The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (ALBC) was the congressionally created, 14-member federal commission focused on planning and commemorating the 200th birthday of the United States' 16th president on February 12, 2009. The commission served for ten years, from 2000 to 2010. Its official successor organization, announced in 2011 with an expanded board and broadened mission, is the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Foundation.
Commissioners The ALBC was established by the passage of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission Act in 2000 (Public Law No: 106-173). The commission's 14 members were a diverse group of political leaders, jurists, scholars and collectors, chosen for their knowledge of Lincoln and their experience educating the public on his life, times, and historical impact. The commissioners were appointed by the president, the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, with input from the governors of Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. Commissioners included: Richard J. Durbin, United States senator from Illinois, ALBC co-chair Harold Holzer, ALBC co-chair and senior vice president for external affairs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Dr. Jean Bandler Dr. Darrel E. Bigham, professor of history at the University of Southern Indiana Dr. Gabor Boritt, Robert Fluhrer professor of civil war studies and director of the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College Jim Bunning, United States senator from Kentucky Julie Cellini James O. Horton, Joan L. Banneker Professor of American Studies and History at George Washington University and Historian Emeritus of the National Museum of American History Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (D - IL) Lura Lynn Ryan, former first lady of Illinois Louise Taper, owner of the Taper Collection, the most significant private collection of Lincoln artifacts (acquired in 2007 by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum) Judge Tommy Turner, founded Lincoln Museum in Hodgenville, Kentucky Frank J. Williams, former Chief Justice (Ret.) of the Rhode Island Supreme Court and Lincoln scholar Ray LaHood, former U.S. congressman from Illinois's 18th congressional district served as ALBC Co-chair until January 2009 when he was subsequently appointed and assumed office as United States Secretary of Transportation in President Barack Obama's administration.
Eileen R. Mackevich served as executive director from 2006 to 2010. Her predecessor was Michael Bishop.
Other staff included: Jennifer Rosenfeld, deputy executive director David Early, director of communications Courtney Barefoot V. Suresh Hasan Aloul, webmaster Bryan Jack Sharon Cunningham, accountant David Morgan Genevieve Courbois
ALBC offices are located in the John Adams Building of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
Overview Established by the United States Congress, the ALBC aims to celebrate the life and legacy of Lincoln while reinvigorating his thoughts, ideals and spirit throughout America and around the world. The commission's goals highlight numerous projects and cultural events including nine signature events:
The National Opening Ceremony - Louisville, Kentucky and Hodgenville, Kentucky. The Mother's Day Celebration - Lincoln City, Indiana. Birthday Tribute and Wreath-Laying Ceremony in Washington, D.C. The Lincoln Memorial Rededication Series - Washington, D.C. Bicameral Celebration of Abraham Lincoln's Birthday: A Congressional Tribute - United States Capitol rotunda. Exhibition - "With Malice Toward None: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibit" - Washington, D.C. National Teach-In - National Archives, Washington, D.C. Howard University Conference: Emancipation and Race in the Age of Lincoln - April 16–18, 2009. The Global Lincoln: A Conference Examining the Global Legacy of Abraham Lincoln - St Catherine's College, Oxford - July 3–5, 2009.
Other ALBC tributes included: New coin redesign series featuring four new cents. A new five-dollar bill. 2009 Bicentennial commemorative dollar coin. Four United States Postal Service commemorative Lincoln stamps. Ten town hall meetings around the United States. A Dedication Day Ceremony in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, site of the Battle of Gettysburg and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address "Rise Up and Hear: An Evening of Poetry Honoring Abraham Lincoln's Legacy" - Washington, D.C., September 22, 2008.
Additional Lincoln Bicentennial events included: A week-long Lincoln Bicentennial Bike Tour, Tour de Lincoln, from August 16–23, 2008 which begins at Lincoln's birthplace in Hodgenville, Kentucky and concludes in Springfield, Illinois. An international symposium in Paris, France. Forever Free: Abraham Lincoln's Journey to Emancipation traveling exhibit.
Outreach The ALBC collaborated with numerous scholars and public figures as well as cultural and educational institutions to help educate and engage the public. An advisory board included more than 150 historians, scholars, civic leaders and Lincoln enthusiasts. Among them were Michael Beschloss, David Blight, Ken Burns, Richard Carwardine, David Herbert Donald, John Hope Franklin, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Dr. Allen C. Guelzo, James M. McPherson, Douglas Wilson, Orville Vernon Burton, Mario M. Cuomo, Dr. Roger Wilkins, Jack Kemp, and Sam Waterston.
In conjunction with the Library of Congress, the ALBC created an interactive exhibit titled "With Malice Toward None." The 2009–2010 traveling exhibit highlighted Lincoln's life and featured original speeches, letters, photos and artifacts.
Various organizations supported Lincoln's Bicentennial, including the New-York Historical Society; Huntington Library in San Marino, California; National Archives; Chicago Historical Society; Newberry Library in Chicago; Organization of American Historians; Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois; Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne, Indiana; Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History; Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS); Fetzer Institute in Kalamazoo, Michigan; National Park Service; and C-SPAN.
Kentucky Inaugural Celebration On February 11–12, 2008, the ALBC launched its two-year celebration of Lincoln's 200th birthday. The two-day event began in Louisville at the historic Henry Clay Hotel. Pulitzer Prize winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin, McConnell Center senior fellow Dr. Thomas Mackey and African-American historian Dr. Gerald L. Smith addressed the crowd during the Lincoln on Leadership Symposium.
That evening, The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts hosted A Kentucky Salute to Abraham Lincoln. Popular radio journalist and Louisville native, Bob Edwards served as master of ceremonies. Performances included the Louisville Orchestra and opera soprano Angela Brown. Film producer Jerry Bruckheimer and his wife Linda Bruckheimer, a Kentucky native, welcomed the audience. American composer Peter Schickele premiered his new piece, Lincoln at Ease.
Capping the evening was award-winning actor Sam Waterston and Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer with their critically acclaimed production Lincoln Seen and Heard, a narrated and dramatic presentation of Lincoln's life.
A snow storm hit that evening and the next morning, on Lincoln's 199th birthday, icy roads forced the cancellation of the formal inaugural ceremony at the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site in Hodgenville, Kentucky.
First Lady Laura Bush was scheduled to deliver the keynote address. Other speakers included United States Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, ALBC Commissioners Tommy Turner and Harold Holzer, U.S. Congressman Ron Lewis (R-KY) and Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear. Award-winning actor Sam Waterston was set to narrate the Gettysburg Address. Period music by the famed brass band Saxton's Cornet Band and the American Spiritual Ensemble was also planned.
Lincoln Mother's Day Celebration
On May 11, 2008, the ALBC celebrated its second national signature event in Lincoln City, Indiana. Paying tribute to the women in Lincoln's life, the Lincoln Mother's Day Celebration also served as the statewide Lincoln Bicentennial kick-off for the Indiana ALBC. However, blustering wind and rainy conditions nearly cancelled the tribute. Scheduled for the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, the commemoration survived after National Park Service relocated the event to the Lincoln State Park.
ALBC Commissioners Joan Flinspach and Dr. Darrel Bigham addressed the audience along with Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and Congressman Baron Hill.
Rise Up and Hear: An Evening of Poetry Honoring Abraham Lincoln's Legacy In collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, the ALBC showcased an evening of poetry and music enjoyed by Lincoln as well as works inspired by his leadership. Featuring a variety of well-known poets and actors, the program included readings of contemporary and classic poems.
Special guests included actors Joan Allen and Sam Waterston. Dana Gioia, poet and Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts led the evening festivities. Other attendees included former Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne; ALBC Co-chair Harold Holzer; Poet and President of the Poetry Foundation John Barr; Former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky; and 2008 Poetry Out Loud National Champion Shawntay Henry. The band Dead Man's Hollow performed Lincoln-era music.
The September 22, 2008, event took place at the Sidney Yates Auditorium in the United States Department of Interior.
National Teach-In The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, in partnership with the History Channel, featured a National Teach-In on the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln broadcast live from the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
The special live event featured Lincoln scholars, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Matthew Pinsker and Harold Holzer, sharing their expertise and answering students' questions.
Over 5,000 schools from the US and countless more from nine different countries participated. The webcast sparked hundreds of people to submit questions.
Lincoln Memorial Rededication Series A three-part event, the Lincoln Memorial Rededication Series featured appearances by some of America's most notable figures, including Members of Congress, Michael Feinstein, Colin Powell and the U.S. Marine Corps Band.
February 12, 2009 Birthday Tribute and Wreath-Laying Ceremony - 8:00 am: Four-time Grammy-nominated singer Michael Feinstein sang the National Anthem, accompanied by the U.S. Marine Corps Band. Acclaimed poet and author Nikki Giovanni recited her new work, "At this Moment", written especially for the Bicentennial. And ALBC Co-Chairs Senator Dick Durbin and Harold Holzer addressed the crowd.
Other attendees and speakers included Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar; MOLLUS 57th Commander-in-Chief Karl Schaeffer and Gordon R. Bury, 54th MOLLUS Commander-in-Chief; and retired Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice – and ALBC Commissioner – Frank J. Williams who read the Gettysburg Address with school children from Strong John Thomson Elementary School in Washington, DC.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces Judge Scott Stucky was Master of Ceremonies.
Wreaths were presented on behalf of the people of the United States, the diplomatic corps, and various hereditary organizations, including the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States in a stirring ceremony.
Photos from that morning and a video of Michael Feinstein's performance can be found at the Lincoln Bicentennial's website.
Bicameral Celebration of Abraham Lincoln's Birthday: A Congressional Tribute - 11:30 AM: President Barack Obama paid tribute to the former legislator from Illinois in the United States Capitol rotunda and US Army Chorus resoundingly performed "Battle Hymn of the Republic" as House and Senate leaders convened to commemorate Lincoln's 200th birthday.