Rare piece coming to Cook Center

By Donell Williams

February 04, 2006 02:59 pm

— The Thirteenth Amendment was one of the many additions to the Constitution that changed the face of America. One abolitionist called it a covenant with life after calling the Constitution a covenant with death.
The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery.
After the Thirteenth Amendment was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 31, 1865, the court clerk made 13 handwritten copies of the amendment and Lincoln, Vice President Hannibal Hamlin, Speaker of the House Scuyler Colfax and 147 other U.S. Senators and Congressman signed each “souvenir” copy.
The Pearce Civil War and Western Art Museums at the Cook Center will be one of at least three hosts for the Thirteenth Amendment Tour on Feb. 13 and 14.
The Thirteenth Amendment Tour will be displayed at the Martin Luther King Jr. site in Atlanta, The Cook Center and at a showing in Chicago with more showings being planned. The Cook Center could be the only exhibit shown in Texas.
“This (amendment) is very important because for the first time the federal government is dictating the rights of the people,” Archivist Julie Holcomb said. “It’s an incredible piece of history.”
The copy that is being toured is one that has been in a private collection since 1984 and will be auctioned through Historical Collectible Auctions in North Carolina sometime during March.
The response to the document coming to The Cook Center is taking hold on campus with at least one teacher, Laurie Robertstad, bringing all her government students to the tour and using it as a way to show what they’ve been discussing in her classes, Holcomb said.
“It’s generated a lot of interest, because usually, you have to travel to Dallas to see this type of exhibit. Who would have thought we’d have it come to little Corsicana, Texas,” Holcomb said. “I hope we see a lot of crowds because it’s a good reason for people who might not come to the museum and the people who have been saying I’ll go someday. Well this could be their someday.”
The museum is also extending its hours on Monday, Feb. 13 so that anyone who wants to see the exhibit can. The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 14.
“The ideal time would have been to have it on a weekend, but unfortunately that wasn’t an option so we’re having extended hours for those who work,” she said.
Tours must be booked in advance with Pat Granger at (903) 875-7596. Regular museum rates, $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $3 for children ages 3 years old and older, apply. For more information or directions contact the Pearce Museums Collections at (800) 988-5317.
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Donell Williams may be contacted via e-mail at dwilliams@corsicanadailysun.com.