64th Annual Fortenbaugh Memorial Lecture to Feature Matthew Pinsker at Gettysburg

Matthew Pinsker to discuss Lincoln’s partisan context

Gettysburg College will host the 64th Annual Robert Fortenbaugh Memorial Lecture on Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Majestic Theater.

The event features Matthew Pinsker, who holds the Brian Pohanka Chair in American Civil War History at Dickinson College.

According to Gettysburg College, the lecture is titled “Twelve Score and Ten: Lincoln, Gettysburg, and America 250.” Pinsker intends to use his recent book, Boss Lincoln, to examine the partisan environment surrounding the delivery of the Gettysburg Address. He will also discuss how these historical insights might assist modern Americans as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.

The lecture serves as a centerpiece for the “Lincoln at Gettysburg: Shall Not Perish” commemoration. This broader series of events is presented by the Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania and the Gettysburg National Military Park. As reported by gettysburgmajestic.org, the full programming for the commemoration runs from November 14 through November 21.

A week of historical reenactment and music

The evening at the Majestic Theater will include a musical performance following Pinsker’s remarks. The Sunderman Conservatory Wind Symphony is scheduled to perform Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait.”

Actor Bruce Boxleitner, known for roles in Tron and Babylon 5, will provide the narration for the piece. The work was commissioned in 1942 by conductor André Kostelanetz during World War II and integrates passages from the Gettysburg Address into the musical score. Boxleitner has previous ties to the area, having portrayed Gettysburg College founder Samuel Simon Schmucker in the film Gettysburg: 1863.

The commemorative week includes several large-scale public appearances. The scheduled timeline for the primary events is as follows:

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 3 p.m.: Actor Billy Campbell, portraying Abraham Lincoln, arrives at the Gettysburg Lincoln Railroad Station.
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 5:30 p.m.: A welcome ceremony held at the town square featuring remarks from local dignitaries, including Gettysburg College President Bob Iuliano.
Thursday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m.: A procession down Baltimore Street to the Soldiers’ National Cemetery, where the Lincoln portrayal will deliver the Gettysburg Address.
Thursday, Nov. 19, 7 p.m.: The 64th Annual Robert Fortenbaugh Memorial Lecture at the Majestic Theater.

During the Thursday morning procession, President Iuliano will join the group portraying former College President Henry Baugher, who provided the benediction during the original 1863 dedication. Other participants in the historical procession include Casey Thomas Brown and Bo Brinkman.

Reserve tickets early to avoid travel delays

While the Fortenbaugh Memorial Lecture is free to the public, attendees must reserve tickets in advance. gettysburgmajestic.org notes that large crowds are expected and advises guests to secure tickets as soon as possible. Reservations can be made online, at the Majestic box office located at 25 Carlisle Street, or by calling 717-337-8200, with a limit of four tickets per order.

Local residents and visitors should prepare for major travel delays. Parts of Gettysburg will face road closures from November 16 through November 19. Organizers have warned that these closures, combined with heavy traffic and limited parking, will impact movement throughout the town during the commemoration week.