Last updated: 7/19/2015
Harrogate, Tennessee
Address
6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway
Harrogate, TN 37752
phone: 423-869-6235
e-mail: thomas.mackie@LMUnet.edu
web: www.LMUnet.edu/museum

Staff

Thomas Mackie
phone:
Description

Located on the beautiful campus of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum houses one of the most diverse Lincoln and Civil War collections in the country.

The Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum is a department of Lincoln Memorial University founded in 1897. The specialized collection focuses on Abraham Lincoln and his legacy as well as the western theater of the American Civil War.

Exhibited are many rare items - the cane Lincoln carried that fateful night at Ford's Theatre, two life masks, the tea set he and Mary Todd used in their home in Springfield, and numerous other artifacts. Approximately 30,000 books, manuscripts, pamphlets, photographs, paintings and sculptures tell the story of President Lincoln and the Civil War period in America's history.

History

From its earliest days, LMU began to receive and put on display Civil War and Abraham Lincoln memorabilia. In 1929, a room in Duke Hall of Citizenship was dedicated to house the growing collection. The Lincoln Room served as a showcase for the collection until the early 1970s.

In 1973, University President H. Y. Livesay and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees Dr. Frank G. Rankin shared their dream of a permanent facility to house the Lincoln Collection. Colonel Harland Sanders, a trustee, responded by providing $500,000 to construct the library and museum. The Board of Trustees secured another $500,000, and on December 31, 1974, the University completed the building's fundraising campaign.

Artifact Collections

Life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln and his part in the American Civil War. Strong collection of commemorative and popular culture art focusing on Lincoln memory.

Research Collections

Extensive collection of Civil War and Lincoln related documents, rare books,pamphlets, papers fine art focusing on Lincoln's memory.

Facilities
Auditoriums
Lecture Halls
Performance Areas
Governance

Managed as a department of Lincoln Memorial University under the Division of Academic Affairs.

Library

Access: General Public, Students, Scholars

Appointment required: True

Exhibitions
Museum Events
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

March 11 - 14, 2025

Knoxville, Tennessee

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

March 15 - 18, 2025

Blacksburg, Virginia

Ohio Museum Asociation 2025 Annual Conference - Athens

March 29 - 31, 2025

Athens, Ohio

North Carolina Museums Council 2025 Annual Conference

March 30 - 31, 2025

Raleigh, North Carolina

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

March 31 - April 3, 2025

Washington, Arkansas

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