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Tom Schwartz - Historians Speak
Dr. Tom Schwartz became Lincoln Curator at the Illinois State Historical Library in 1985, and for the next twenty-five years developed a reputation as one of the nation's leading Lincoln scholars. In 1993 he was appointed Illinois State Historian by Governor Jim Edgar. As State Historian, Dr. Schwartz supervised the Lincoln Curator and Research and Collections Department of the State Historical Library, and also worked with scholars studying other aspects of Illinois history besides Lincoln.
Interview Links
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Photos
Caption
Tom Schwartz’s official ALPLM publicity image taken by David Blanchette.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Tom Schwartz hard at work as the Lincoln Curator in his office under the Old State Capitol in the late 1980s.
Where:
Old State Capitol
When:
late 1980s
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Group of New Employees at the Illinois State Historical Library, in 1985. In front are Bill Beard and Carl Oblinger. In back are Bonnie (Furguson) Parr, Tom Schwartz and Steve Leonard.
Where:
Illinois State Historical Library
When:
1985
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Tom Schwartz at Mary Todd Lincoln Home, Lexington, Kentucky in 1986 with Lou Holden, Director of the Mary Todd Lincoln home, and Louise Taper.
Where:
Mary Todd Lincoln Home, Lexington, Kentucky
When:
1986
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Tom Schwartz in January 1986 as he received a donation of Lincoln items from Jim and Edith Myers.
Where:
Unknown
When:
January 1986
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Schwartz relaxes at the Mount Pulaski Court House, circa 1987.
Where:
Mount Pulaski Court House
When:
circa 1987
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Tom Schwartz takes his picture while standing next to a statue of Stephen Douglas in early 1987.
Where:
Unknown
When:
early 1987
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
This photograph ran with a Springfield State Journal Register article in 1992 featuring “keepers of the Lincoln Flame.”
Where:
Unknown
When:
1992
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption
Tom Schwartz with John Splaine of C-SPAN at New Salem Historic Site circa 1992.
Where:
New Salem Historic Site
When:
circa 1992
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Left to Right: Rob Barry, Louise Taper, and Tom Schwartz during a trip to Beverly Hills, California to visit in 1993 with Taper about the family’s extensive Lincoln artifacts collection
Where:
Beverly Hills, California
When:
1993
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Left to Right: James T. Hickey, former Lincoln Curator, Tom Schwartz and Barry Taper, circa 1993.
Where:
Unknown
When:
circa 1993
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Doctors Anne and Victor McKusick during a visit to Springfield and Lincoln’s Tomb. From left to right are unknown, Anne Bishop McKusick, Victor A. McKusick, and Schwartz. The McKusics were interested in the connection between Lincoln and Marfan Syndrome.
Where:
Lincoln's Tomb, Springfield, Illinois
When:
circa 1994
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Three Lincoln Curators, past and present, in 1995. From left to right are Tom Schwartz, James T. Hickey, and Kim Matthew Bauer.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1995
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Tom as he appears in a still photo from “Ask Mr. Lincoln,” one of the inaugural exhibits at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum when it opened in April, 2005.
Where:
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
When:
April, 2005
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
April 19, 2005 was opening day for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. Tom meets with President and Mrs. George W. Bush. In the right of the photo is Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert.
Where:
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
When:
April 19, 2005
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Tom Schwartz makes his point while speaking to a group on February 12th, 2008, Lincoln’s birthday. Dr. Schwartz was a frequent speaker and an advocate for Abraham Lincoln and the Presidential Library and Museum.
Where:
Unknown
When:
February 12th, 2008
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Tom Schwartz, Louise Taper and Tolbert Chisum, chair of the ALPL Foundation, during the naming dedication of the Taper Family Foundation Treasures Gallery in September, 2008. The Library and Museum acquired the extensive Taper collection in 2007.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
September, 2008
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Tom Schwartz was made a Bicentennial Laureate at the 2009 Lincoln Academy of Illinois Ceremony. Left to Right: John B. Simon, Schwartz, Carol Brown Hodge.
Where:
Lincoln Academy of Illinois Ceremony
When:
2009
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Tom Schwartz is flanked by John Wing and Ray McCaskey at an Illinois Humanities Council event in 2009.
Where:
Illinois Humanities Council
When:
2009
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Lincoln Collection Staff in September, 2009. From left to right are Bryon Andreason, Mary Ann Pohl, Jennifer Ericson, James Cornelius, Mark DePue, Kay Smith, Katie Ebeling and Tom Schwartz.
Where:
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
When:
September, 2009
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Tom Schwartz showing Senate President John Cullerton the Gettysburg Address in the Lincoln Library vault in February, 2010.
Where:
Lincoln Library vault
When:
February, 2010
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Dr. Schwartz interviewed Doris Kearns Goodwin during one of the feature events for “Evenings to Remember” event in April, 2010.
Where:
Unknown
When:
April, 2010
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Tom Schwartz with Loretta Durbin and Senator Dick Durbin in the Lincoln Vault during a visit in November, 2010.
Where:
Lincoln Vault
When:
November, 2010
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Lincoln Leadership Prize dinner in Chicago in February, 2010. From left to right are Tom Schwartz, Apollo 13 astronaut James Lovell, former IHPA Director Jan Grimes and actor Tom Hanks.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
February, 2010
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Tom Schwartz shows astronaut James Lovell an artifact from the Lincoln Library vault. Lovell visited the Museum and did a book signing in September of 2010.
Where:
Lincoln Library Vault
When:
September of 2010
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Deputy Director of ALPLM Jennifer Tirey with Tom Schwartz, circa 2011.
Where:
Unknown
When:
circa 2011
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Tom traveled to Naples, Florida Foundation event in 2011. Two attendees are flanked by Schwartz and Tolbert Chisum.
Where:
Naples, Florida
When:
2011
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Tom Schwartz with Doris Kearns Goodwin in 2011 for the opening of the Museum’s temporary exhibit “Team of Rivals,” inspired by Goodwin’s best selling book of the same name.
Where:
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
When:
2011
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Tom Schwartz stands with Doris Kerns Goodwin and Tolbert Chisum in “Team of Rivals” exhibit.
Where:
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
When:
2011
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Tom received an honorary doctorate from Lincoln College. From left to right are Edith Erwin, John Irwin, Cathy Schwartz, Jacque Schwartz (in front), Tom Schwartz, and parents Marie and Ed Schwartz.
Where:
Lincoln College
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Tom, on the right, during a visit to the J.P. Getty Museum in Malibu, California. From left to right are Barry Taper, John Gehlbach, James T. Hickey, Ralph G. Newman, Paul Beaver and Tom Schwartz.
Where:
J.P. Getty Museum, Malibu, California
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo