The joint event was held at The 3 West Club in
New York City and was attended by over 100 members
and guests of both organizations. Harold Holzer,
famed author, distinguished Lincoln scholar,
Co-Chairman of The Lincoln Bicentennial Committee,
historical consultant on the Lincoln film, and
member of both the Round Table and The Lincoln
Group of New York, acted as host and moderator for
a lively hour-long conversation and
question-and-answer session with Dr. Sarna.
The 2015 BARONDESS/LINCOLN AWARD from The Civil
War Round Table of New York was presented at the
Round Table’s 597th meeting by Paul Weiss, Civil
War Round Table of New York President; and Judith
Lee Hallock, Barondess/Lincoln Award Committee.
The Round Table which is in its 65th year has
presented The BARONDESS/LINCOLN AWARD for the last
54 consecutive years. This special Lincoln award
was established in 1960. Dr. Barondess, for whom
the award was named, was a distinguished charter
and founding member of the club, along with Bruce
Catton and Fletcher Pratt, and this award is
presented in his memory. The award is given
annually “to any person or institution and for any
contribution to the greater appreciation of the
life and works of Abraham Lincoln.” Previous
distinguished winners have included Doris Kearns
Goodwin, Harold Holzer, Craig Symonds, Stephen
Oates, Gabor Boritt, William Gienapp, William C.
Davis, Gary Wills, William Safire, Gore Vidal,
Eric Foner and Sam Waterston, just to name a few.
The 2015 LINCOLN GROUP AWARD OF ACHIEVEMENT
from The Lincoln Group of New York was presented
by Steven R. Koppelman, President of The Lincoln
Group of New York; and John Bodnar, Chairperson of
the Award Committee. The Lincoln Group of New York
which is in its 48th year has presented The AWARD
OF ACHIEVEMENT since 1988. The award, in the form
of a plaque, is presented annually for doing the
most to encourage the study and appreciation of
Abraham Lincoln. Previous winners have included
Doris Kearns Goodwin, Garry Wills, Governor Mario
Cuomo, David Herbert Donald, Gabor Boritt, Eric
Foner, Dr. Edward Steers, Dr. Mark E. Neely, Jr.,
and, of course, Harold Holzer.
ABOUT THE RECIPIENTS, JONATHAN D. SARNA AND
BENJAMIN SHAPELL
Jonathan D. Sarna was born in 1951 in
Philadelphia and raised in New York City and
Boston. He attended Brandeis University, Boston
Hebrew College, Merkaz Ha Rav Kook in Jerusalem,
and Yale University where he obtained his
doctorate. Dubbed by the Jewish Forward newspaper
in 2004 as one of America’s 50 most influential
American Jews, he was Chief Historian for the
350th commemoration of the American Jewish
community, and is recognized as a leading
commentator on American Jewish history, religion
and life. Currently, Dr. Sarna is the Joseph H. &
Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish
History and Chair of the Hornstein Jewish
Professional Leadership Program at Brandeis
University, as well as Chief Historian of the new
National Museum of American Jewish History in
Philadelphia.
Benjamin Shapell is the founder of the Shapell
Manuscript Foundation, an independent educational
organization with offices in Los Angeles and
Herlizya, Israel, whose collection includes
original documents of world-renowned individuals,
including American presidents and Mark Twain. Mr.
Shapell has initiated and overseen the creation of
numerous publications, exhibitions, and films
relating to the central themes of the collection.
The Foundation has also partnered in exhibitions
with major institutions, including the Library of
Congress, the National Library of Israel, and the
Smithsonian Institution. Mr. Shapell lives with
his family in Israel.
ABOUT THE CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE OF NEW YORK
Founded in 1951, The Civil War Round Table of
New York meets on the second Wednesday of the
month from September to June. Members assist each
other with research, discuss preservation strategy
for endangered battlefields, and listen to
distinguished speakers talk about a particular
aspect of the war. For 2016, the club’s meeting
location is The 3 West Club, 3 West 51st Street in
Manhattan.
For more information on the Civil War Round
Table of New York and a schedule of upcoming
meetings and special events, please contact The
Civil War Round Table of New York at our mailing
address: 139-33 250th Street, Rosedale, New York
11422. Or, if you prefer, call 718-341-9811 or
email us at
cwrtnyc1@gmail.com.
ABOUT THE LINCOLN GROUP OF NEW YORK
Founded in 1978, The Lincoln Group of New York
usually meets three times a year in February,
April and November in New York City. Most meetings
are scheduled to coincide with a special date in
Lincoln’s life. The group presents its members
with scholarly programs on the life and times of
Abraham Lincoln. The club’s meeting location is
also The 3 West Club, 3 West 51st Street in
Manhattan.
For more information on The Lincoln Group of
New York and a schedule of upcoming meetings,
please contact The Lincoln Group of New York at
our mailing address: 5 Leigh Court, Randolph, NJ
07869. Or, if you prefer, call 973-349-6144 or
email us at
kopp4@optonline.net.
Check out our website at
www.lincolngroupny.org.
