Prairie Association

Illinois Conference  ·  United Church of Christ

617 N. 1st St., DeKalb, IL 60115  ·   (815) 758-3497   ·   prairie@prairieucc.org

 

2005 Lovejoy Society Annual Report

Awards for His Brother's Blood, Speeches & Writings 1838-1864 by Owen Lovejoy, edited by William F. Moore and Jane Ann Moore. University of Illinois Press, 2004:

  • Congregational Christian Historical Society, Special Award, Annual Meeting, May 23, 2005, given at First Parish Church, Westwood, Massachusetts
  • The Illinois State Historical Society, Certificate of Superior Achievement, April 30, 2005, presented at Skokie, Illinois; "Long overshadowed by his brother, Elijah, Owen has long been underappreciated and misunderstood––a major contribution to the scholarship and understanding of the antislavery movement in the state."–-Russell Lewis, Awards Chairman, I.S.H.S.

Reviews of His Brother's Blood

  • Myron Marty, in Lincoln Lore, Summer, 2005, says "His Brother's Blood is an extraordinary accomplishment. Scholars of the Lincoln era owe a debt of gratitude to William and Jane Ann Moore, ordained ministers in the United Church of Christ."
  • Christopher Young, in Illinois Heritage by the Illinois State Historical Society, Mar./Apr. 2005, says, "Students of American and Illinois history will certainly gain from this book as will students of oratory and leadership. His Brother's Blood certainly deserves to be in academic libraries as well as in private libraries of serious students of the political, religious, and cultural history of the United States."

Speeches and Reenactments:

  • Apr. 16, 2005, at Mac Murray College, Jacksonville. "Race & Politics in Stephen A. Douglas's America." Bill and Jane Ann presented papers on Owen Lovejoy.
  • Sept. 2, 2005, at the Prairieland Chautauqua 2005 at Jacksonville, Illinois, Bill in costume presented Owen Lovejoy.
  • Oct. 10, 2005, at Oak Crest, DeKalb, "Lincoln-Lovejoy Dialogue" with Jane Ann and Dr. Glenn Meeter.
  • Oct. 27, 2005, at the Illinois Historical Preservation Society Conference at Springfield, Bill presented a paper on "Owen Lovejoy's Political Enemies 1852-58"; Jane Ann presented a paper on "Two Bachelors in Alton: Joseph Rieger and Owen Lovejoy, 1836-38."
  • Dec. 2, 2005, at the Illinois Historical Society Symposium at Springfield, Jane Ann presented "Contentious Clashes on Slavery in the U.S. Congress, Dec. '59-Apr. '60 -- speeches by Southern Congressmen vs. Owen Lovejoy"; Bill presented "Owen Lovejoy's Disciples in Bureau County."
  • Feb. 12, 2006, at the Hegeler Carus Foundation, in LaSalle Bill presented a lecture on "Lincoln's Most Generous Friend."
  • Mar. 15 through May 3, eight Wednesday morning classes at Lifelong Learning Institute at Northern Illinois University, "Owen Lovejoy, Lincoln's 'most generous friend'" taught by Bill and Jane Ann.

Conferences attended:

  • July 21-24, Society for Historians of the Early American Republic, Philadelphia. President of SHEAR James Brewer Stewart spoke on "Reconsidering the Abolitionists in an Age of Fundamentalist Politics."