World History: Alexander II and Abraham Lincoln under the spotlight of exhibition in Moscow

On February 22 2011 the Exhibition Hall of the Federal State Archives (Moscow) is opening an international historical and documentary exhibition called “The Tsar and The President: Alexander II and Abraham Lincoln. Liberator and Emancipator”. The exhibition is held under the aegis of the U.S.-Russian Bilateral Presidential Commission Medvedev-Obama.

The exhibition has been jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture of Russia, the Russian Federal Archives Agency, the State Historical Museum, the State Archives of the Russian Federation, the American-Russian Cultural Cooperation Foundation.

The exposition marks memorial dates in the history of Russia and the United States. One hundred and fifty years ago leaders of two powerful countries, Alexander II and Abraham Lincoln, managed to change the course of the world history. On February 19 1861 Tsar signed the famous manifesto which liberated 22 million Russian peasants from serfdom, while on January 1 1863 Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves.

The exhibition is called to familiarize Russian public with a short though important period of diplomatic relations between two countries. The spotlight is turned upon relations between two historical figures, who in the 2nd half 19th c. were at the head of the Russian Empire and the United States of America – Emperor Alexander II and U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.

The exhibition showcases more than 200 objects from American and Russian collections. As for Russia the exhibits have been provided by the State Archives of the Russian Federation, the State Historical Museum, the State Hermitage Museum, the Russian State Naval Archives and the Russian State Archives of Ancient Acts, the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Empire the Historical Documentary Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

American-Russian Cultural Cooperation Foundation has become central American partner, which has united exhibits of 22 members, and namely major museums, libraries, private foundations, corporations and owners of private collections.

The exhibition offers visitors a unique chance to familiarize themselves with the private correspondence between Alexander II and Lincoln, authentic Emancipation Proclamation, 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the U.S. Constitution; President Lincoln’s private belongings, the famous George Healy’s portrait of Lincoln, whose copy decorates the State Dining Room of the White House, photographs, documents, which feature the famous Gettysburg Address text; Abraham Lincoln’s life mask, sculptures of Abraham Lincoln by Augustus Saint-Gaudens.

Russian Archives and museums have offered authentic objects and documents related to life and reformatory activities of Alexander II: sculptures and portraits, Emperor’s personal belongings (the State Historical Museum), notebooks, letters, documents focused on the great reform (the State Archives of the Russian Federation).

A real sensation is Lincoln’s pen, which he used to sign the Proclamation (the Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston), and the pen, used by Alexander II to sign the Manifesto (the State Historical Museum).

The exhibition will also coincide with memorial dates in the history of both countries: 150th anniversary of the beginning of the U.S. Civil War and 130th anniversary of a tragic death of Alexander II.