MU is hosting a traveling exhibit by the American Library Association called “Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War” through Oct. 31.

The exhibit opened Sept. 24 and is free and open to the public Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. in the MU Law Library.

The [ALA’s website](http://www.ala.org/programming/lincoln​) describes the exhibit as a “fresh and innovative perspective on Abraham Lincoln that focuses on his struggle to meet the political and constitutional challenges of the Civil War.”

Social Science librarian Paula Roper said the exhibit will feature a variety of panels, representing what Lincoln went through during those four years.

“It’s a series of panels that show documents and things from Lincoln that indicate where he was going with the struggle as he contemplated it,” she said. “Each panel has information and details with different topics related to the conundrum that Lincoln faced.”

In addition to the panels, there will be artifacts acquired by MU, such as articles from the Historical Society of Missouri, a Civil War-era dress from Stephens College and various materials from the MU Library’s Special Collections department.

The exhibit will also feature [special events and presentations](http://library.missouri.edu/about/events/lincoln/​) throughout the month of October, including a screening of the movie “Lincoln” on Oct. 9 and a presentation about the role of African Americans in the Civil War on Oct. 16.

The exhibit will close Oct. 31 with a presentation featuring period music associated with Lincoln.

Roper said the Law School was gracious to host the exhibit and corresponding events since Ellis Library is [currently housing workers from Jesse Hall](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2014/5/7/renew-mizzou-will-displace-over-400-seats-ellis/).

“We think it’s appropriate that it is over in the Law Library mainly because they deal with law and the Constitution,” director of libraries James Cogswell said.

Cogswell said he believes the exhibit will help visitors understand how lessons from the Civil War still apply today.

“What I hope people get is a sense of the history, and the sense that it’s living history,” Cogswell said. “It’s not old stuff that happened long ago that might be interesting to learn about and that’s all. Knowing what it does, how it works, how it changes over time, how it serves us as a nation, is critical.”