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Richard 'Fritz' Klein - Historians Speak

Fritz Klein has a world-wide reputation as an actor/presenter of Abraham Lincoln, a role he has portrayed for forty years. He writes his own scripts, can cite them all from memory, and is a highly knowledge student of Lincoln. He shares stories of his travels throughout the United States, and the astonishing insights that school groups, teachers, tourists, or foreigners ask him or tell him about Lincoln and his era.

Interview Links

Abstract

Interview Session 01 (Audio)

Video interview with Fritz dressed and in character as Abraham Lincoln

Interview Session 02 (Audio)

Audio interview with Fritz reflecting on experiences presenting Lincoln

Videos

Photos

Caption
Dean Malissa is Washington, Bill Barker is Jefferson, Gib Young represents Teddy Roosevelt and Klein plays Lincoln. The four met at Mount Rushmore in 2015 for an event sponsored by Downtown Rapid City.

Where:
Mount Rushmore

When:
2015

Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator. See Lincoln Institute.com

Caption
Fritz Klein and James Cornelius during their March, 2016 oral history interview. The two met in Illinois’s historic Old State Capitol, site of Lincoln’s ‘A house divided’ speech.

Where:
Old State Capitol, Springfield, Illinois

When:
March, 2016

Ownership:
Oral History Program photo

Caption
The videography crew with Fritz Kline and James Cornelius after filming the March, 2016 interview. From left to right in the back row are Thomas Craven, Mark Suszko, Bobby Troesch and Anthony Bateman.