The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum has launched a new exhibit of Lincoln treasures – one that will be updated monthly – to reward the public after two years of turmoil created by the COVID pandemic.

"The pandemic turned life upside down and demanded sacrifices from everyone. Now that life is slowly returning to normal, we want to offer this special exhibit as a small 'thank you' to Lincoln fans," said Christina Shutt, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. "Our guests will see something new and amazing every time they visit."

The items displayed in the museum's Treasures Gallery will be updated every month through the end of October. They include:

Bloody gloves that Lincoln was carrying when he was murdered,

The oldest surviving example of Lincoln's writing,

The presidential seal Lincoln used during his second term in the White House,

A brooch, ring and earrings owned by Mary Lincoln,

Locks of hair from Lincoln and his son Willie,

An elaborate note pad and letter opener owned by Mary Lincoln,

A paper lantern promoting Lincoln during the 1864 presidential campaign,

The only known document signed by both Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas.

"This may be the last time the public gets to see these artifacts. They belong to a private foundation that spent years raising money by promising donors the collection would be given to the ALPLM. It's not clear whether the foundation will follow through," Shutt said. "It's a small collection compared to the ALPLM's vast holdings, but it includes some remarkable items."

SEF purchased smart boards Members of the Staunton Education Foundation are pictured with the Staunton Board of Education during their recent meeting. The school board extended thanks to the foundation for purchasing over $40,000 in interactive smart boards for the school.

The ALPLM severed ties with the organization a year ago when its executives refused to provide detailed information about how they raised and spent money, or to commit to meeting with ALPLM leaders in the future.

The mission of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is to inspire civic engagement through the diverse lens of Illinois history and sharing with the world the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. We pursue this mission through a combination of rigorous scholarship and high-tech showmanship built on the bedrock of the ALPLM's unparalleled collection of historical materials – some 13 million items from all eras of Illinois history.