David J. Kent's Blog, page 3

Annual Abraham Lincoln Institute Set for March 22 at Ford’s Theatre – All Invited (and it’s Free)

The Annual Abraham Lincoln Institute (ALI) Symposium is set for March 22, 2025, at historic Ford’s Theatre in downtown Washington, DC. The full day program starts at 9 am and runs to 5 pm. All tickets are free but please register in advance on the Ford’s Theater website: https://fords.org/event/abraham-linco... ALI... Continue reading

Lincoln, New York City, and Cooper Union

In February 1860, the western-bred Abraham Lincoln must have been astonished by the hustle and bustle around lower New York City. Having crossed the Hudson River from Jersey City to Manhattan, Lincoln made his way to the Astor House, one of most luxurious hotels in New York City, conveniently located... Continue reading

Abraham Lincoln Goes to New York: Albany, NY, That Is

The newly bearded President-Elect Abraham Lincoln is making his way from Springfield, Illinois to Washington for his inauguration as president of the United States. But today, February 18, 1861, he was spending an eventful day traveling to Albany, New York. It was a long train ride, having left Springfield on... Continue reading

Abraham Lincoln and the Slave Trader

While Abraham Lincoln had a well-deserved reputation as a soft touch during the Civil War, readily finding excuses to offer mercy to Union soldiers who had fallen asleep or abandoned their posts, he also approved the hanging of the only slave trader ever to be executed by the United States.... Continue reading

Abraham Lincoln and the Illinois & Michigan Canal That Made Chicago

Abraham Lincoln was a steady proponent of Internal Improvements projects in Illinois. That said, there were problems. The few projects initiated randomly to encourage widespread district support resulted in a hodgepodge of disconnected rail lines, many of which ran only a few miles to nowhere in particular. Most projects simply... Continue reading

Lincoln and the Balloons of War

Abraham Lincoln was always interested in technology, so when the Civil War arrived as soon as he was inaugurated, he worked hard to convince the usually conservative military to employ the latest technological advances. One such advance caused him to look to the skies to give every advantage to Union... Continue reading

The Year in a Writer’s Life – 2024

As 2024 comes to an end, it’s time to recap how it all went in the writer’s life. At least for this one writer. Once again, it was a busy year, with some residual events related to Lincoln: The Fire of Genius, some new obligations, and some really big news... Continue reading

The Year in a Traveler’s Life – 2024

Traveling seems to be done for the year. At least mostly (there might be one short overnight trip squeezed in before New Years). Enough to look back on the year in a traveler’s life. You can see the 2023 recap and 2022 recap by clicking on the links in this... Continue reading

Abraham Lincoln Book Acquisitions For 2024

How time flies. The year 2024 is almost over and I think I’ve finished accumulated new books for the year, to it’s time for my annual Abraham Lincoln book acquisitions post. As you’ll quickly see, my goal to reduce the number of books I buy has been relatively successful-the total number... Continue reading

Lincoln and the Dakota

On this date, December 11, 1862, Abraham Lincoln transmitted to the U.S. Senate his response to their request that he “furnish the Senate with all information in his possession touching the late Indian barbarities in the State of Minnesota, and also the evidence in his possession upon which some of... Continue reading