The Rolland Center
For Lincoln Research
Welcome to the Rolland Center for Lincoln Research
The center is free and open 7 days a week
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Events & Programs
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NOW
ON DISPLAY
Lincoln Collection Items
The Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection and the Friends of the Lincoln Collection opened the Rolland Center for Lincoln Research in January of 2022. The Center provides a space to explore the Lincoln Collection through a variety of physical displays, digital kiosks, and even a projection room that shows collection items in 180 degrees.
12/10/25
EVENT
Linking Lincoln: Women of the 19th Century (Virtual)
Join us for an exploration of women’s evolving roles in the nineteenth century. This free program will be held on Zoom at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, December 10, 2025!
While the “traditional” role of women centered on the idea of women belonging in the domestic sphere, during the nineteenth century, women became activists, dedicating themselves to women’s rights advocacy and other social reforms. Join us to learn how women broke out of gender-defining roles to challenge societal expectations and discriminatory laws.
10/01/25
ON DISPLAY
He Belongs to the Ages: Mourning Abraham Lincoln
At the Rolland Center for Lincoln Research in the Allen County Public Library’s Main downtown location, we’re highlighting a strength of the Lincoln Collection: Abraham Lincoln mourning artifacts. Upon Lincoln’s death at the hands of an assassin on April 15, 1865, grief for the martyred president spread across the North. In this exhibit available from October 1, 2025, through January 20, 2026, visitors can view a small selection of these artifacts, including death notices, funeral photographs, a funeral ticket, and a funeral sermon delivered in Lincoln’s honor from right here in Fort Wayne.
02/28/25
ON DISPLAY
April 1865
At the Rolland Center for Lincoln Research in the Allen County Public Library, a new exhibit spotlights the events of April 1865. Here at the 160th anniversary of the fall of the Confederate capital at Richmond, Virginia, General Robert E. Lee’s surrender to Union general Ulysses S. Grant, and President Lincoln’s assassination, the exhibit explores a pivotal month at the close of the Civil War.
Meeting Dates - 2025
(4th Thursday of each month* at 3:00pm)
Date | Location | Agenda |
|---|---|---|
* Meeting held on third Thursday of the month due to holiday.
Regular meetings will be held at the branch location indicated and livestreamed on the ACPL youtube page.
The Rolland Center Virtual Tour
Meet Our Lincoln Librarians
Jessie Cortesi
Senior Lincoln Librarian
Jessie Cortesi holds an MA in History and a MLIS from IUPUI. She stewards the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, curates exhibits for all audiences, offers tours, and creates programming centered on Abraham Lincoln’s life and times. Her first exhibit received a GEMmy Award from the Midwest Travel Journalists Association naming the Rolland Center an outstanding visitor attraction. She was awarded the Lincoln Forum’s 2023 Ross Heller Fellowship, an experience that deepened her passion for the study of the Civil War.
Abbie Meek
Senior Lincoln Librarian
Abbie Meek is a native of Northeast Indiana with a passion for helping others research and access history. She earned her BA in History from Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne and her Master's in Library and Information Science at IUPUI. While obtaining her bachelor’s degree, she worked at Helmke Library. Since joining the Rolland Center, Abbie has guided tours, curated exhibits, created educational resources, and helped inquiring minds explore the renowned collection to discover Abraham Lincoln's life and times.
Sarah Schoolman
Educational Outreach Coordinator
Sarah Schoolman holds a BS in Elementary Education from Eureka College and a MS.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Purdue University Fort Wayne. Sarah brings a wealth of experience to her role and a proven track record in teaching upper elementary grades, crafting engaging curriculum, and mentoring both aspiring and current educators. She is a lifelong learner with a passion for sharing the compelling stories of Abraham Lincoln and his contemporaries through the vast resources of the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection.
