Lincoln Seen and Heard, Part 2

Ron, who is famous for taking bad blurry pictures took this one of me (Gee, thanks Ron), after I got my program signed by scholar and author Harold Holzer (standing behind me up on stage). Actor Richard Dreyfuss is standing next to him.

"Lincoln Seen and Heard" was co-hosted by Illinois College and the Illinois State Historical Society. The event was part of the annual ISHS annual Symposium, this year titled "Abraham Lincoln in Ante-Bellum Illinois: 1830-1861."

The presentation was preceded by a musical program featuring the Illinois College and MacMurray College (also located in Jacksonville) concert choirs, IC Wind Ensemble and local soloists Joel Tinsley and Addie Gramelspacher.

Harold Holzer, shown above, recognized as one of the nation's pre-eminent Lincoln historians received an honorary doctorate from Illinois College, when he delivered the commencement address to the class of 2007.

Mr. Holzer is a senior vice president for external affairs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and serves as co-chairman of the U.S. Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. He is also the author, co-author or editor of 33 books on Lincoln and the Civil War era. Among his award-winning works are "The Lincoln Image," "The Lincoln-Douglas Debates," and with Gov. Mario Coumo, "Lincoln on Democracy," which has been published in four languages.

Mr Holzer and Mr. Dreyfuss are longtime friends. Following the dramatic performance, Mr. Dreyfuss received an honorary doctor of fine arts degree.

Mr. Dreyfuss is considered one of the leading actors of American cinema. Three of his films are included in the American Film Institutes list of the 100 greatest films. At age 29, Mr. Dreyfuss won the Oscar for best actor in "The Goodbye Girl." Twenty nine years later, his role as the teacher in "Mr. Holland's Opus" received Academy Award and Golden Globe. nomination for best actor.

The event featured more than 70 scholars from across the state and nation who shared their research and knowledge on those historic times with such general topics as abolitionism and the Underground Railroad, along with Lincoln's law practice and political career in Illinois, and his many local connections to Jacksonville and Illinois College.

Some excerpts from Greg Olson's article in the Journal-Courier

Lincoln Seen and Heard, Part 1

Tonight Ron and I enjoyed a rare performance of "Lincoln Seen and Heard" by Academy Award-winning Richard Dreyfuss and scholar Harold Holzer held here in Jacksonville at Illinois College. The dramatic reading, accompanied by projected Lincoln images has been performed for only a few audiences during the bicentennial year of Abraham Lincoln's birth, including the White House, Ford's Theatre, the Library of Congress, and at the George H. W. Bush and William Clinton presidential libraries.

After the presentation I got my program booklet autographed--Richard Dreyfuss on top and Harold Holzer's autograph below it. It was a very special event, because both of these men are at the top of their professions. Mr. Dreyfuss is a friendly consummate actor's actor, as well as an actor for the people. And Mr. Holder is similarly a Lincoln scholar, who is accessible to the lay reader, and yet his latest of over 30 books has been highly praised by his peers in Lincoln studies.

A large selection of Harold Holzer's books were for sale, and he was happy to autograph them. I couldn't resist adding to my collection with his latest acclaimed book, "Lincoln President-Elect: Abraham Lincoln and the Great Secession Winter 1860-1861," even though it has over 600 pages. The book is getting great reviews, so I am looking forward to reading it. The photo belows shows part of the page inside that he chose to autograph. It was a pleasure to meet Harold Holzer after having seen him on so many television programs. He is a very friendly and gracious man.

Some excerpts from Greg Olson's article in the Journal-Courier.