Plans for the Lincoln Memorial were approved in 1910 and construction completed in 1922. This guide provides access to materials related to the “Lincoln Memorial” in the Chronicling America digital collection of historic newspapers.
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About Chronicling America
Chronicling America is a searchable digital collection of historic newspaper pages through 1963 sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress.
Also, see the Directory of U.S. Newspapers in American Libraries, a searchable index to newspapers published in the United States since 1690, which helps researchers identify what titles exist for a specific place and time, and how to access them.
Introduction
“The great soul of Abraham Lincoln yesterday looked down on vast concourse of people and realized that “these dead have not died in vain” for he saw America united gathered at the shrine raised to him by a grateful nation,” read the front page of the May 31, 1922 Washington Herald. One of the highlights of Washigton DC’s historic, the Lincoln Memorial has been appreciated by tourists from all over the world and continues to embody Lincoln’s ever important life and ideas. Read more about it!
The information in this guide focuses on primary source materials found in the digitized historic newspapers from the digital collection Chronicling America.
The timeline below highlights important dates related to this topic and a section of this guide provides some suggested search strategies for further research in the collection.
Timeline
December, 1910
Senator Cullom introduces bill that would provide $2 million for a memorial to Lincoln; the bill is subsequently approved.
February, 1911
President Taft is chosen to head the Lincoln Memorial Commission following the passing of the bill.
February 12, 1914
After a year of deliberations and discussions, work finally starts on the Lincoln Memorial.
May 30, 1922
Construction on the Lincoln Memorial is completed and accepted by President Harding.