Wilmington City Council Honors 96-Year Legacy Of The Lincoln Club Of Delaware

Councilwoman Zanthia Oliver with members of The Lincoln Club of Delaware after receiving their recognition. (Photo by Yesenia Taveras.)

WILMINGTON — During its April 17 meeting, Wilmington City Council recognized the Lincoln Club of Delaware for nearly a century of dedication to preserving the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln and promoting historical education in the state.

Third District Councilwoman Zanthia Oliver led the tribute, presenting a resolution that celebrated the club’s 96 years of service. Established in 1929, the Lincoln Club has built and maintained one of the country’s most extensive collections of Lincoln-related memorabilia.

Now housed at the University of Delaware, the collection features thousands of items, including books, manuscripts, photographs, and artifacts offering insight into Lincoln’s personal and political life. Among its most notable pieces is a Civil War-era shawl that Lincoln gave to Colonel John Schoonover. The shawl was later passed down to his son, illustrator Frank Schoonover, who served as club president from 1950 to 1951.

Initially donated to the Wilmington Institute Free Library in 1938 by club member Frank G. Tallman, the collection was opened to the public in 1941. It was later relocated to the University of Delaware in 1969 during library renovations, and in 1998, the collection was split between the University’s Library Special Collections and the Goodstay Center.

Accepting the award on behalf of the club was Chris Kenny, past president of the Lincoln Club of Delaware. Kenny reflected on the group’s ongoing efforts to engage the public with Lincoln’s legacy through educational and cultural programming.

“Here we actually watched one of the original Abraham Lincoln movies that starred Raymond Massey, who actually came to Delaware and participated in some of the Lincoln events,” Kenny said. “That movie was nearly 100 years old.”

He also shared details of a recent club trip to Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., where Lincoln was assassinated. “We all went down there and sat literally underneath of the exact balcony where he was shot, and watched A Christmas Carol,” Kenny said.

The club’s activities also include a regular book club that explores contemporary scholarship on Lincoln.

“The books are always best sellers that top Lincoln scholars are discussing today,” Kenny said. “Those speakers normally, they’re either at the book club or they then keynote our annual dinner.”

Kenny concluded by encouraging community members to join.

“So we’re always recruiting for new members that want to join and become part of the Lincoln Club, (we offer) great programming that really helps, really learn about the legacy of our greatest president,” he said.

Councilwoman Oliver delivered remarks honoring the club’s lasting impact.

“Job Well Done. We wish the Lincoln Club of Delaware continued success for generations to come,” Oliver said.