2008 Woodie Awards
"Lincoln and Indiana" on display now at the Indiana Historical Society
David Grobuskas
Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: College News
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Since 1954, Jack Smith has amassed a collection of Abraham Lincoln photographs, illustration, busts and books, among other things.
"I've always admired the qualities of Abraham Lincoln," Smith said.
The admiration, and a Civil War connection-Smith's great-grandfather was in the Ohio 52nd Infantry during the War between the States-led the 72-year-old South Bend resident to become a collector.
After asking his wife if collecting was okay to pursue, he dove in headlong.
"I was sort of addicted to it," Smith said.
In 2003, Smith sold part of his collection to the Indiana Historical Society. Smith's collection was one of two collections the society bought. The other was a collection from Daniel R. Weinberg. A $2.9 million grant from the Lilly Foundation made possible the purchases, said Linda Pratt, vice president in Development and Marketing for IHS.
"I wanted the public not to lose interest in Lincoln and his qualities," Smith said.
A good deal of Smith's sold items are now on for the Society's "Lincoln and Indiana" exhibit. "Lincoln and Indiana" is the eighth rotation of an ongoing exhibit, "The Faces of Lincoln," said Barbara Quigley, senior archivist in visual collections at the IHS. Past rotations have included "Lincoln and the Printed Image/Myth," and "Lincoln's Family and Residence."
The different rotations are leading up to the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth in 2009, Quigley said.
The exhibit is on the fourth floor in the Rosemary McKee Lanham Gallery of the IHS building across from the IUPUI campus. It is split between his youth in Indiana and his occasional trips back as an adult, ending with his funeral train traveling through the state following his assassination.
Smith, in his time collecting, has focused on visual depictions of Lincoln.
"I disciplined myself … it had to be an image," Smith said.
Before selling to the Historical Society, Smith showed his collection at a building in South Bend and personally transported some items around the country. The exhibitions were not public, but by Smith's invitation only.
"I've always admired the qualities of Abraham Lincoln," Smith said.
The admiration, and a Civil War connection-Smith's great-grandfather was in the Ohio 52nd Infantry during the War between the States-led the 72-year-old South Bend resident to become a collector.
After asking his wife if collecting was okay to pursue, he dove in headlong.
"I was sort of addicted to it," Smith said.
In 2003, Smith sold part of his collection to the Indiana Historical Society. Smith's collection was one of two collections the society bought. The other was a collection from Daniel R. Weinberg. A $2.9 million grant from the Lilly Foundation made possible the purchases, said Linda Pratt, vice president in Development and Marketing for IHS.
"I wanted the public not to lose interest in Lincoln and his qualities," Smith said.
A good deal of Smith's sold items are now on for the Society's "Lincoln and Indiana" exhibit. "Lincoln and Indiana" is the eighth rotation of an ongoing exhibit, "The Faces of Lincoln," said Barbara Quigley, senior archivist in visual collections at the IHS. Past rotations have included "Lincoln and the Printed Image/Myth," and "Lincoln's Family and Residence."
The different rotations are leading up to the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth in 2009, Quigley said.
The exhibit is on the fourth floor in the Rosemary McKee Lanham Gallery of the IHS building across from the IUPUI campus. It is split between his youth in Indiana and his occasional trips back as an adult, ending with his funeral train traveling through the state following his assassination.
Smith, in his time collecting, has focused on visual depictions of Lincoln.
"I disciplined myself … it had to be an image," Smith said.
Before selling to the Historical Society, Smith showed his collection at a building in South Bend and personally transported some items around the country. The exhibitions were not public, but by Smith's invitation only.
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