ALA Summer Symposium 2024

The symposium delves into the lesser-known facets of Abraham Lincoln’s early life, political journey, and presidential years. This event features a lineup of distinguished speakers who will explore intriguing topics that shed new light on Lincoln’s complex character and significant accomplishments.

Featured Speakers:

• Ed Achorn, prizewinning author of The Lincoln Miracle: Inside the Republican Convention that Changed History, will headline our symposium and share pivotal moments from Lincoln’s political rise.
• William G. Shepherd, President of the Abraham Lincoln Association, presents “Re-electing Lincoln: How the 1864 Election Led to the Abolition of Slavery,” examining the critical election that transformed the nation.
• Dr. Dan Monroe, Associate Professor at Millikin University, will discuss “Lincoln and Jacksonism,” offering insights into Lincoln’s political influences.
• Joshua Claybourn, Vice President of the Abraham Lincoln Association, explores “Lincoln’s Wilderness Years in Indiana,” highlighting formative experiences that shaped Lincoln.
• Guy Fraker, author of Lincoln’s Ladder to the Presidency: The Eighth Judicial Circuit, focuses on “1859: Lincoln’s Prologue Year to the Presidency,” a crucial year in Lincoln’s life.
• Robert Girardi, historian and author of eight Civil War books, presents “Major General John E. Smith: Galena’s Forgotten General,” linking local and national histories through the lens of a notable contemporary of Lincoln.

This symposium promises to enrich your understanding of one of America’s most revered figures through fresh perspectives and groundbreaking research. Join us to uncover the stories behind the legend.