Local historian and scholar Timothy Tomlinson will be the featured speaker in the popular Hosmer-Williams Lecture Series at Farley’s Music Hall, Elsah, Illinois, Friday, May 22, 2015 at 7:30 PM. The Series is sponsored by Historic Elsah Foundation and underwritten by Liberty Bank of Godfrey, Illinois.
Tomlinson’s topic will be Bringing Mr. Lincoln Home, the incredible story of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination and the long journey of his body as it was returned to Springfield, Illinois from Washington City in the spring of 1865.
Tomlinson is Chair of the Great Rivers Lincoln Coffin Project, the group that created the replica coffin that was used for the Lincoln Funeral Reenactment Ceremonies in Springfield on May 2-3, 2015. “We built a museum quality replica that is well authenticated,” says Tomlinson. “In doing so, we learned a lot about our 16th President and the national grief that was part of the America of 150 years ago. In sharing photos and stories of the Lincoln funeral I believe we can all learn a little more about this great man.”
In his first experience speaking as a reenactor, Tomlinson will appear as Benjamin St. James Fry, Methodist minister, scholar, college president, newspaper reporter, and Chaplain of the 63rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry to tell the story of the Lincoln funeral. “Fry was the founder of the Chautauqua on the Great River Road, and a great admirer of Lincoln,” Tomlinson notes, “and it is possible he would have attended the viewing of Lincoln’s body in Indianapolis and even Springfield. I think he can tell this story well.”
The lecture is free and open to the public. Tomlinson’s book, The Western Chautauqua will be available for purchase and to be autographed by the author. Refreshments will be served following the lecture. Reservations are not required. Parking is available.
Photo thanks to Photogbuddies.
Download an informational poster here.
For additional information, contact Tim Tomlinson, Historic Elsah Foundation, 618-374-1518, text a request to 618-513-7119, or email a request to [email protected].