IH: As the newly elected presidentof the Abraham Lincoln Association, andthe first African-American and firstfemale to hold the office, what goalshave you set for yourself and for theorganization?

KH: My goals as ALA President

include to work to make the ALAmore inclusive and diverse by reaching out to younger audiences,our local Young ProfessionalsOrganization, for instance; speak-ing to civic and social groups whomay have only limited knowledge

about the ALA, perhaps makingpresentations to Rotary, Shriners,or PEO groups and Pan-Hellenicand other fraternities and sorori-ties, and I welcome those invita-tions. In addition I want to workwith and become more knowledge-able about other Lincoln Groupsacross the country in the hopes ofpartnering with them on projects,programs, etc. Another goal is towork with local school districts tohelp school children learn moreabout Mr. Lincoln, his achieve-ments, his character, his legacy. Tohelp them understand that there ismore him than just being the 16thPresident of our country.

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IH: In your opinion, what is missingfrom the Illinois history narrative, espe-cially as we move into the commemora-tion of the bicentennial of the state?

KH: What I find most to bemissing from the Illinois historynarrative is the significant roleand the achievements that weremade by Illinois African Americansthat are not included or talkedabout in Illinois history. On alarger scale, however, not a greatdeal of time is devoted to Illinoishistory instruction in many of ourschools.

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The past steps forward

Kathryn Harris

A conversation with Kathryn Harris, the newpresident of the Abraham Lincoln Association

Interview by William Furry

[Editor’s note: Kathryn Harris of Springfield has been a librarian mostif not all of her professional career. She retired earlier this year from theAbraham Lincoln Presidential Library, where she was Director of LibraryServices for many, many years. Last year she received a “Lifetime Achieve -ment” award from the Illinois State Historical Society for her tirelessefforts to promote Illinois and African-American history around the stateand nation, and last month she was elected the first woman and firstAfrican-American president of the Abraham Lincoln Association. Catchingup with Kathryn is always a challenge, but we caught her between engage-ments for a short Q&A.]

Kathryn Harris receives ISHS “Lifetime Achievement” award in 2015from immediate past president Russell Lewis. Photo by William Furry.

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IH: In the last ten years in Illinoiswe’ve seen an exciting trend in local his-tory—the emergence of regional histori-cal societies devoted to African Americanhistory. How have these institutionschanged the dynamic in local education,history fairs, class projects, etc.?

KH: Not to repeat what wasjust said, but I am pleased to seemore interest having been devel-oped and more presentations beingoffered about Illinois AfricanAmerican History. As the LibraryServices Director at the AbrahamLincoln Presidential Library(ALPL), I saw lots of students whochose people or events in Illinoishistory for their projects and manyof them were successfully pre-sented or displayed at local,regional, and even National HistoryFair/Day and received awards.

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IH: Jesse Palmer was a huge figurein the early history of the Illinois StateHistorical Library, and you filled hershoes admirably over the years beforeyour retirement last year. As Secretary ofState, Jesse White has been the longestserving Illinois State Librarian, at leastin my memory. How have these two individuals influenced your career as alibrarian?

KH: Jesse Palmer Weber wasindeed a remarkable woman whodiligently worked for many, manyyears to “grow” the Illinois StateHistorical Library, the ISHL (nowthe ALPL). In my mind, she ranksright up there with KatharineSharp who “grew” the Universityof Illinois Library School atChampaign-Urbana; both weretrailblazers and role models inlibrary history. However, it isimportant to know and rememberthat The Secretary of State is, bystate statute, the State Librarianand the State Archivist, but theISHL/ALPL was founded as, andcontinues to be, an Agency of theExecutive Office of the Governor,also stated in the statute, not theOffice of the Secretary of State(SOS). The Illinois State Library(ISL) is a Depart ment of the SOS.Having served as the Head of theReference Department at the

Illinois State Library, I havealways appreciated the interest,support, and commitment that theSOS demonstrates for the ISL,especially under Jesse White andJim Edgar’s leadership. Both ofthese men serve and served theIllinois library community withdynamic and respected leadershipand genuine support. Their suc-cessor will have huge shoes to fillin the library community.

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IH: How has your career as anactress and historical interpreter influenced the way you look at history?

KH: The first person presenta-tions that I delight in sharing withaudiences from schools, churches,

and the community groups remindme to look at history through a“lens of time”. By that I mean thatI cannot view the past with 21stcentury eyes, I must keep the pastin context and present my charac-ters accordingly. (Harriet Tubman,Jarena Lee, Phoebe Florville,Elizabeth Keckley)

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IH: In your retirement, do you haveplans for new characters from Illinoishistory? If so, which ones.

KH: I just may do that; thereare women whose stories are untoldand largely unknown who I could“breathe life into”; one in particularis Priscilla Baltimore, a formerslave who settled in Brooklyn,

Kathryn Harris as Elizabeth Keckley. Photo by William Furry.

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Illinois, and worked on the UGRRin that area (near Alton, Collinsville,East Saint Louis). That will bechallenging, as she is not widelyknown. I think that she is a goodcharacter to begin researching.

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IH: f you were chair of the IllinoisBicentennial Commission, what threethings would you want every Illinois tolearn from the anniversary?

KH: If I were Chair of theIllinois Bicentennial Commission, Iwould like every Illinoisan to learnthese three things about our state’s

history: Debunk the myth thatIllinois was a totally “free” state;that the Springfield 1908 RaceRiot was not only a significantevent in Springfield and Illinoishistory, but also in national history(It served as a catalyst for thefounding of the NAACP in 1909,which was, by the way, theCentennial of President Lincoln’sbirth); and learn the lyrics andtune of our state song, “Illinois”….I doubt if anyone under 25 knowsit today, but it was taught to me inelementary school: AttucksElementary School in Carbondale

when I was in the 5th grade!

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IH: How important to the Americannarrative is the Presidency of BarackObama, and how would you like to seeIllinois commemorate his achievement?

KH: Barack Obama is a majorpart of Illinois and national his-tory. From his community organiz-ing days in Chicago, to his tenurein the Illinois General Assemblyand the US Senate, to his choiceof our fair city to make hisannouncements to run for thePresidency, and his most recentreturn visit here on February 10,2016, his achievements shouldand will be commemorated. Justrecently, discussion has started asto “how” this should be done and Iwould be honored to be a part ofthat discussion.

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IH: If offered a position at theObama Presidential Library, would youcome out of retirement?

KH: Of course I would comeout of retirement to have a posi-tion at the Obama PresidentialLibrary. It would be an honor.

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1H. You are originally fromCarbondale. How has being a southernIllinoisan influenced your understandingof the Illinois Character?

KH: That is a difficult ques-tion. If being from southern Illinoismakes one to be pensive andthoughtful, conscientious and hardworking, curious and inquisitive,helpful and sincere, then that iswhat has influenced me in under-standing my fellow Illinoisans.

Kathryn Harris at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library with bust of“Free” Frank McWhorter. Photo by William Furry.

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