Lincoln @ Gettysburg

Illustration by S.J. Ferris (1895), The Buttolph Collection of Menus, New York Public Library, PD

Lincoln @ Gettysburg is a recounting of how President Abraham Lincoln used new technology (the telegraph) as well as brilliant writing skills to lead the country during the American Civil War, and tells the back story of the Gettysburg Address.  It’s a must see for history buffs and/or lovers of Lincoln as well as an inspiring lesson in leadership.

The documentary was first aired by PBS in November 2013.  Watch it today via Amazon Prime via this link → HERE, or you may be able to watch it online via PBS ( membership is required to access streaming video in some PBS viewing areas).  Alternatively, Lincoln @ Gettysburg may be available to watch via the PBS program service provided on streaming TV & media players (e.g., Roku; AppleTV); search history categories or “American Experience” to locate.

The things I want to know are in books;  My best friend is the man who’ll give me a book I haven’t read—Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln had an extraordinary ability to understand people, their motives and desires, and he used that ability, as well as amazing fortitude, with great effectiveness.  Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book Team of Rivals:  The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln provides an enlightening portrayal of the man and historical account of his presidency (It’s a Zola favorite).  If you haven’t yet read the book, recommend you get a copy.  Check for it at your local library, or you can purchase via Amazon simply by tapping the image of the book.

There is no known photo of Lincoln presenting his address at Gettysburg, and finding him in the few photographs in existence has been difficult for historians. However, a recent photographic analysis by the “Virtual Lincoln Project” successfully identified Lincoln and others in the crowd.  Find more about the discoveries and see an interactive display of the photos via Smithsonian Magazine article “Will the Real Abraham Lincoln Please Stand Up?” by Franz Lidz (October 2013).

In 2015, the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library acquired the Meserve-Kunhardt Collection. It includes an extraordinary compilation of 19th century American photography and the largest collection of unique photographs of Abraham Lincoln.  “Living with Lincoln” is a film documentary that chronicles the devoted collecting, preserving and documenting by five generations of Meserve-Kunhardt family members through photos, home movies and personal stories.  You’ll find the Living with Lincoln video for rent or purchase here → via Amazon Instant Video.

Feature Photo: Abraham Lincoln in a crowd of soldiers, public officials and citizens at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on November 19, 1863. The photo, credited to American photographer, David Bachrach, is believed to have been taken just after Lincoln’s arrival, approximately 3 hours prior to his delivery of the now famous “Gettysburg Address”. The photo is currently located at the National Archives and Records Administration, College Park. [Sourced from Wikimedia, Public Domain]

Zeester Media LLC may receive a small commission for a purchase of video or book via a link within this page. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.

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