Abraham Lincoln: "Towards Union Lines" - Hartford, CT

Interesting Places I've Photographed

"Towards Union Lines"

Hartford, CT

Topic: Abraham Lincoln

Towards Union Lines

GPS: N41° 45.980; W072° 40.010

Quick Description: 

Towards Union Lines is the title of a sculpture located at the Lincoln Financial Sculpture Walk at Riverfront in Hartford, CT.

Long Description:

Sixteen abstract and traditional sculptures related to the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln are installed along the Lincoln Financial Sculpture Walk at Riverfront in Hartford and East Hartford. Lincoln Financial is an insurance company based in Philadelphia with offices in Hartford.

Elizabeth Keckly was a former slave and Mary Lincoln's dressmaker. She related to the President and Mrs. Lincoln the problems that escaped slaves faced when they crossed military lines in search of freedom. As a result the Lincolns were persuaded to fully support the Contraband Relief Association. The statue depicts a slave carrying her possessions north in search of freedom.

A plaque on the pedestal contains a quote from Lincoln about freedom and the story behind Elizabeth Keckly and the Contraband Relief Association. The plaque is inscribed:

{Profile of Lincoln}
Lincoln
Financial
Sculpture
Walk at
Riverfront
{five wavy lines}

Towards Union Lines
Preston Jackson, 2005


"Those who deny freedom to others, deserve
it not for themselves..."


Mary Lincoln's dressmaker, Elizabeth Keckly was a
former slave. Through Keckly, the president and First
Lady learned of the troubles "contraband's" (escaped
slaves) faced when they risked their lives to cross military
lines from south into the north in search of freedom.
Mary Lincoln became an advocate for the Contraband
Relief Association, of which Keckly was founder and
president, and urged her friends to contribute to the
organization which collected funds to and clothing for poor
former slaves and helped them acquire the skills needed to
live in an urban environment.