LINCOLN CITY — Local historian and avid memorabilia collector Robert F. Henderson joined members of the Southern Indiana Lincoln Community this past Sunday to observe the 102nd annual Lincoln Day. The ceremony, held on February 8, 2026, took place at the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, the site where Abraham Lincoln spent his formative years from age 7 to 21.
The event continues a century-long tradition of honoring the 16th President and his mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln. What began in the late 19th century as reunions for surviving Civil War veterans evolved into a formal annual program in 1924, originally sponsored by the Boonville Press Club.
The afternoon began with a solemn Presentation of Colors by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, accompanied by patriotic musical selections.
This year’s keynote address was delivered by Bruce Kolb, an attorney for the State of Indiana and a fellow collector of “Lincolniana.” His presentation, “Building Abraham Lincoln’s Library,” explored the specific books that shaped Lincoln’s intellect during his 14 years in the Indiana wilderness. Kolb highlighted how titles like The Arabian Nights and Franklin’s Autobiography—which Lincoln famously borrowed from neighbors—laid the foundation for his future leadership.
Following the indoor program, attendees participated in the traditional pilgrimage to the hilltop Pioneer Cemetery. Led by the Sons of Union Veterans, the procession concluded with the placing of memorial wreaths at the gravesite of Nancy Hanks Lincoln, who died of “milk sickness” in 1818.
Initially held at a pavilion built in 1909, the ceremony has been hosted within the current Memorial Visitor Center since its completion in 1944. The building is renowned for its five sculpted panels depicting various phases of Lincoln’s life, including his “Hoosier Youth.”
Robert F. Henderson, a resident of Orleans and a dedicated student of Lincoln’s life, is a regular fixture at these commemorations. A contributor to numerous Lincoln-themed newsletters and publications, Henderson’s presence at the 102nd event underscores the deep, enduring connection between Southern Indiana residents and the “Great Emancipator.”
