COD/CCMA/MAC unveil a new public installation “New Salem: Models of History” Nov. 12

College of DuPage (COD) in conjunction with America’s 250th Anniversary and in association with the McAninch Arts Center (MAC) and Cleve Carney Museum of Art (CCMA) presents a new long-term installation, “New Salem: Models of History” beginning Nov. 12. The installation will consist of 13 models displayed on pedestals under vitrines in a hallway near COD’s Wings Gallery and Library. It will be accessible when the campus is open. The official unveiling will take place on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 10:30 a.m. in the second-floor hallway between SRC and SSC buildings.

“New Salem: Models of History” features hand-made miniature recreations of the buildings of the Illinois town of New Salem, which existed for a little over a decade from about 1829-1840 and claimed young Abraham Lincoln as one of its citizens. “New Salem: Models of History” serves both as an historical model and an example of American folk art.

The miniatures connect Lincoln’s familiar national story to the small Illinois frontier community where his public life began. The works were made to scale using 1930s blueprints of the reconstructed village and include intricate details such as fireplaces, doors with hinges, window frames, shelves, and loft ladders. COD will also be home to the blueprints along with the collection, further connecting models and the site itself. The blueprints are part of the college archive. Some reproductions will be included in the display.

The miniatures featured in the installation were created by Roy O. Jacobson (1887-1969), a long-time resident of Bellflower, Calif., and a great admirer of Abraham Lincoln. He was known as a skilled carpenter and meticulously created miniatures of New Salem between 1932 and 1954. He displayed them at art and craft shows and was awarded prizes for their beauty and quality.

Following Jacobson’s death, the works went into climate-controlled storage for several decades. Recently, relatives of Jacobson's, Terri Johnson and her sister Cheri Majka, rediscovered them and searched for a permanent home for these works. It was when Johnson shared the opportunity with Wheaton’s Betty Joseph that an important connection was made. Joseph and her husband John Rutledge, both long-time supporters of COD, recognized the great historical value of the works and initiated efforts to secure College of DuPage as a permanent home for the works.

“We’re extremely thankful to Betty and John for facilitating this connection,” says COD Foundation’s Associate VP, Advancement/Executive Director Karen Kuhn. “We would also like to thank attorney Jim Knippen who volunteered his assistance with the conveyance to the COD Foundation, and former Director of Development-Cultural Arts at College of DuPage Janie Oldfield. We are also grateful to president of the New Salem Lincoln League Gina Wolter and League board member Linda Schilling (also a Rutledge descendant) who were helpful in moving the process along. In addition, we would like to acknowledge CCMA's Justin Witte (curator), Madelene Przybysz (project restoration and display) and Julia Walker (project research) for their invaluable help in implementing the installation. And finally, we would like to express our appreciation to Associate Vice President Cultural Arts and Community Affairs/MAC Director Diana Martinez and Director of Development Jon Nadel for their encouragement and support.”

Beginning Nov. 12, “New Salem: Models of History” can be viewed seven days a week on pedestals under vitrines located on the second-floor library hallway, between SRC Door 2 and the Wings Student Gallery of the COD campus located at 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn. For more information visit TheCCMA.org/recent-acquisitions.