In addition to our copy of the Gettysburg Address, there are many more Lincoln materials here at Cornell.
The image of Lincoln standing with a group of soldiers on the front cover of our paperback edition of Lincoln at Gettysburg is from an 1862 photograph by Alexander Gardner, who included this work in his book, Gardner's Sketch Book of the War. One of the rare first edition copies of this book was presented to the Cornell University Library in 2002 as our Seven-Millionth Volume. (Thirty of the 100 albumen print photographs included in this volume have been digitized for web viewing.)
One can find images of a variety of Lincoln campaign ribbons, memorabilia, and other commemorative items in the Cornell University Collection of Political Americana, a database of political artifacts that includes: ballots, broadsides, buttons, cartoons, maps and charts, pamphlets, parade items, posters, prints, ribbons, sheet music, songbooks, textiles, trinkets, and wearing apparel. The physical artifacts are kept in the Division of Rare & Manuscript Collections (RMC). Lincoln's 1864 run for re-election is featured in their exhibition, Get Out the Vote! Campaigning for the U. S. Presidency. And their exhibition, "I Will Be Heard!" Abolitionism in America showcases more of our Lincoln documents: manuscript copies of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment, signed by Abraham Lincoln and Members of Congress, 1865.
In a letter dated, March 3, 1861, Ezra Cornell, founder of our university, describes meeting Lincoln the night before his inauguration as president: "About 11 p.m. Mr. Lincoln came in and stopped a few minutes receiving the introduction of those present, and exchanging a pleasant word with each. This was the first time I had seen him since he left New York, and the first opportunity to shake hands with him. He looks much as the pictures represent him, and I was favorably impressed with his appearance."
The letter continues: "Tomorrow, God willing, he will be installed as the head of the Government, and I trust it may inaugurate a new era of honest and patriotic administration of laws."
In Uris Library there are two sculptures of Abraham Lincoln on display in the Dean Reading Room, a marble bust by Vinnie Ream Hoxie, and a bronze standing figure of The Young Lincoln, by George Gray Barnard. A third sculpture, a bronze bust by Leonard Wells Volk is down in RMC.
Lincoln Hall, erected in 1888 on what is now Cornell's Arts Quad, was dedicated to Lincoln in honor of his signing the Morrill Act--the Land Grant Colleges Act--into law in 1862. Cornell is New York state's land grant institution. (Morrill Hall, the oldest building on campus honors Vermont Senator Justin Smith Morrill, who authored the legislation.)
As you can see our sixteenth president looms large here on campus.
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