The Knox County Courthouse now has a much bigger — and arguably stunning — photograph of our 16th President to put on display.
It’s a reproduction of what was described as a world-famous portrait of Abraham Lincoln, reprinted from an old, glass negative, but looks just as good as new.
“This photograph was taken in Springfield, Illinois, by a well-known photographer — Alexander Hessler — on June 3, 1860, for Lincoln’s 1860 Presidential campaign,” says Knox County Administrative Judge Paul Mangieri. “Many historians consider Mr. Hessler’s portrait to be one of the best taken of Lincoln during his pre-Presidential years.”
Knox County Administrative Judge Paul Mangieri, who says it’s likely the portrait will hang just inside the entrance to the main courtroom on the second floor of the courthouse. And while every county gets a copy, Western Illinois University Professor Emeritus John Hollis says it’s appropriate for Galesburg to get one.
“The fifth of those now-famous Lincoln-Douglas debates took place here in Galesburg October 7, 1858, and Lincoln was very well-received here,” says Hollis. “And, of course, he spoke along the same lines that he did elsewhere in those great debates, opposing slavery — the major issue.”
And, Hollis says, while thinking about the long-term future of America. Lincoln also asserted during the Galesburg debate that Stephen Douglas was blowing up morality by suggesting that anyone who wanted a slave, should have one.
Each of Illinois’ counties will get a reproduction of the portrait, tied to the state’s Bicentennial. The glass plate is owned by the Illinois State Historical Society — which is helping to make the reproduction possible along with other history, legal, and judicial groups.
CLICK HERE to watch the entire ceremony unveiling the portrait.
