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Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Ind. Gov't. - Still more on: Indiana, Land of Lincoln
Updating these ILB entries from March 9th and April 14th, occasional Indianapolis Star columnist Andrea Neal writes today with good news:
Great news for Indiana Lincoln fans: State and Allen County leaders have put together a "compelling proposal" to keep the Lincoln Museum's $20 million collection right here in Indiana, the 16th president's boyhood home. Credit a coalition of concerned Hoosiers headed by retired Lincoln Financial CEO Ian M. Rolland. * * *If Indiana's proposal is accepted by Lincoln Financial Foundation, memorabilia could be available for viewing as early as next year, the bicentennial of Lincoln's birthday. A final decision won't be made until December.
In March, the foundation announced it would close the Lincoln Museum on June 30 and offer its $20 million collection to another institution in hopes of wider exposure. The private museum had been in Fort Wayne since 1931 when it was created by Lincoln National Life Insurance Co.; its closure was foreshadowed in 1998 when the corporate headquarters moved to Philadelphia.
Indiana's bid, while strong, is not a done deal, according to those involved. Among others in the running: the Smithsonian Institution and the Lincoln Museum and Library in Springfield, Ill.
Thursday, Rolland will announce a campaign to raise roughly $8.5 million for an endowed fund that would maintain the collection, which includes books, photographs, signed documents and artifacts. Under Indiana's proposal, the materials would be shared by the Indiana State Museum, which would dedicate a Lincoln Gallery for its display, and the Allen County Public Library.
Rolland, a lifelong Hoosier who had much to do with the accumulation of the collection during his 21 years as CEO, said the proposal is the result of an "enormously positive collaborative effort" between the Allen County Public Library, Friends of the Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne, the governor's office, State Museum, State Library, Indiana Historical Society and Indiana Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
Gary Abell, spokesman for Gov. Mitch Daniels, agreed. "We've had a lot of people working on this and we've put together what we believe to be a compelling proposal."
Posted by Marcia Oddi on June 11, 2008 08:23 AM
Posted to Indiana Government