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A definitive answer [about the Lincoln stovepipe hat controversy] might be within reach, but shortly after museum trustees and members of the museum’s foundation, which owns the hat, decided to consult with clothing experts, the museum fired the man who came up with a plan to resolve the controversy.
Via email, ALPLM spokesman Chris Wills says that former state historian Sam Wheeler was terminated “for performance.” In a December report, Wheeler had been critical of higher-ups at the institution and in the governor’s office for demanding that he publish findings before his hat research was complete. In his report, Wheeler wrote that he hadn’t been able to confirm the hat’s authenticity and recommended that it be examined by clothing and textile experts.
Wheeler first proposed experts in the spring of 2019, but that didn’t happen. Asked then to allow an examination of the hat, the foundation said it wanted to collaborate on the research project, according to Wheeler’s report, and the matter went no further. Finally, during a July 7 meeting that included museum trustees and members of the nonprofit board, an agreement was reached: Wheeler would find experts to come to Springfield and examine the hat. The Smithsonian was mentioned.
“It’s putting a smile on my face,” Wheeler declared during the meeting when members of the foundation and museum boards approved his plan. “I love to see this level of collaboration, and it is a story I will tell often.”
Eight days later, Wheeler was fired. His dismissal wasn’t discussed at a July 15 trustee meeting that adjourned shortly before Wheeler was reportedly escorted from the building.
* The Question: Should the state try to turn over administration of the ALPLM to the National Archives and Records Administration, which administers other presidential libraries? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please…
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 10:51 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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What is there to lose? Seems like the ALPLM is always mired in some level of controversy and if the National Archives knows how to run a library then go for it.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 10:56 am
After almost 20 years of evidence the state is clearly not up to the job. Five governors, D & R, and it’s been one fiasco after another.
Comment by Moe Berg Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 10:56 am
Yes, get these old Cellini hacks out of it.
Comment by Excitable Boy Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 10:59 am
Illinois simply can’t be trusted to handle something this important.
Comment by Just Me 2 Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 10:59 am
I say yes….throughout the period of the “Lincoln Hat” issue, confidence and credibility weren’t terms one could apply to several of the ‘caretakers” of the Lincoln legacy. Shady, evasive, incompetent (among many others) were applied liberally and properly - IMHO. Another way to put it, the phrase “Something Stinks about this whole deal” works for me.
Comment by Sayitaintso Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 10:59 am
Having visited 11 of the libraries administered by the National Archive, I believe their involvement will only enhance the operations of the Lincoln library and museum.
Comment by Downstate Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:00 am
Voted “Yes”. NARA has the expertise, resources, and experience. They do a terrific job.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:02 am
Yes. Illinois is proud of Lincoln, but his legacy belongs to the nation. NARA should run this national asset.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:09 am
Voted yes. Agree with JS Mill.
Comment by pool boy Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:10 am
The State’s management if the ALPLM has been a disaster, the morale of employees is at an all time low, and many people are unqualified or are simply political appointments. The organization has wasted millions of dollars of state (taxpayer) money. The hat episode represents the height of incompetence. Someone made a ‘heck of a lot’ of money over what may be a complete fraud, yet they refuse to investigate it. ALPLM relies on contributions from the public, who would want to continue to contribute.
Comment by Professor Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:11 am
Yes. And also transfer any and all Lincoln-related state historic sites (e.g., New Salem, Lincoln Log Cabin, Lincoln-Herndon Law Office) to the National Park Service too.
Same with all Grant, Reagan, and Obama-related historic sites in Illinois too.
Comment by Chatham Resident Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:11 am
While George Ryan and his minions aren’t part of it, it seems the late Steve Neal’s fears about the Library have come true.
Comment by Anyone Remember Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:16 am
Yes. Although there is some pride in that it is “our” library, I would much rather it strive to be the “crown jewel” of the national system. We already poach leaders from other presidential libraries for administrative positions anyway, so why not just have it led by the professionals at all levels.
It might even increase national attendance…Every time I visit a presidential library I meet people who have committed to visiting every official one. ALPLM would be at the front of their passport, as the earliest president to have a federally-recognized library.
Comment by NIU Grad Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:18 am
Turn it over.
It’s been good for some laughs, but the joke has gone stale.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:22 am
Let NARA run it.
Comment by downstateR Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:29 am
Considering we also had the U.S. Grant collection at SIU and managed to lose that such that it is now housed in Mississippi, an effort to turn the whole project over to competent management would be a plus. Should have found a way to combine the Lincoln and Grant collections and have a world class facility.
Comment by adl;ut Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:37 am
as bad as IL has hashed this up. I do not trust the feds to do anything right at this point in time.
Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:43 am
It is a really nice place to visit. Every family should put Springfield and this museum on their to do list.
Looks like this Governor and the Foundation are just not up to the job.
Not sure why as the Board members look like they have the qualifications to do a great job and the employees that I ran into also seemed first rate.
I just feel like this Illinois institution is too important for all of us to not take the opportunity to turn it over to the Feds If they would be willing to get involved in taking over the management of the museum.
Comment by Back to the Future Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:44 am
Looks like I’m the outlier here…I’d like to see it under the University of Illinois, plenty of qualified historians and the university has experience in advertising and promoting.
Comment by Annoyed Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:46 am
Although the U of I idea sounds interesting, past history means turn it over to to National Archives. Great educational potential, every family I know who has visited has been impressed. All the drama seems like a good sign that something continues to be wrong.
Comment by 44th Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:51 am
Voted yes. Illinois’s administration of it has been shambolic.
Comment by jabes Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:53 am
The State of Illinois as a governing body, has proven itself time after time of being unable to manage the simpilist of things across various administrations. The unfortunate thing is neither have the Fed’s.
Comment by fyredog Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:55 am
Yes, the State has proven over and over that it is not capable of running the ALPLM properly.
Comment by Pacman Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 11:59 am
I voted no. The ALPLM was built as a new facility for the Illinois State Historical Library and a VAST majority (I’d guess 95%) of the collections are not Lincoln-related but tell the history of Illinois. Believe it or not, Illinois is much more than Lincoln. That fact is lost on many people and the State of Illinois is the appropriate custodian of those materials. I suspect NARA would question the appropriateness of taking over what should be a state mandate
Comment by Longtime Lurker Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 12:10 pm
Almost anybody else managing would be a major improvement. Lincoln is spinning in his grave at high RPMs seeing this fiasco as yet another example of how his once great State has fallen apart.
Comment by revvedup Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 12:21 pm
No. At least not during the current administration. Unless you want Jared running it.
Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 12:24 pm
I think that would be great, but suspect its far harder to do than people think. When they created the ALPLM, they folded the Illinois State Historical Library into the institution. Not sure that portion could (or should) be given to the National Archives. TLDR: Its complicated
Comment by ILPundit Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 12:25 pm
Yes, this crew they have clearly can’t handle it. They are masters of nonfeasance at best, and malfeasance at worst.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 12:35 pm
Absolutely not, and I can’t imagine NARA would even consider it. The permanent museum exhibit might be all about Lincoln, but the collections, archives, and research mission are about the state and its entire history–not the federal government or just Lincoln–and well outside NARA’s scope. This is the state’s lead historical agency. Fix it.
Comment by Four O'Five Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 12:36 pm
*squints at the results*
Looks like the ALPLM Board heard about this poll.
I haven’t been keeping track of these polls, but could be one of the least divisive polling questions that Capitol Fax readers have participated in.
I voted yes. This organization created a questionable deal to pay out millions of dollars to some folks who appear to have created an opportunity for some significant self dealing and now they’re trying to leave us holding the bag.
Is it Lincoln’s hat? Doesn’t matter. It wasn’t worth the amount they paid for it due to the lack of substantiation that came with it.
Millions of dollars for a hat like Lincoln’s. One worn by Daniel Day Lewis during the production of Lincoln very likely has more historic and collector value.
Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 1:28 pm
I voted yes. Federal office = federal oversight? Also, the hacks in charge from the beginning exemplify Illinois politics. But, nice place to visit.
Comment by Vote Quimby Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 2:05 pm
While nothing would make me happier than to have the ALPLM out from under the disastrous management of the current administrators It’s extremely complicated if not impossible. Have to agree with Longtime Looker’s comments.
Comment by The Duke Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 2:05 pm
Should also note that NARA has plenty of problems. Always at or near the bottom of fed worker satisfaction rankings. Many of the Presidential Libraries are hampered by tensions with ’supportive’ foundations, political back channeling and self-dealing and interference with professional staff, and unstable leadership that would make the ALPLM look like a fine-tuned, transparent, good government paradise.
Comment by Four O'Five Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 2:19 pm
We build a wonderful museum to a wonderful man and all people talk about is the ALPLM is corrupt.
Gotta love Illinois.
Comment by R A T Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 3:21 pm
Voted no. While the ALPLM administration is incapable, NARA is not the answer. The value
of the Historical Library collections (the name should have never changed to ALPL) is not the miniscule part made up of Lincoln materials but the vast collections that explores and illuminates the history of Illinois and provide context to the Lincoln materials. NARA is not the place for these collections. And NARA doesn’t want it. They don’t have the money. All new libraries must come into the system with an endowment.
Comment by Sanqamo Girl Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 3:23 pm
NARA is not the answer, and those voting for it are basically voting for a no confidence vote of the current administration. Political appointees have ruined the ALPLM.
Comment by Earl Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 4:19 pm
Earl
I think you got that right,
Good read on a the confidence vote on this administration.
I would say a lot of appointees, Directors, managers and employees in the past were very good.
Comment by Back to the Future Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 4:40 pm
Voted yes … but it won’t happen. Too much patronage to give up.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 5:32 pm
Anything to get the museum away from the current unqualified “leaders” who are working daily to run this wonderful museum into the ground. If NARA isn’t an option, get some competent and experienced people in there to run it.
Comment by Voted yes Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 8:12 pm