About the Center for Lincoln Studies
The Center for Lincoln Studies is dedicated to the study of Abraham Lincoln's life, era, and legacy. Through active learning opportunities, meaningful research, and civic engagement, the Center for Lincoln Studies ensures that everyone has the opportunity to see themselves reflected in Lincoln's legacy.
Center for Lincoln Studies Core Activities
Community Education
The Center for Lincoln Studies offers engaging programs on Lincoln's life, era, and legacy. Most notably, the CLS holds the Mary and James Beaumont Lincoln Legacy Lecture Series every fall. This year, Jon Grinspan, curator of political history at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American history, joins 11th archivist of the United States, Colleen Shogan to discuss Lincoln's age of political disruption and our cotemporary moment of disruptive politics.
Lincoln Research
The Center for Lincoln Studies conducts and supports research on Lincoln, his era, and his legacy. This year the CLS's Book Series released its first book, Lincoln the Citizen: The Complete Version, edited by Michael Burlingame. Recently, CLS director Jacob K. Friefeld's book, The First Migrants, was awarded the Caroline Bancroft History Prize by the Denver Public Library. The book unites Lincoln's legacies of emancipation and free land policy in the West.
Student Opportunity
The Center for Lincoln Studies supports opportunities for student-centered educational experiences through programs like The Lincoln Home National Historic Site Internships, the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission Internship, and the Long Nine Museum Internship. The Center also employs a graduate research assistant who is an indispensable part of the Center's research team.
Related Degrees
History Degree (B.A., M.A.)
Explore and interpret the past with a history degree from UIS.
News
Aug 27, 2024
Jacob Friefeld, director of the Center for Lincoln Studies at the University of Illinois Springfield, has won a Nebraska Book Award in the nonfiction history…
Aug 14, 2024
WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Center for Lincoln Studies will host the 22nd annual Beaumont Endowed Lincoln Legacy Lecture, focusing on “…
Jun 03, 2024
The University of Illinois Springfield Center for Lincoln Studies, in collaboration with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and Juneteenth…
Feb 02, 2024
University of Illinois Center for Lincoln Studies announced multiple significant achievements and upcoming events that will further illuminate the life and…
Sep 20, 2023
WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield will host the 21st annual Beaumont Endowed Lincoln Legacy Lecture on “Abraham Lincoln and Digital Humanities”…
Jul 31, 2023
Jacob K. Friefeld, Ph.D., has been named the director of the Center for Lincoln Studies at the University of Illinois Springfield starting Aug. 16, 2023. He…
Events
No upcoming events at this time. Check back soon!