Perhaps one of the greatest talents of a historian is the ability to look at a time or person in history and know all, or almost all, of their own story - and not be influenced by the outside factors at work in those times.
Chet Susslin / The Citizen
A political cartoon circa 1860 depicts Republican presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln uncomfortably perched on a platform of anti-slavery.
A political cartoon circa 1860 depicts Republican presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln uncomfortably perched on a platform of anti-slavery.
That is perhaps the most important point Wells College history professor Michael Groth was trying to instill Wednesday evening at Seymour Library when he presented a talk titled “Lincoln, the ‘Great Emancipator?'”
When it comes to the early history of the American republic and President Abraham Lincoln, people and historians of the present day have the advantage of knowing how the story goes, Groth said. But this fact also adds a new depth to research and the way we in the present may think of historical figures.
“There are no easy answers,” Groth said. “Popular history remembers Lincoln as the Great Emancipator. And he was, but he was also a man and a man of his times and a politician. It is easy to remember Lincoln the way popular history does, but when we look at the historical record the story is far more complicated.”
Groth's discussion was a perfect tie-in to the library's most recent exhibit, “Looking at Lincoln: Political Cartoons from the Civil War Era.”
This display of cartoons, which is on loan from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, presents numerous views on Lincoln in his contemporary time, when news traveled much slower and political cartoons carried a great deal of influence.
Library director Sheila Mikkelson said that the idea to focus on Lincoln and the Civil War era at the library this month was born after a little Web research.
“I noticed it and I thought it would be worthwhile,” Mikkelson said. “We got the cartoons on loan and we put them out here, which used to be the front entrance. I thought it would be a good idea to have more exhibits here at the library and we have a great collection of materials on Lincoln, and I thought it tied in well with the interest lately in Lincoln and Seward here locally.”
The cartoons depict various ideas and scenarios from Lincoln's time in office, portraying the northern, abolitionist perspective of Lincoln as a great man, bringing liberty and freedom, as well as from a southern perspective.
In the northern cartoons, Lincoln is depicted alongside great figures like Washington, while from the southern view, he is shown writing the Emancipation Proclamation from an ink well held by the devil, and as a puppet.
These cartoons show the two very differing perspectives on Lincoln in his own time.
Groth was looking at a much broader picture, discussing Lincoln the man and the political figure.
While Groth believes Lincoln deserves the title of the Great Emancipator, he also believes that it is important to look at the whole picture.
Groth said that Lincoln was a man of his times and while there is no record indicating he was a racist man in any way, Groth said that even Lincoln was not above ethnic jokes, which were commonplace at the time.
Perhaps more importantly, Groth said that it was the historical picture in which Lincoln the man found himself that is important to consider.
Politically, Lincoln was not an abolitionist, according to Groth. Lincoln was looking for a means of appeasement politically. At the time, there was an effort to stop the spread of slavery into the western territories, but there was no great effort to end the practice altogether.
Groth proposed a question: “Is Lincoln a great actor (meaning does he take action) or is he a great reactor, reacting to what is going on around him in his time and during those circumstances politically.”
While Groth believes Lincoln to certainly be the great and ethical man history portrays him as, Groth contends that it was the events and the times that helped shape Lincoln into this role.
“I do believe he is the Great Emancipator,” Groth said. “I think you just have to keep in mind the context of the times he found himself in.”
If you go
What: “Looking at Lincoln: Political Cartoons from the Civil War Era”
When: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays through August
Where: Seymour Library, 176-178 Genesee St., Auburn
Cost: Free
Info: Call 252-2571
If you go
What: Author Jason Emerson discusses his book “Lincoln the Inventor”
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12
Where: Seymour Library, 176-178 Genesee St., Auburn
Cost: Free
Info: Call 252-2571
When it comes to the early history of the American republic and President Abraham Lincoln, people and historians of the present day have the advantage of knowing how the story goes, Groth said. But this fact also adds a new depth to research and the way we in the present may think of historical figures.
“There are no easy answers,” Groth said. “Popular history remembers Lincoln as the Great Emancipator. And he was, but he was also a man and a man of his times and a politician. It is easy to remember Lincoln the way popular history does, but when we look at the historical record the story is far more complicated.”
Groth's discussion was a perfect tie-in to the library's most recent exhibit, “Looking at Lincoln: Political Cartoons from the Civil War Era.”
This display of cartoons, which is on loan from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, presents numerous views on Lincoln in his contemporary time, when news traveled much slower and political cartoons carried a great deal of influence.
Library director Sheila Mikkelson said that the idea to focus on Lincoln and the Civil War era at the library this month was born after a little Web research.
“I noticed it and I thought it would be worthwhile,” Mikkelson said. “We got the cartoons on loan and we put them out here, which used to be the front entrance. I thought it would be a good idea to have more exhibits here at the library and we have a great collection of materials on Lincoln, and I thought it tied in well with the interest lately in Lincoln and Seward here locally.”
The cartoons depict various ideas and scenarios from Lincoln's time in office, portraying the northern, abolitionist perspective of Lincoln as a great man, bringing liberty and freedom, as well as from a southern perspective.
In the northern cartoons, Lincoln is depicted alongside great figures like Washington, while from the southern view, he is shown writing the Emancipation Proclamation from an ink well held by the devil, and as a puppet.
These cartoons show the two very differing perspectives on Lincoln in his own time.
Groth was looking at a much broader picture, discussing Lincoln the man and the political figure.
While Groth believes Lincoln deserves the title of the Great Emancipator, he also believes that it is important to look at the whole picture.
Groth said that Lincoln was a man of his times and while there is no record indicating he was a racist man in any way, Groth said that even Lincoln was not above ethnic jokes, which were commonplace at the time.
Perhaps more importantly, Groth said that it was the historical picture in which Lincoln the man found himself that is important to consider.
Politically, Lincoln was not an abolitionist, according to Groth. Lincoln was looking for a means of appeasement politically. At the time, there was an effort to stop the spread of slavery into the western territories, but there was no great effort to end the practice altogether.
Groth proposed a question: “Is Lincoln a great actor (meaning does he take action) or is he a great reactor, reacting to what is going on around him in his time and during those circumstances politically.”
While Groth believes Lincoln to certainly be the great and ethical man history portrays him as, Groth contends that it was the events and the times that helped shape Lincoln into this role.
“I do believe he is the Great Emancipator,” Groth said. “I think you just have to keep in mind the context of the times he found himself in.”
If you go
What: “Looking at Lincoln: Political Cartoons from the Civil War Era”
When: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays through August
Where: Seymour Library, 176-178 Genesee St., Auburn
Cost: Free
Info: Call 252-2571
If you go
What: Author Jason Emerson discusses his book “Lincoln the Inventor”
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12
Where: Seymour Library, 176-178 Genesee St., Auburn
Cost: Free
Info: Call 252-2571
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