Ladies of Lincoln’s Era Exhibition

In the Rancho Room
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Daily
February 2, 2009 – March 31, 2009

Special Event Days Related to this Exhibit:
February 16th and March 12th (details below)

The Ladies of Lincoln's Era Exhibition highlights 12 of the most influential women of the 1860s, a period which forever changed American history. Included in the exhibition are quilts made by the women of this era, a Civil War field hospital display, a copy of the document signed by Abraham Lincoln giving control of the Missions back to the Catholic Church, and an interactive element which encourages young women of today to leave their mark.

To book groups at a discounted rate to explore this exhibition, please visit us at http://www.missionsjc.com/groups.html or call (949) 234-1306.

To download study materials for this exhibition, please click below:

Mission San Juan Capistrano thanks the women of the Artifacts Council for their hard work and dedication in the research and design of this exhibition.

For more information on this event, please call
(949) 234-1300.

Ladies of Lincoln’s Era Lectures & Events

Please Download a Flyer for These Events by clicking here

Monday, February 16, 2009 & Thursday, March 12th Discounted Admission Days!

- Children aged 3-11 gain free admission to visit the Ladies of Lincoln’s Era Exhibition on President’s Day, February 16th when they bring their American Girl Doll

Thursday, March 12, 2009 Activities

- At 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Education Manager, Megan Dukett leads two interactive workshops on children’s games of the 1860s in the Mission’s Central Courtyard

- Living History characters in period dress from the Civil War period will be present onsite for questions

- Refreshments from the 1860s will be available in the Soldiers Barracks Gallery during the lecture series from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. See below for lecture descriptions.

Thursday, March 12, 2009 Lecture Series

11:00 a.m.
Darkly Adorned: Mourning and the Civil War
PowerPoint Presentation by Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones is the costume curator for the FIDM Museum at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles. His education in fashion design and art history has combined with his love of 18th, 19th and 20th century high fashion to make him an expert in the field.

Mr. Jones has curated exhibitions for FIDM Museum, presented academic papers around the country, is often quoted in newspaper and magazine articles, and is demand for on radio and television broadcasts regarding historical clothing and fashion. He is on the national Board of Directors for the Costume Society of America, and belongs to many professional associations including the Titanic Historical Society and the Preservation Society of Newport, Rhodes Island.

12:00 p.m.
Mr. Lincoln’s Whiskers
Slide Presentation and reading by Karen B. Winnick

Children’s author, Karen B. Winnick travels to schools reading from her popular historical children’s books, such as Cassie’s Sweet Berry Pie: A Civil War Story and Lucy’s Cave: A Story of Vicksburg, 1863. In the story of Mr. Lincoln’s Whiskers, we learn that Abraham Lincoln was the first President of the United States to wear a beard. What gave him the idea was a letter he received from an eleven-year-old girl from Westfield, New York named Grace Bedell. "Dear Sir," she wrote, "If you will let your whiskers grow I will try to get [my brothers] to vote for you. You would look a great deal better for your face is so thin. All the ladies like whiskers and they would tease their husbands to vote for you.” This delightful book, based on the true and inspiring story of a young girl’s successful influence on a political figure is suitable for children grades Kindergarten through 4th grade. The author will tell the story of how she came to write and research the book and others like it.

1:00 p.m.
The Threads of Truth, Honoring the Creators of American Quilts
Slide Presentation by Martha Morrison

Martha Morrison travels nationally and throughout Europe to research first hand the fabrics of the past. Her love of textiles and especially American quilts and their meanings in the context of the history of the pieces she discovers has led her on many journeys throughout the historical towns of the east and south. She has presented to many groups about the touching personal stories she has uncovered. She will be presenting slides and showing quilts and textiles from several collections with the origins of the pieces she has uncovered. She extends an invitation to attendees to bring antique quilts from their own collections. There will be time designated to show and share some of the treasured fabrics with the audience.