Faces of Lincoln display coming to Rushville

The Indiana Historical Society’s traveling exhibition, The Faces of Lincoln, will open July 3 in the 201 Building on Main Street in Rushville. Sponsored by the Rush County Historical Society in celebration of the bicentennial year of Lincoln’s birth, the first night preview will be open to Historical Society members from 6 to 8 p.m. Members attending also will be treated to appetizers and a wine bar.

The exhibit will then be packed up and taken to the Gowdy House Museum, 601 N. Perkins, where it will be on display to the public. Visitors may enjoy the exhibit Monday and Thursday mornings from 9 a.m. until noon through July and from 1 to 3 p.m. July 11, 19 and Aug. 2.

Drawn from the Lincoln collections of the Indiana Historical Society, acquired in 2003 with the help of the Lilly Endowment, The Faces of Lincoln explores the image of Abraham Lincoln in three distinct sections: "Developing the Image," "Creating the Image" and "Idealizing the Image."

"Developing the Image" takes the visitor on a journey through the development of photography and begins with a discussion of the different types of photography during the period Lincoln lived. A timeline of photographic advancements depicts different types of photos and images of Lincoln, such as daguerreotypes, lithographs, stereographs, cartes de visite, cabinet cards, tintypes, ambrotypes and portraits. These panels also explain how the new art of photography helped Lincoln become a well known political figure.

The second section, "Creating the Image," considers how photographs and prints created Lincoln’s public image and how his words and deeds make him even more memorable. This segment contains popular photographs and lithographs of Lincoln that were altered in some way to portray him in different lights, as well as cartoons and sketches that were created to lampoon or criticize him. Lincoln was never photographed with his family; this section of the exhibition displays the images that printmakers created to depict Lincoln with his family as well as the few photographs ever taken of Mary Todd Lincoln and the Lincoln children.

The third section in the exhibition, "Idealizing the Image," explains how Lincoln’s assassination elevated him from man to an American icon. Images relating to his death, including portraits created of his deathbed scene and illustrated covers of funeral march sheet music written for him, reveal the outpouring of grief and confusion that surrounded his death. The section also contains images created by printmakers that portrayed Lincoln in symbolic scenes, with angels or George Washington, for instance. The connection between Washington and Lincoln became a common theme in images after Lincoln’s death as Americans elevated both men to the status of heroes. This section also explores the use of Lincoln’s image on currency or in connection with products and businesses.

Lincoln’s legend continues to grow even 140 years after his death. For many Americans, his image has come to represent the virtues of strength, honesty, perseverance and sacrifice, and his life has come to illustrate the American dream of rising form humble beginnings to the highest public office. It is easy to idealize this man who rose to the presidency of the United States, preserved the Union, freed the slaves and kept government running during the most tumultuous of times. It is difficult to separate Lincoln from his legend, but images of his face show his humanity. The Faces of Lincoln exhibition reveals the genuine man behind the myth.

The Rush County Historical Society is proud to bring this exhibit to Rushville in its effort to "discover our past, enrich our future." The Society operates and maintains the Gowdy House Museum and sponsors several programs and events throughout the year. Any non-member wishing to attend the July 3 opening needs simply to join the Historical Society. More information can be found on line by visiting rushcountyhistory.org.

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