Contact: Guy Lamolinara (202) 707-9217

February 10, 2000

UPDATED MEDIA ADVISORY
Materials of Abraham Lincoln Debut On-Line in Honor of His Birthday

Materials Previously Available Only in Library's Reading Rooms to Be Offered on Library's Web Site

WHAT:
More than 2,000 documents from the Library's collections of Abraham Lincoln are being made available in honor of the 16th president's birthday, Feb. 12. Previously, these materials were seen by only the few people who could come to the Library in Washington In addition, the Illinois Historic Preservation Society will announce the release of the "Lincoln Legal Papers DVD Edition.

WHEN:
Friday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m.

WHERE:
National Digital Library Learning Center, first- floor Atrium, Library of Congress Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E.

WHO:
James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress
John Sellers, Library of Congress Manuscript Division specialist
Thomas F. Schwartz, State Historian of Illinois
Daniel Stowell, Director of Lincoln Legal Papers on DVD
Lura Lynn Ryan, First Lady of Illinois

BACKGROUND

The more than 2,000 Lincoln materials being made available today are offered in the Web collection called "Mr. Lincoln's Virtual Library," a presentation of the American Memory program of the Library of Congress.

The Library of Congress has one of the nation's most important collections of materials relating to the 16th president and also has the papers of 22 other U.S. presidents. Its collections complement those of the Illinois Historic Preservation Society, now available on DVD.

"Mr. Lincoln's Virtual Library" is being supported by a generous gift from Donald G. Jones, Terri L. Jones, and the Jones Family Foundation.

The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency will present to the Library the "Lincoln Legal Papers DVD Edition," a collection of more than 100,000 records associated with Abraham Lincoln's legal career from 1836 to 1861.

Lura Lynn Ryan, First Lady of Illinois, will present the DVD as a gift to the Library.

Lincoln documents and other materials, which are now on-line, will be on display prior to the event. Refreshments will be served.

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PR 00-014
2/10/00
ISSN 0731-3527

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