On the 200th anniversary of his birthday, Abraham Lincoln
has paid a month-long visit to the Eastern Michigan University
campus.
A traveling exhibit, "Lincoln: The Constitution and the
Civil War," made its debut Sept. 8 and runs through Oct.
9 at EMU's Halle Library. Eastern Michigan is the
only Michigan university and one of only 25 locations in
the country to host the exhibit.
The National Constitution Center and the American Library
Association Public Programs Office organized the exhibit,
with a major grant from the National Endowment for the
Humanities.
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A LINCOLN INTERPRETATION: Fred Priebe,
an
Abraham Lincoln impersonator, provides an
interpretation
of America's 16th president during a
Sept. 30 event
at the Student Center Auditorium.
Members of the
Ypsilanti Community Band performed
Civil War-era
music. |
The display examines the start of Lincoln's presidency
and follows it through the Emancipation Proclamation, the
end of the Civil War and the 13th Amendment that constitutionally
banned slavery in the United States. A large selection
of related books and maps have been on display and available
to the public to check out.
"What attracted us to this grant was the chance to engage
both the campus community and the public by hosting a timely
exhibition," said Robert Stevens, humanities librarian,
who coordinated the program
at EMU, along with Randall Baier, multimedia resources,
fine and performing arts librarian. "Lincoln has always
been an important and pivotal figure in American history,
but the difficult choices he had to make as he wrestled
with the Constitution are issues we still struggle with
today."
To celebrate, the University hosted several special programs
including an opening reception, a workshop for high school
students and a panel discussion about Lincoln and the Constitution.
One of the main highlights was a presentation by Lincoln
impersonator Fred Priebe. Accompanying "Lincoln" was the
Ypsilanti Town Band, which played Civil War-era music,
under the direction of Jerry Robbins, former dean of the
College of Education.
Using Lincoln's actual remarks, Priebe spoke about secession,
slavery and the writ of habeas corpus. The audience clapped
when he said, "The government should do for the people
only what they cannot do for themselves."
His anti-slavery remarks, based on a legal point of view,
also drew a round of applause.
"Lincoln did not do things 'willy-nilly,'" said Priebe,
an EMU alumnus ('85), who has been portraying the 16th
president since 1996. "He did things very deliberately,
always with the Constitution in mind and with what he believed
to be in the best interest of the nation over the long
term."
To complement the "presidential" remarks, the town band
played tunes by various 19th- century composers, such
as Stephen Foster and George Frederick Root, on antique
instruments. Their repertoire included well-known
works like "Yankee Doodle," "Hail to the Chief," "Oh, Susanna," "My
Old Kentucky Home" and the Southern favorite, "Way Down
in Dixie." Prior to each piece, Robbins would explain
the tune's history and provide insights into its composer.
"People (the musicians) are interested in doing special
occasions like this," said Marge Taylor, administrative
manager at the College of Technology, who has played French
horn in the band for four years. "Some of the musicians
borrowed antique instruments and borrowed period vests
and other clothing from EMU's theatre program."
Taylor found she had to learn new fingering to play an
antique E flat alto horn.
"This instrument is different from my French horn, although
it eventually progressed to the French horn," she said.
"The combination of live dramatic performance and live
music from the Civil War period was really the attraction
for me," Baier said. "We've all heard 'Oh, Susanna,' and 'Yankee
Doodle' many times. The educational moment occurs when
one's anticipation of the familiar melody is broken by
a different musical rendition."
Re-enactors representing the 21 st Michigan and the 17th
Michigan Co. E (the Normal Company) added to the concert's
ambience. The 17th Michigan was called the Normal Company
because many of its soldiers were from Michigan State Normal
School, now Eastern Michigan.
A panel discussion, featuring moderator Linda Pritchard,
professor of history and interim department head of women
and gender studies; Barry Pyle, associate professor of
political science; Steven Ramold, associate professor of
history and philosophy; and Ronald Woods, professor of
African-American Studies, concluded the activities on campus.
Many of the issues facing Lincoln, such as war and constitutional
questions, are similar to those facing today's presidency,
said Pyle.
"Lincoln's use of the Constitution and the effects of
his actions can be seen today in issues like Guantanamo
Bay," he said. "No other president has been allowed to
exercise the type of power that Lincoln had. He ran over
the Constitution. The Constitution is designed to limit
the power of government. Lincoln introduced the idea that,
during crises, the president can take actions that may
violate the Constitution. "
Woods discussed how Lincoln is the quintessential American
and that U.S. history is still evolving from that time.
In regards to enslaved people, Woods said it would be far
simpler if slavery was just an issue of exclusion and inclusion,
but it is not. It was more than economics. There also were
social and cultural problems surrounding slavery and the
Southern way of life.
As for the North, the country had to face the problem
about what could be done with 7 million newly freed persons.
That was an issue, he said, that was yet to be resolved.
"It always has been difficult to extract race from the
core (issue)," said Woods, who noted that one needs to
reconcile a Lincoln who hated slavery, but felt black Americans
were inferior.
Although Priebe didn't agree with Pyle that Lincoln "ran
over the Constitution," he acknowledged that Lincoln "stretched
his powers as president. However, the Congress approved
of virtually everything he did."
"As we celebrate the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth,
we should remember that, like all of our political giants
from the past and present, he was not perfect, " said Priebe. "He
had a good heart, however, for his fellow man, desired
freedom for all and wished for all the opportunity to make
the most of their abilities."
