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National Lincoln exhibit, programs at EMU's Halle Library explore U.S. Constitution, Civil War through Oct. 9

by Pamela Young, Published September 23, 2009

YPSILANTI - Elected the 16th president of the United States in 1860, Abraham Lincoln took office at a time of great turmoil. By the time he was sworn in, seven states had already seceded from the Union.

A national traveling exhibit, Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War at Eastern Michigan University’s Bruce T. Halle Library explores Lincoln’s struggle to resolve basic questions that divided Americans at the most perilous time in the nation’s history. The exhibit, which runs through Oct. 9, is free and open to the public during the library’s regular hours.

Eastern Michigan is the only state university and one of only 25 libraries in the nation to offer this program.

In addition to the exhibit, the library will offer free programs and other events that delve further into this volatile era. They include:

• A special performance featuring Abraham Lincoln interpreter Fred Priebe and members of the Ypsilanti Community Band playing Civil War era music, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 7:30 – 8:45 p.m., Student Center Auditorium.
• Lincoln and the Constitution workshops for local high school students, Thursday, Oct. 1, Halle Library.
• Panel discussion about Lincoln and the Constitution featuring EMU faculty members Barry Pyle from political science, Steven Ramold from history and Ronald Woods from African-American Studies, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2:30 – 3:45 p.m., room 310, Student Center.

For more information, contact Robert Stevens at 734.487.0020, ext. 2132, or rsteven5@emich.edu or go to http://www.emich.edu/library/news/lincoln.php

The exhibit is made possible by the National Constitution Center, the American Library Association Public Programs Office and the National Endowment for the Humanities.