Republican nomination for president. They kept it until moving to Washington, D.C., in February 1861. Instead of taking it with them, they gave it to neighbor and family friend Noyes Miner, and it remained in his family until purchased by the first lady.
Miner’s descendants were also owners of a rare Lincoln Bible that they donated to the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in 2019.
* Click the pic for more photos of the sculpture and more info…
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 8:48 am
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She didn’t have to do this. This was a nice thing to do.
Comment by Steve Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 8:56 am
Pritzker family steps up…What you got, Grif?
Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 9:01 am
“once belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln and was displayed in their Springfield home.”
And here’s the bust as displayed in the Lincoln home. Look on the far right of the woodcut drawing.
https://www.nps.gov/liho/learn/historyculture/drawings.htm
Comment by Steve Rogers Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 9:05 am
Not a huge deal, but it’s nice. I always like it when our statewide officials demonstrate some interest in the culture and history of Illinois.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 9:11 am
This is a generous donation. A very cool piece that makes an appropriate statement relating history to the present. Now I am wondering if the bust is life size will they display it wearing that hat?
Comment by Captain Obvious Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 9:14 am
Is it actually made of butter? Kinda looks like it!
Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 9:21 am
This is so very thoughtful and generous for the library/museum.
A partisan lens to this is quite telling to those unwilling to celebrate such a gift.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 9:22 am
What’s the over/under on when the ALPLM loans it out to the Noah’s Ark “museum”?
Comment by North Park Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 9:25 am
Well done. Generous and classy thing to do.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 9:27 am
A gracious and generous act. I hope it inspires a trend -each person in Illinois contributes something to heal the communities around us. A salute to MK and JB for their efforts to make Illinois a better place.
Comment by Froganon Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 9:29 am
One resident of Illinois donates GOP history, another gives a typewriter
Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:02 am
“The bust is being shipped directly to the ALPLM.”
The Pritzker’s are not taking possession of the bust.
It seems as though there was some thought ahead of time about the donation.
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:12 am
Thank you.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:41 am
A very thoughtful gift, thoughtfully given. And thank you for the link, Steve Rogers–neat to see it in the Lincoln home.
Comment by Leslie K Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 12:31 pm