On Display Now

Three large exhibit cases in the Rolland Center for Lincoln Research are available for public viewing any time the Center is open. The displays cover three themes:

Gettysburg:

Our “Gettysburg” case features photographs, postcards, a songster, a map, a newspaper clipping, and more. These items tell the story of the Battle of Gettysburg and the Dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery. Learn more about the battle, its impact, and the memory of those fateful days. This case also includes a bust sculpted in 2007 by Fort Wayne native Willis S. Clark.

Indiana Civil War Soldiers:

Among the featured items in our “Indiana Civil War Soldiers” case, you will find photographs, letters, documents, and 3-D items. Explore what it meant to be a Hoosier soldier during the Civil War, from enlistment to discharge and reunions. In this case, you can expect to see John Wilkins’s journal and many more items from our Hoosier soldiers.

Wartime President:

Finally, our “Wartime President” case includes photographs, songsters, and pamphlets, among other items. Through these items, learn more about the decisions made by President Abraham Lincoln as he led the nation through a Civil War. One featured item, in this case, is on loan from the Indiana State Museum and is an 1864 campaign pin.

 

In addition to the three large exhibit cases, the Rolland Center also has a smaller case which is rotated more frequently. Check out this temporary exhibit:

Women’s History Month

(March 1, 2024, through the end of the month)

Women of the nineteenth century lived during a time of considerable social change. Starting in the early nineteenth century, many women became social reformers, dedicating themselves to women’s rights advocacy, abolitionism, education, and temperance. As society transformed, women stepped out of “traditional” roles in other ways. Some flourished in the arts, becoming actresses, singers, artists, and writers. It is important to note that many stories of women, especially women of color, have been lost or untold over the years. Join us at the Rolland Center for Lincoln Research in the Allen County Public Library’s Main Library as we celebrate some of these remarkable women! The exhibit is up now and will be available for viewing until the end of March 2024. See an exhibit case featuring stories of known and unknown women during the 1800s.

On Display in the Vault

Lincoln & his Pre-presidency Occupations

Funerals and Mourning for the Fallen President

Lincoln & his Time in the White House