The Annual Lincoln Seminar
Lee & Betty led an annual Lincoln Seminar to Springfield, Illinois for 22 years. It was entitled "Take A Long Look at Lincoln."
The tours began when they still lived in Madison, Wisconsin, and continued enthusiastically once they retired to Batavia, Illinois.
Batavia is home to Bellevue Place, where Mary Todd Lincoln was institutionalized after her son Robert had her declared insane. The historical significance of their home in retirement added to the meaning of Lee's lifelong interest in Abraham Lincoln. This passion developed with Lee as he grew up in Decatur, Illinois. He had both paternal and maternal great grandparents who lived in Lincoln territory and had associations with the 16th president during his early days in Illinois.
A busload of seminar participants traveled to Springfield each summer, filled with friends, friends of friends, and Lincoln lovers. Several people went on the tour more than once. Lee planned tours of all the main Lincoln sites, and lectures by nationally known Lincoln scholars who Lee had associations with through his involvement in the Civil War Roundtable, the Lincoln Forum, and other organizations.
Highlighted speakers included: leading Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer, Senator Paul Simon, Dr. Wayne Temple, Dr. Cullom Davis, Dr. George Lee Painter, Dr. Mark Neely, Jr., Dr. John Y. Simon, Justice Frank J. Williams, Judith Winklemann, and Dr. Thomas F. Schwartz.
The Seminar always included a performance by Abraham & Mary Todd Lincoln presenters Max and Donna Daniels, who wrote a number of one and two-person dramas about the Lincolns. These were also performed at the annual Lincoln Dinner in Batavia, which Lee and Betty helped found through the Batavia Historical Society.
The Seminar always included a performance by Abraham & Mary Todd Lincoln presenters Max and Donna Daniels, who wrote a number of one and two-person dramas about the Lincolns. These were also performed at the annual Lincoln Dinner in Batavia, which Lee and Betty helped found through the Batavia Historical Society.
The last Seminar was conducted July 9-11, 1999 and Lee & Betty's family came from across the country to join in.
CLICK HERE to visit the page containing many of Lee's sermons and presentations on Lincoln and the Civil War.
CLICK HERE to visit the page containing many of Lee's sermons and presentations on Lincoln and the Civil War.
