April 15, 2015
Lecture will explore Lincoln’s law practice
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A lecture next week at Southern Illinois University Carbondale will provide perspective on how Abraham Lincoln’s experiences as an attorney in Illinois helped propel him to become president of the United States.
Guy C. Fraker, a Bloomington attorney, will present “Lincoln’s Ladder to the Presidency: The Eighth Judicial Circuit,” as part of the Dean’s Colloquium at the SIU School of Law. The lecture is at 5 p.m., Monday, April 20, in the Hiram H. Lesar Building Auditorium.
The event is free and open to the public.
Fraker, who has written extensively and lectures frequently on the Eighth Judicial Circuit, will discuss Lincoln’s experiences as an attorney riding to as many as 14 county seats within the circuit over 10- to 12-week periods. Fraker is the author of a 2012 Southern Illinois University Press book, “Lincoln’s Ladder to the Presidency: The Eighth Judicial Circuit,” and he also served as a consultant on the award-winning PBS documentary, “Lincoln, Prelude to the Presidency.”
“Although most people know about Lincoln as president, many don’t realize that before leading the country he practiced law in Illinois for almost 25 years,” said Douglas Lind, law library director and professor at the SIU School of Law. “It’s a great honor to have Mr. Fraker provide insight about this important period in the life of one our country’s greatest presidents.”
There will be a reception at 4:30 p.m. in the formal lounge, where copies of Fraker’s book will be available.