Ladies Lincoln League

Ladies Lincoln League. . On September 16, 1909, seventeen women organized the Ladies Lincoln League "for the greatest good for the greatest number." Their mission was to improve the town and promote education. Membership was open to women over 16 years of age with good moral character. Dues were $1 per year. Their first efforts were directed to beautifying the area around the recently installed Lincoln Statue., Robert Todd Lincoln was among the more than 10,000 people from around the country who attended the unveiling of the heroic bronze monument that honored his father. He would later write to Mrs. I.B. (Lucille) Handley, President of the League, expressing his gratitude for their hospitality. He enclosed a $1,000 check to assist the ladies with their civic endeavors., This gift and other money raised led to paving the square, installing electric streetlights and a central flagpole, maintaining the town water pump, and landscaping. Redbud and dogwood trees were planted along the roadway to Lincoln's Birthplace., The League's efforts in education led to establishment of the first public library - a few donated books in the back room of the local bakery. To generate funds for their projects the ladies produced and sold miniature cabins, gavels, canes and other souvenirs made of wood from Lincoln Birthplace., Over time this provided the seed money toward the construction of the new Lincoln Memorial Library which operated from 1935 until the new publicly-funded library district was established in 1963., For decades the Ladies Lincoln League coordinated annual celebrations for Lincoln's Birthday. They stood at the forefront of civic improvements, maintained the library, and provided scholarships to high school students., At their dissolution in 1982 the group voted unanimously to donate its treasury to the LaRue County Public Library., Today, the Woman's Club of Hodgenville and Lincoln Days Celebration are two county-wide volunteer organizations whose mission statements reflect the goals of these remarkable ladies whose dedication and determination helped mold this community. , Content from The Lincoln Museum collections, (Captions) , Ladies Lincoln League members in 1909. Front from left, Mrs. O.M. Mather, Mrs. A.T. Boyd, Miss Nell Brownfield, Mrs. H.D. LaRue, Mrs. Bruce Ludwick, Mrs. John Read, Mrs. Allie Brownfield Handley, Mrs. C.N. McGill, Mrs. G.O. Kirkpatrick, Mrs. Edd Keeler. Second row: Mrs Jamie Stark, Mrs. J.W. Thomas, Mrs. Charles Howard, Mrs. Despain, Mrs. John Burba, Mrs. Benny Soloman. Third row: Miss Maggie Howard, Mrs. Ed Smith, Mrs. Hugh Chenault, Mrs. Lewis Hubbard.Courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Birthplace N.H.P., Originally located one block south of here, the Lincoln Memorial Library was dedicated February 12, 1935. The building was dismantled and rebuilt a few miles outside of Hodgenville and is now used as a church. Courtesy Archive.org , Robert Todd Lincoln's letter to Mrs. Lucille Handley was donated to the LaRue County Public Library and is displayed at The Lincoln Museum., , (Text of the letter by Robert Todd Lincoln), Pullman Building , Chicago , November 3rd, 1909, Dear Mrs. Handley: , On my arrival fram the east I find your letter of October 29th, which I have read with interest. It gave me just the information which I desired to have when I wrote you., I think your project is a very good one, and I should think that it ought to be carried out satisfactorily well with the amount which you suggest, and towards which you havee already secured $800.00. I remember very vividly the thoroughness of the preparations made in your town at the time of the unveiling af the Statue, and the unbounded hospitality that was extended to all who came there, and I take pleasure in repeating again to you my feelings of gratitude for it all., I wish also to take part in the work which you have projected, and therefore enclose you my cheque fot $1000.00. I would be very if you can manage to avoid any newspaper notice being taken of this., Thanking you for the part you are taking in in it yourself, and with kind regards, I am,, Sincerely yours, , Robert T. Lincoln