By David J. Kent
Washington, DC
Thursday, February 16, 2023
The Abraham Lincoln Institute will once again sponsor its annual symposium at Ford's Theatre on March 25, 2023. This full-day symposium (9 am - 5 pm) will feature some Lincoln Group of DC members and other familiar faces, as well as a panel discussion. It is not to be missed.
After three years of pandemic-forced relegation to virtual events, the 2023 ALI symposium will be returning to the historic Ford's Theatre. Audience members will no doubt glance up at the box where Abraham Lincoln was shot before being carried to the Petersen House across the street to await his final breaths. Similarly, each speaker walking onto the famous, or perhaps infamous, stage will experience the heavy aura of that fateful night.
The lineup is impressive, including the globally renowned Pulitzer Prize-winning Jon Meacham. They will appear in the following order and discuss the topics listed.
Terry Alford: Long-time LGDC member and Professor Emeritus of History at Northern Virginia Community College. He will discuss his book, In the Houses of Their Dead: The Lincolns, the Booths, and the Spirits.
Diana Schaub: Professor of Political Science at Loyola University Maryland. She will discuss her 2021 book, His Greatest Speeches: How Lincoln Moved the Nation
David J. Kent: Current President of the Lincoln Group of DC, who will speak on his new book, Lincoln: The Fire of Genius: How Abraham Lincoln’s Commitment to Science and Technology Helped Modernize America
Fred L. Hord: Professor Emeritus of Africana Studies, Knox College, Galesburg, IL. His recently co-edited book is Knowing Him by Heart: African Americans on Abraham Lincoln
Jon Meacham: Carolyn T. and Robert M. Rogers Endowed Chair in American Presidency at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. He will discuss his bestselling book, And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle
In addition to the speakers, ALI will announce the winners of the Hay-Nicolay Dissertation Prize (given jointly with the Abraham Lincoln Association) and the ALI book award. There will also be an afternoon speakers panel led by ALI Vice President Edna Greene Medford in which all audience participants are encouraged to ask questions.
All authors will be signing copies of their books in the Ford's Theatre lobby at specified times during the day. Books are available in the Ford's Theatre store.
As Ford's Theatre welcomes all of us back to the historic venue for this in-person symposium, everyone is encouraged to follow current COVID protocols. At the moment, masking is not required but encouraged. All guests are expected to be compliant with current vaccination standards.
More information about the symposium can be found on the ALI website: https://lincoln-institute.org/abraham-lincoln-institute-symposium-2023/
All tickets are FREE but attendees are asked to register and download their tickets in advance on the Ford's Theatre website: https://fords.org/event/abraham-lincoln-institute-symposium/