Welcome to the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Foundation. The ALBF is the the official successor to the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (ALBC). Here you can learn more about our organization and why we continue to be inspired by the leadership of America’s 16th U.S. President who served from March 4, 1861, until his assassination on April 15, 1865.

The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Foundation (ALBF) is the successor organization of the U.S. Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (ALBC), established by Congress and the President of the United States to plan the commemoration of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday in 2009. The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission ended its formal existence on April 30, 2010 when it was decided to continue the goals of the commission with a foundation that would foster programs of benefit to American citizens.

The foundation is dedicated to launching and backing innovative and historically significant programs at the national, state, and local levels. These initiatives honor the legacy and uphold the principles and historical influence of America’s sixteenth president, especially in the context of the ongoing five-year commemoration of the Civil War sesquicentennial. (A sesquicentennial is the 150th anniversary of a significant event. The sesquicentennial of the American Civil War refers to the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, commemorating and reflecting on the events and impacts of the war 150 years later.)

Expanding upon the ALBC’s initial emphasis on early education, academic research, online resources, publications, public events, and community initiatives, the foundation provides support, sponsorship, expertise, and encouragement to non-profit projects. These initiatives are dedicated to disseminating knowledge, preserving historic sites and artifacts, and engaging diverse audiences on topics such as leadership, freedom, equality, and opportunity.

The Legacy of Abraham Lincoln

As a young man, Abraham Lincoln “feared of achieving nothing that would make men remember him.”  Clearly, he hoped that he could contribute in a significant way to the country of his birth. The question about whether one’s life will matter is a common theme for young people today just as it was then and just has it has always been. We can understand the humanity in the man as he lived his life with the aim of serving the people of his nation. These fears were in his mind and may have driven him to overcome such internal doubts because today the 16th President is recognized as perhaps the most influential and respected leader of the nation. This proves that fear and insecurities do not prevent the greatness within a person from rising to its destiny of service.

Lincoln is honored in art, music and literature. His speeches are quoted by writers and by politicians. Photography was invented in his lifetime and therefore we need not wonder what Lincoln’s face might have looked like; we have photographs of it. His instantly recognizable features and deeply empathic eyes appear on U.S. currency, postage stamps, statues, sculptures and memorials. Cities, highways, businesses and schools are named after Abraham Lincoln throughout the U.S.

Lincoln was deeply convicted that his most enduring achievement was the Emancipation Proclamation – “the one thing that would make people remember that he had lived.”

He was right. Today, Lincoln’s legacy is vibrantly alive in our ongoing efforts to preserve freedom; to promote equality, and to foster meaningful opportunity.

The Bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln defines the civic ideal of what it means to be an American. What more can we discover from his legacy?

In his Gettysburg address, Lincoln made an indelible point about what “the brave men, living and dead” did on the battlefield and then asked all Americans to honor their lives by dedicating themselves to serving their country. How much of that work remains?

Overcoming racial divisions and ensuring equal rights for all remain two significant challenges from Lincoln's era that persist on the national agenda. As a paragon of our nation's highest ideals and values, Abraham Lincoln continues to inspire us in addressing these issues.

The Bicentennial offered a chance to re-evaluate American identity in the 21st century through educational programs, public forums, and arts initiatives.

Two centuries after Lincoln's birth, the nation is still evolving. While the United States has grown and diversified, this growth has led to societal fragmentation. Divergent values, interests, and beliefs have complicated Lincoln's vision of unity in diversity.

The Bicentennial commemoration of Lincoln's life and legacy serves as a guiding light toward completing our nation's "unfinished work."

Foundation Goals

• Expansion of the ALBC Website: Continued support for enhancing our website, which educates the public about Lincoln and is guided by Lincoln scholars and technicians. We aim to facilitate access to Lincoln documents and resources by linking cultural and educational institutions with individual collectors.
• Development of Educational Materials: Creating resources that explore Lincoln's relevance in the digital age. As the U.S. becomes increasingly multicultural, we are committed to developing materials that resonate with both youth and adult learners. We strive to broaden Lincoln's appeal without compromising scholarly integrity.

Foundation Board Members

The descriptions of each member are far from the full biography of each individual and we encourage you to research them on your own. Only a partial description appears below for the sake of brevity.  

• Harold Holzer, Rye, NY, chairman, former co-chair (with Senator Dick Durbin and Rep. Ray La Hood) of the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
• Dr. Darrel Bigham, Evansville, IN, is professor of history emeritus at the University of Southern Indiana, and Director of Historic Southern Indiana.
• Dr. Orville Vernon Burton, Ninety Six, SC, award-winning author and teacher.
• Thomas Campbell, Chicago, IL, senior counsel at Chicago office of Baker & McKenzie law firm; noted litigator.
• David Lawrence Jr., Coral Gables, FL, retired publisher of the Miami Herald, President of the Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, and University Scholar for Early Childhood Development and Readiness at the University of Florida.
• Dr. Edna Greene Medford, Bowie, MD, professor of history and chair of the history department at Howard University in Washington.
• Antonio Mora, Miami, FL, evening and late-night news anchor for CBS4 in Miami.
• Charles Scholz, Quincy, IL, ALBF Treasurer, is the former mayor of Quincy (1993–2005).
• Jean Powers Soman, Pinecrest, FL, author/editor.
• Hon. Frank J. Williams, Hope Valley, RI, former member of the ALBC, founding chairman of The Lincoln Forum, former President of the Abraham Lincoln Association and the Lincoln Group of Boston.