The University of Missouri-Columbia Libraries is proud to be one of 63 libraries nationwide selected by the American Library Association to host Forever Free: Abraham Lincoln's Journey to Emancipation. Forever Free is a traveling panel exhibit that reexamines President Lincoln's efforts toward the abolition of slavery during the Civil War. Organized by The Huntington's John Rhodehamel, Norris Foundation Curator of American Historical Manuscripts, the exhibit consists of reproductions of rare historical documents from The Huntington's collections and those of the Gilder Lehrman Institute, and draws on the latest scholarship in the field.

The exhibit will be housed in Ellis Library's Colonnade, from March 8-April 20, 2007. A number of events will be held in connection with this exhibit including a reception scheduled for 2 pm on March 14th in room 201, Ellis Library. These events will include analyses of the Civil War by scholars and others. You are cordially invited to tour Forever Free and to attend the events. Please click on the links on the calendar for details of topic, site, date, time and principals for the events. ALL EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Forever Free: Abraham Lincoln’s Journey to Emancipation has been organized by the Huntington Library, San Marino, California, and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, New York City, in cooperation with the American Library Association Public Programs Office. This exhibition was made possible by major grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, promoting excellence in the humanities, and the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, created by Congress and charged with planning the national celebration of Lincoln’s 200th birthday.

MARCH 20 -- Civil War movie Glory, with scholar-led discussion afterward

Glory is a drama about the Civil War's first all-black volunteer company. Refreshments will be served at 6:00 p.m. in the Ellis auditorium lobby. The movie will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Auditorium. Note that there is only one entrance to the Auditorium. It is an exterior entrance on west side of the building (see photo). Moberly Area Community College History Professor Kris Zauke will lead a discussion afterward. This movie screening is made possible by the MU Department of Student Life and Ellis Library. MU Libraries contact: Karla Geerlings.

MARCH 20 -- Sisters Under the Skin: Women of Color in Antebellum Missouri

This program will feature stirring stories of heroic women and how they rebelled against and endured the hardships of slavery. The presenter, Kris Zapalac, Ph.D., former Washington University history professor, is a current staff member of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' State Historic Preservation Office. Cosponsored by the American Association of University Women and the Columbia Public Library. 7:00 p.m.

MARCH 23 -- The Lincoln Legacy in Missouri

Gary Kremer, Executive Director of the State Historical Society of Missouri, will give this presentation from 10am-11am on Friday, March 23 in the Ellis Library Colonnade.

MU Libraries contact person: Wayne Sanders.

MARCH 25 -- Civil War Medicine in 2007

To many, Civil War medicine is characterized by ignorant practitioners wielding terrifying tools that maimed screaming patients pleading to save their injured limbs. Unfortunately this image has been perpetuated in film, fiction and even scholarly histories. This image is far from correct. Even in our twenty-first century medical facilities, Civil War medicine is alive and well. More importantly it is still saving countless lives. This program will outline the medical establishment as it existed in 1861 and show how the four years of our Civil War changes medical history. We will also examine how the US military, Public Health Service and regional EMS and hospital systems still use one hundred and forty year old ideas to save lives today.

The speaker will be George Wunderlich, Director of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in Frederick Maryland. The presentation will be held on Sunday, March 25, 2:00pm, at the Columbia Public Library in the Friends Room. Cosponsored by the MU Libraries and the Columbia Public Library. MU Libraries contact: Terri Knouff 882-2459.