The Western Illinois Museum invites the community to join historian Larry T. Balsamo for a thought-provoking program exploring the collected works of Abraham Lincoln. The one-hour program will be held on Our Front Porch on Sunday, April 26, and will conclude with refreshments and informal conversation. A suggested $5 donation will be accepted at the door.
Lincoln’s presidency took place during a period of rapid expansion in American newspapers and print media, creating a more extensive and accessible documentary record than that of previous presidents. His collected works bring together speeches, letters, and official papers, from early legal writings to the Gettysburg Address and wartime correspondence, revealing Lincoln’s evolving leadership and views on democracy, union, and human equality. Dr. Balsamo’s program will introduce audiences to the scope and significance of these collected works and explore how historians use them to better understand Lincoln’s leadership and the broader American experience.
This Our Front Porch program is part of an educational series inspired by Mary Stipanowich and made possible with support from her family in her memory.
For more information, call 309-837-2750, text 309837-2613, or email [email protected]. The Museum is located at 201 S. Lafayette Street, one block south of Macomb’s Courthouse Square. The building is fully accessible, and free accessible parking is available. More details and updates can be found on the Museum’s social media channels.
About Larry T. Balsamo Larry T. Balsamo is a retired history professor from Western Illinois University (WIU) in Macomb, where he taught for more than 40 years and served as chair of the Department of History before retiring in 2007. A specialist in the Civil War era and the life of Abraham Lincoln, Balsamo earned his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri and was named WIU’s Distinguished Faculty Lecturer in 1990. He directed the Western Illinois University History Conference from its founding in 1975 until 2002 and was recognized in 2024 as a Western Illinois University Honorary Alumnus for his long-standing service to the university and the Macomb community.
About the Western Illinois Museum The Western Illinois Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating a deeper understanding of history, culture, and tradition, sparking curiosity that connects us to the past, each other, and the values that shape our community. As a lively gathering place, the Museum offers exhibits, open collection access, lectures, music, and a variety of engaging, educational programs in a historic setting.
