Blount Mansion: Lincoln’s Other Proclamation: The Origin of America’s Thanksgiving Tradition

Blount Mansion will host Dr. William E. Hardy, the Lincoln Scholar and assistant professor of history, as well as the executive director of The Abraham Lincoln Center for Leadership and Public Policy in the Paul V. Hamilton School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Lincoln Memorial University. Though Thanksgiving traces its roots to the 1621 Pilgrim harvest feast in Plymouth Colony, the practice of celebrating the holiday in late November was not firmly established until the American Civil War. During his presidency, Abraham Lincoln issued several thanksgiving proclamations to help the nation cope with the tragedy of war while remaining grateful that things were not worse. However, none of these proclamations specified a single day as a national day set aside for prayer. Then, in October 1863, President Lincoln, prompted by a famed poet, novelist and editor who had been vigorously pushing for a national Thanksgiving Day for nearly two decades, issued yet another Thanksgiving proclamation that established the modern holiday tradition.

The speaking event will be at Blount Mansion Visitors Center. Limited free parking is available onsite. A $5 donation is suggested at the door; cash and cards accepted. RSVP to [email protected].