• Books & Pamphlets

    The Boys’ Life of Abraham Lincoln. Books and pamphlets.

    A 20,000-item literary treasure trove on the 16th president and his times. Browse the catalog. Explore Literature

  • Photographs

    Tad and Abraham Lincoln. Photographs.

    The first photographed presidency. Get to know Lincoln and his era through this exclusive collection of photos. Explore Photographs

  • Magazines & Newspapers

    New York Herald, April 15, 1861. Magazines and articles.

    Read a selection of Lincoln-related 19th- and early 20th-century newspapers & magazines, from complete issues to clippings. Explore Articles

  • Manuscripts & Documents

    Emancipation Proclamation. Manuscripts and documents.

    Signed copies of the 13th Amendment and Emancipation Proclamation. View these historic documents. Explore Documents

  • Fine Art

    Lincoln’s last portrait from life. Fine art.

    An original: the last image of Lincoln painted from life. See other fine art pieces from the Collection. Explore Fine Art

  • Three-Dimensional Objects

    Lincoln’s inkwell. Three-dimensional objects.

    The inkwell used by Lincoln in signing the Emancipation Proclamation. Browse thousands of artifacts and objects. Explore Our Objects

  • Textiles

    Handkerchief with Mary Lincoln’s monogram. Textiles.

    Handkerchief with Mary Todd Lincoln’s monogram. Examine the rest of our textile collection. Explore Textiles

  • Cartoons, Broadsides, & Ephemera

    Cartoon including Lincoln and Stephen Douglas

    A political cartoon during the 1860 election campaign. Learn about the public’s view of Lincoln from many perspectives. Explore The Collection

  • Sheet Music

    The Battle Cry of Freedom cover. Sheet music.

    View music from Lincoln’s era including his favorites and pieces written in his honor. Explore Sheet Music

Special Announcements

  • 2017 Rolland Lecture

    Tuesday, October 17th at 7:00 p.m.

    Mitch Daniels, president of Purdue University and former governor of Indiana, will give the 6th annual Rolland Lecture in the theater of the Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17th. His lecture, titled "Divided We Fail," will focus on the importance of civil discourse in the nation's polarized political climate. A reception will follow the lecture. The event is free and open to the public.

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  • The Search for Nancy Hanks

    Sunday, October 22, 2017, 2 p.m.

    Richard Hileman, a researcher and author of the Nancy Hanks Lincoln mtDNA Study, will present "The Search for Nancy Hanks: A Historical Wild Goose Chase, Mitochondrial DNA, and the Maternal Ancestry of Nancy Hanks Lincoln" on Sunday, October 22, 2017. The Nancy Hanks Lincoln mtDNA Study and new historical evidence reveal the surprising truth Lincoln concealed about his mother's family and ancestry. The program will be begin at 2 p.m. in Meeting Room A of the Allen County Public Library's Main Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne. Items from the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection will be on exhibit. This free lecture is part of the Lincoln at the Library program series.

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  • IAN MacKENZIE ROLLAND (1933-2017)

    Our 16th president's words of December 1, 1862, clearly apply to Ian Rolland: "Honorable alike in what we give and in what we preserve."  The long-time Fort Wayne business leader and philanthropist had a long-standing respect for Abraham Lincoln, and he spent a lifetime preserving Lincoln's legacy. Thanks to Ian's leadership and fundraising efforts, Lincoln National's $20 million collection of Lincoln artifacts remains in Indiana as the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, jointly curated by the Allen County Public Library and the Indiana State Museum.  We are grateful for the leadership that Ian Rolland exhibited throughout his lifetime, and our thoughts are with his family.

  • A Redesigned Lincoln Lore

    Receive a Free Sample Issue

    Lincoln Lore is the publication of the Friends of the Lincoln Collection of Indiana. Since its first issue was published in 1929, Lincoln Lore has been a respected resource on all things Lincoln.  It has now been redesigned to be better than ever, with listings of Lincoln events, recent books, and book reviews in addition to always outstanding articles and interviews. Published three times each year, Lincoln Lore is one benefit of Friends membership.  To learn more about the Friends and how to become a member, and to receive your free issue of Lincoln Lore, click on "READ MORE."

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  • See the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection on Social Media

    Find us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Tumblr

    View items from the collection, learn about Lincoln and his times, and connect with other Lincoln enthusiasts through the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection's social media pages on Facebook, Pinterest and Tumblr. Just follow the links at the bottom of any page on the website!

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