Schenectady, NY (Oct. 18, 2001) –
All most people know about him is that he bought Alaska in a deal known as
“Seward's Folly.” But any graduate of Union College, from which William Henry Seward graduated with highest honors in 1820, will tell you there was a lot more to the man than that. For example, if Lincoln hadn't been the Republican nominee in 1860, it very likely would have been — and, in fact, almost was — Seward.
Incredibly, Seward's position as Abraham Lincoln's secretary of state -his “right hand,” his distinguished political career as governor of New York, his bold efforts in education and prison reform, his fight for the rights of immigrants and the insane, not to mention his unwavering fight against slavery – including his close relationship with Harriet Tubman – have, for the most part, gone
unrecognized.
Through Dec. 23 in the Mandeville Gallery of the Nott Memorial, Union College will feature the exhibition
titled “All the Good I Can” A Portrait of William Henry Seward.” The
exhibit includes more than 80 items -original writings, prints, speeches,
photos, and other artifacts.
Exhibition items include:
- The
13″ Bowie knife (a common weapon of Confederate soldiers), used by
assassin Louis Powell, in an attempt on Seward's life in 1865. Powell was part of the conspiracy – led by John Wilkes Booth – to kill President Lincoln and key members of his cabinet, including Seward. - A number of Seward's most famous speeches, including his “Higher Law” address, which attacked the institution of slavery in America, and his “Freeman” speech, which he delivered while defending an insane black man accused of murder in Auburn, NY. Seward was one of the first attorneys to use the insanity defense in court.
- Original
editions of the New York Times, Daily Herald and Harpers, which detail the assassination of Lincoln and the attack on Seward. - Memos and letters, in Seward's hand, including his famous memo of April 1, in which he urges President Lincoln to get busy with the business of the country. Seward even suggested that he would take on the tasks of the presidency if Lincoln felt ill equipped for the job at hand.
Public Events:
Exhibition Reception and Symposium – Nott Memorial, Tuesday, Oct. 23, reception 6 – 7:30pm, symposium 7:30pm. “Idealism, Pragmatism and the Dilemmas of Leadership – a Symposium in Honor of William Henry Seward.” panelists include:
Richard Norton Smith, nationally recognized authority on the American presidency and distinguished
professor of presidential history at Grand Valley State University.
William Galston, director of the Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy at the University of Maryland.
Robert Walker, executive director of the Educational Fund of Common Cause, Washington D.C.
Union College Political Science Prof. James Underwood will moderate the session.
Lecture – Nott Memorial, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 7:30pm. “William Henry Seward – Snapshots” by John M. Taylor, author of the Seward biography William Henry Seward – Lincoln's Right Hand
Conversation – Nott Memorial, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 7:30pm. “William Henry Seward and Harriet Tubman –
ReUniting Two Visionaries,” with Pauline Johnson, Tubman's great grandniece and Robert Seward, Seward Family Historian.
Mandeville Gallery hours:
October 18-November 16:
Mon-Thurs 9am-10pm;
Fri 9 am-5 pm; Sat noon-5pm
Sun noon-10 pm.
November 17 – December 23:
9am-5pm daily
Information: 388-6004; www.union.edu/links/gallery
Cost: Free, open to the Public