Lincoln Mississippi State University to Receive the Largest Privately Owned Lincoln Collection

Louieg2

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May 11, 2017
Frank and Virginia Williams of Rhode Island is giving their entire collection of Lincoln related artifacts to Mississippi State University. It is the largest privately owned Lincoln collection in the country. It will be housed along side the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, making it one of the largest centers for Civil War and Reconstruction scholarship in the world.

I think it is safe to say that this is a great for every person interested in the Civil War.

Here is the press release on the story:
https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/ar...-rhode-island-gift-extraordinary-lincoln-and/

 
(The donor) "said that among his most treasured pieces are a first edition, first printing of the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates, signed by Lincoln as President in 1863... and an early copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, printed in miniature for distribution by Union soldiers in the South. Williams said that although many copies were printed during the Civil War, very few have survived."

Road trip!!
 
Frank and Virginia Williams of Rhode Island is giving their entire collection of Lincoln related artifacts to Mississippi State University. It is the largest privately owned Lincoln collection in the country. It will be housed along side the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, making it one of the largest centers for Civil War and Reconstruction scholarship in the world.

I think it is safe to say that this is a great for every person interested in the Civil War.

Here is the press release on the story:
https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/ar...-rhode-island-gift-extraordinary-lincoln-and/
Excellent.
 
It will be housed along side the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, making it one of the largest centers for Civil War and Reconstruction scholarship in the world.

I wish that I was choosing universities, again. I suspect that I would find a reason to head in your direction :smile:
 
Oh, yeaahh.

Mississippi is da place!!
My grandfather was a Math professor there in the teens and 20s and Mom grew up on the campus on what was then professors row up the hill from the stadium. The last time I was there we were on a day road trip for her 80th birthday to re-visit places from her childhood and had a great time. Interestingly, the first President of the college was former Lt. Gen. Stephen D. Lee, CSA who also was a driving force behind the UCV. It is a pretty place with a lot of good folks, though Ole Miss gets much more attention.
 
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My grandfather was a Math professor there in the teens and 20s and Mom grew up on the campus on what was then professors row up the hill from the stadium. The last time I was there we were on a day road trip for her 80th birthday to re-visit places from her childhood and had a great time. Interestingly, the first President of the college was former Lt. Gen. Stephen D. Lee, CSA who also was a driving force behind the UCV. It is a pretty place with a lot of good folks, though Ole Miss gets much more attention.
Wonder what Gen. Stephen Lee would think of MSU now being home of the U.S. Grant Presidential Library!! And now this huge Lincoln collection!!
I've always thought that Grant would be very pleased to be archived in Mississippi. But I don't know how the diehard Southerners feel about it....
 
Wonder what Gen. Stephen Lee would think of MSU now being home of the U.S. Grant Presidential Library!! And now this huge Lincoln collection!!
I've always thought that Grant would be very pleased to be archived in Mississippi. But I don't know how the diehard Southerners feel about it....
If you if you had asked that 40 or 50 years ago there would have been a lot of grumbling and maybe it wouldn't have happened. But I'll bet almost all now are proud for their University to have the collections. BTW, State is the most diverse big school in the South, almost 20% of the student body is AA.
 
Frank and Virginia Williams of Rhode Island is giving their entire collection of Lincoln related artifacts to Mississippi State University. It is the largest privately owned Lincoln collection in the country. It will be housed along side the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, making it one of the largest centers for Civil War and Reconstruction scholarship in the world.

I think it is safe to say that this is a great for every person interested in the Civil War.

Here is the press release on the story:
https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/ar...-rhode-island-gift-extraordinary-lincoln-and/
Oh, Louie, what a fabulous time to be working there. Happy for you!!
 
It is nice that these items will be protected. Lincoln has his own library in Springfield, and Grant's from Ill, Mo and Ohio. Why Mississippi? I could think of either of those states or Lincoln's Library might be a better location. It really doesn't matter, it also makes little sense. After all the presidential libraries supposedly are located in the state of birth or the state they were most associated with.
 
It is nice that these items will be protected. Lincoln has his own library in Springfield, and Grant's from Ill, Mo and Ohio. Why Mississippi? I could think of either of those states or Lincoln's Library might be a better location. It really doesn't matter, it also makes little sense. After all the presidential libraries supposedly are located in the state of birth or the state they were most associated with.

Because they have an incredible donor base to pay for it.
 
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It is nice that these items will be protected. Lincoln has his own library in Springfield, and Grant's from Ill, Mo and Ohio. Why Mississippi? I could think of either of those states or Lincoln's Library might be a better location. It really doesn't matter, it also makes little sense. After all the presidential libraries supposedly are located in the state of birth or the state they were most associated with.
I was thinking that as well, especially since I just visited there. But...the advantage here is more people can see and experience this part of Lincoln's life they may not get to. For me to get to Springfield, it's over a 12-hour drive and that is a lot closer than a lot of others. This spreads it out more and I think it winds up better this way for citizens.
 
That's true. I actually grew up in Lincoln's Ill law district for a few years before moving to Missouri. I still have a lot of family there. It's about 4 hours or so from here. I'm not sure how far to Mississippi, to the line it's about 4 hours, but not sure where Miss. State is located.
 
That's true. I actually grew up in Lincoln's Ill law district for a few years before moving to Missouri. I still have a lot of family there. It's about 4 hours or so from here. I'm not sure how far to Mississippi, to the line it's about 4 hours, but not sure where Miss. State is located.
 
Mississippi State is in Starkville, Oktibbeha County. approx 25 miles west of Columbus, which is only a few miles from the Alabama state line. For non SEC football fans, its only 85 miles to Tuscaloosa.
Try Google maps.
 
Farther to there from Columbia, Mo,. as we are a part SEC now. The SEC is much better than our old confedernce, the Big 12, which was the Big 8 for many years.
 
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