by Eric A Thomas
Central Illinois is rich with history; especially when it comes to all things Lincoln. The general public has many opportunities to learn about our 16th President in and around his hometown of Springfield. One of the latest is the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM), which opened to the public in 2005 and a local retiree has joined the ranks of their volunteer corps.
Beginning in September, Tammy Guthrie began training classes to become a volunteer at ALPLM. During her training she was required to attend 3 training sessions. These sessions included an overview of the museum exhibits, tech department, security, and general education about Lincoln and his family. On the completion of training Guthrie started working every other Wednesday morning. “My duties include greeting the guests and directing them on how to navigate the museum,” she remarked. “I’m also there to answer questions and give information on Lincoln.” She added that the volunteers are treated very well by the museum and that makes all of them want to do a great job. The volunteers are all like family.
There are currently about 400 volunteers total. The museum and library are quite large with many displays and all volunteers are utilized throughout the year. “As the year goes on, I plan on increasing the time that I give,” Guthrie added. The people who make up this team come from all over. There are a few volunteers from the Jacksonville area and some drive quite a distance just to volunteer at ALPLM. For Guthrie it is a very humbling experience to be a part of such an outstanding facility.
When asked to comment on her favorite parts of the museum, Guthrie said there were many. Some of her favorites are the Ghosts of the Library presentation which runs regularly throughout the day. Another is the exhibit of Lincoln with his boys in his law office. “He obviously believed in ‘letting boys be boys’,” she replied. One of her favorite displays is the last spoon President Lincoln ate with. Visitors can find that encased in glass in Journey 2.
Guthrie mentioned that she chose to volunteer for a variety of reasons. First, she has always been fascinated with the Lincoln’s. Secondly, she has known others who volunteered there, and they all enjoyed it. Finally, she is retired and wanted to be out among the people. “We never know when a dignitary will visit the museum,” commented Guthrie. “On my first day we had a dignitary from France – Ambassador Marc Perrin de Brichambaut. He is a judge at the International Criminal Court at The Hague.” Guthrie added that she has an interest in anything historical, particularly in this area. In addition to working as a volunteer for the Lincoln Library and Museum, she also volunteers at Woodlawn Farm, part of the Underground Railroad in Jacksonville.
Mrs. Guthrie is a retired elementary teacher (2013) having served 33 years at Triopia. In addition to her teaching career, she was very active with the Jacksonville Theatre Guild until their closing in 2015. She makes her home in Jacksonville with her husband Tom. They have one daughter, Lynette who teaches German at JHS. Recently, Guthrie obtained her substitute teaching license.
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is located at 212 and 112 N. Sixth Street in Springfield. The hours for the museum are 9 AM to 5 PM daily. They are closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The cost for the museum is Adults: $15; Seniors (62+): $12; Military: $10; Students: $12; Children (5 – 15): $6; Children (4 and under): Free; and Members: Free. Their website is presidentlincoln.illinois.gov.
