Programs & Events
The Friends of the Lincoln Collection regularly sponsors programs and writing contests, as well as special awards for significant contributions toward “celebrating the legacy and extending the wisdom of Abraham Lincoln” – which is our mission.
On Display Now
Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection items on display now at the Allen County Public Library (900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN) are listed here.
Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection items on display now at the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites (650 W Washington St., Indianapolis, IN) are linked here.
Lecture Series
The Center’s two core programs are lectures by nationally recognized Lincoln historians as well as scholars in the Fort Wayne area during the spring and fall of each year.
The Rolland Lecture
The Rolland Lecture was established in honor of Ian and Mimi Rolland in 2012. It is an annual event which, like the McMurtry Lecture, seeks to bring significant Lincoln experts and scholars to speak at the Allen County Public Library.
The McMurtry Lecture
The R. Gerald McMurtry Lecture was established in 1978 to honor Dr. R. Gerald McMurtry, the second director of the Louis A. Warren Lincoln Library and Museum, now the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection. Each year a distinguished Lincoln scholar is invited to Fort Wayne to present a paper on some aspect of the life of Abraham Lincoln. There have been thirty-seven McMurtry Lectures—one each year except for 1993, 1994, and 2009. The 2010 and 2011 lectures were held at both the Indiana State Museum & Historic Sites and the Allen County Public Library. Since 2012, the lecture has been held solely at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, IN.
Former Rolland and McMurtry Lectures
Panels
In addition to its two lecture series, from time to time the Friends organization presents panel discussions and symposia, featuring multiple participants and active audience interaction.
Contests and Awards
Please check this space regularly for news of essay contests, achievement awards, and special celebrations of those who celebrate the legacy and extend the wisdom of Abraham Lincoln.
Our current essay contest for high school students in Allen County, Indiana can be found here.