Conceived in Liberty:
Lincoln and the American Experiment

"I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence."
— Abraham Lincoln, Independence Hall, Philadelphia, February 22, 1861

Blending evocative imagery with insights from leading experts, this short documentary series explores the influence of the American Founding on Abraham Lincoln, his conviction that the Declaration's assertion that "all men are created equal" was the nation's "central idea," and how Lincoln, in turn, helped define and preserve the American experiment. Produced as part of the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of America's Declaration of Independence, the series serves as a timeless resource for exploring the ideas, debates, and events that shaped Abraham Lincoln and that continue to shape the United States.

Produced in 2026 with generous support from Iron Mountain and PNC.

Featuring Christy Coleman, Dr. Allen Guelzo, Dr. Edna Greene Medford, and Dr. Lucas Morel.

Total run time: 25 minutes.

©Lincoln Presidential Foundation, 2026

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The Legacy of Julius Rosenwald:
Building Opportunity

Winner of an Emmy Mid-America.

Created for a project at Lincoln Home National Historic Site, this documentary series tells the story of Julius Rosenwald, a Jewish American entrepreneur whose boyhood home is located within the National Historic Site.

The series follows Rosenwald’s upbringing, rise in business, his partnerships with leading figures like Booker T. Washington, and his legacy of expanding access to goods, services, and education. Beginning with the context of his upbringing in Lincoln’s hometown, it highlights how different generations of leaders, shaped in the same place but in different ways and at different times, worked to improve equal opportunity for Americans.

Produced in 2023 with generous support from the National Park Foundation.

Featuring: Peter Ascoli, Carolyn Blackwell, Dr. Nathan Grant, Dr. Steven Nasatir, Nancy Sage, and Cliff Mirabella as Julius Rosenwald.

Total run time: 16 minutes.

©2023 Lincoln Presidential Foundation and Looking for Lincoln

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Fortifying our Democracy:

Lincoln’s Lyceum Address

Winner of 5 awards including two Tellys, two AIVA Awards of Excellence, and an American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) Award of Excellence

This three-part documentary series, explores the greatest threats to American democracy as outlined in Abraham Lincoln’s 1838 address, why trust in political institutions falters and how to restore it.

Produced in 2023 with generous support from Iron Mountain.

Featuring Dr. Saladin Ambar, Dr. Kate Masur, Dr. Angela G. Ray, Dr. Manisha Sinha, and Eric Wolfgang Nelson as Abraham Lincoln.

Total run time:  23 Minutes

©Lincoln Presidential Foundation, 2023

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Warning Signs:

Lincoln’s Response to Rising Tensions in the 1850s

Winner of 4 awards including an Emmy Mid-America.

This four-part documentary features vivid storytelling about the intense and occasionally violent political struggles of pre-Civil War America and how it impacts our lives today. 

Produced in 2022 with generous support from Iron Mountain.

Featuring Dr. Lucas Morel, Dr. Rachel Shelden, Dr. Silvana Siddali, Dr. Jonathan W. White, and Fritz Klein as Abraham Lincoln.  

Total run time: 31 minutes.

©Lincoln Presidential Foundation, 2022

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