History(TM) Announces Nationwide Initiative Honoring Abraham Lincoln

History(TM) Announces Nationwide Initiative Honoring Abraham Lincoln

"He Saved Our Nation. Let's Save His Legacy."

Year-Long Campaign Supporting the 200th Anniversary of Lincoln's Birth to Stretch Across Programming, Digital, and Grass Roots Platforms in Partnership With National Park Foundation and National Trust for Historic Preservation

HODGENVILLE, Ky., Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- From a humble childhood spent in a log cabin in Kentucky to his eventual rise in the political arena to the office of President of the United States to issuing the Emancipation Proclamation and proclaiming Thanksgiving a national holiday, Abraham Lincoln is one of the most revered and admired American leaders in history. Today, at Lincoln's birthplace in Hodgenville, Kentucky, History(TM) announced a year-long initiative by the network and its partners to commemorate the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth, with a new campaign, GIVE A LINCOLN FOR LINCOLN(TM) at an event honoring Lincoln's legacy.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080416/NYW113LOGO )

At the event, National Park Foundation Honorary Chair Mrs. Laura Bush also celebrated Lincoln's legacy with 50 junior rangers from Abraham Lincoln Elementary School in Hodgenville gathered at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site for a day dedicated to Lincoln's legacy.

The goal of GIVE A LINCOLN FOR LINCOLN(TM) program is to encourage Americans of all ages to donate Lincoln-head pennies, five dollar bills, or make larger donations online to help preserve six key sites associated with Lincoln's life and legacy. History(TM) is working with the National Park Foundation (NPF) as a primary partner on the campaign, together with the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP).

All donations collected through this campaign will be distributed to the NPF and the NTHP for the six Lincoln sites-- Lincoln's birthplace in Kentucky, his boyhood home in Indiana, the Lincoln home in Springfield, Illinois, the Lincoln Memorial and Ford's Theatre, both in Washington, D.C. and Lincoln's Cottage in Washington, D.C.

History(TM) will be working with schools and communities nationwide on GIVE A LINCOLN FOR LINCOLN(TM), aiming to raise a minimum of $200,000, or $1000 for every year since Lincoln was born, for education and preservation programs at the six historic sites. Contests for teachers and students to create Lincoln-themed lesson plans and coin boxes will be another exciting element of the initiative, which will commence in January, with contests running from February through May.

In addition to GIVE A LINCOLN FOR LINCOLN(TM), History's(TM) outreach efforts associated with the Lincoln Bicentennial include:

-- An interactive mini-site at www.history.com/lincoln featuring original
short-form videos about Lincoln's life, with lesson plans, background
context and partner links

-- An electronic field trip for schools, from Washington D.C. with the
Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, will be streamed live online
at history.com/lincoln on February 12th, 2009

-- Support of Lincoln themed exhibitions at the Smithsonian's National
Museum of American History, Ford's Theater, the Library of Congress,
and the traveling exhibition produced by Abraham Lincoln Presidential
Museum and Library in Springfield, IL, with videos created and donated
by History

-- Lincoln-themed content in AETN's Idea Book for Educators featuring
original content and primary sources from the Library of Congress

-- Resources for schools such as standards-based curriculum materials and
teacher's guides including primary source materials, developed with
the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and National History Day

-- A box set containing educational materials about Lincoln developed by
the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History created specifically
for schools and libraries that includes History-produced interviews
with nationally acclaimed scholars

"History(TM) urges all Americans to take part in this nationwide campaign," said Dr. Libby O'Connell, Chief Historian, Senior Vice President Corporate Outreach for History(TM), "and to participate in the opportunities available as part of the Lincoln Bicentennial. Whether you explore a Lincoln historic site with your family, share Lincoln's legacy with students, read the 16th President's inspiring words in a library, or visit one of the upcoming exhibitions around the country, this is the perfect time to learn more about one of our nation's greatest Presidents. And, by donating your Lincoln-head pennies or going on-line and making a larger contribution, we can work together to preserve Lincoln sites for future generations."

History.com will feature dynamic, interactive broadband and short-form content surrounding the Lincoln Bicentennial to complement both on-air programming and corporate outreach initiatives.

Additional announcements will be made at a later date.

History(TM) and History HD(TM) are the leading destinations for revealing, award-winning, original non-fiction series and event-driven specials that connects history with viewers in an informative, immersive and entertaining manner across multiple platforms. Programming covers a diverse variety of historical genres ranging from military history to contemporary history, technology to natural history, as well as science, archaeology and pop culture. Among the networks' program offerings are hit series such as Ax Men, Battle 360, The Universe, Cities of The Underworld and Ice Road Truckers, as well as acclaimed specials including King, Life After People, 1968 With Tom Brokaw, Lost Book of Nostradamus, Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed and Sherman's March. History has earned four Peabody Awards, four Primetime Emmy(R) Awards, 12 News & Documentary Emmy(R) Awards and received the prestigious Governor's Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for the network's Save Our History(R) campaign dedicated to historic preservation and history education. Take A Veteran to School Day is the network's latest initiative connecting America's schools and communities with veterans from all wars. History's website, located at www.History.com, is the definitive historical online source that delivers entertaining and informative content featuring broadband video, interactive timelines, maps, games podcasts and more.

DR. LIBBY HAIGHT O'CONNELL
Chief Historian, Senior Vice President, Corporate Outreach, AETN

As Chief Historian, Senior Vice President, Corporate Outreach, AETN, a role that she took on in March of 2005, Dr. Libby Haight O'Connell serves as historical adviser for the programming department at History(TM). In addition, she develops and produces educational and community-based initiatives for A&E Television Networks, such as Take A Veteran to School Day with History(TM), A&E's Intervention Town Hall Meetings and The Biography Channel's Lives Changing Lives initiative. Dr. O'Connell and her staff also provide educational content for the websites of the AETN networks.

Dr. O'Connell oversees onsite video production for A&E and History(TM) with organizations such as the Smithsonian and the National Park Service. In support of A&E's award series, Intervention; she is working with national groups dedicated to helping addicts and their family members. A Question of Life or Meth, executive- produced by Dr. O'Connell, won a 2007 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Special. Two of her educational initiatives, Save Our History(R) and the Biography Project for Schools, have received the prestigious Governor's Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Recently, Dr. O'Connell was the recipient of the 2007 NCTA's Vanguard Award for Government and Community Relations, the cable industry's highest honor in her field.

Dr. O'Connell was originally hired by A&E Network as a consultant for the initial content development of a proposed programming network, now known as History(TM).

Dr. O'Connell received her M.A. and Ph.D. in American history from the University of Virginia. She has taught history at Long Island University and has served as president of Raynham Hall Museum on Long Island. Dr. O'Connell serves on the boards of several organizations, including the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History; the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage; the Civil War Preservation Trust; and National History Day. She is also on the Council of Scholar Advisors for George Washington's home, Mount Vernon. Dr. O'Connell resides in New York with her husband, 2 children, and 3 dogs.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080416/NYW113LOGO
Source: History(TM)

CONTACT: Heather DiRubba, +1-212-210-9760, heather.dirubba@aetn.com,
Kathie Gordon, +1-212-210-1320, kathie.gordon@aetn.com, both for History(TM)

Web Site: http://www.history.com/

-------
Profile: intent