Miami University has a rare find when it comes to education.
No, not necessarily the ambiance of being nestled in the boughs near Hueston Woods State Park. But the chance to learn from professors who genuinely attempt creative methods of instruction.
Professor of Education Tom Kopp got together with Miami University's Special collections librarian Betsy Butler to teach students how to research older methods of letter writing through research, transcription, and creativity. Kopp calls the project "Whispers in the Words." The students were to look at authentic letters written by historical figures like Abraham Lincoln and others.
The university's King Library boasts a rare find. It hosts four letters written by the United States 16th president and one with a fingerprint smudge. So when Butler introduced first year psychology student Lydia Smith to the letters and explained their significance to the Special Collections area, Lydia was intrigued. Smith, from Granville, Ohio, began exploring how and why the letters were written.
The project is to teach students why and how people used certain language and structure for specific purposes. During her investigation of one letters written by President Lincoln, she noticed an ink blot, or smudge. "I thought I was crazy. I was like 'Am I just getting like excited here? Is this really something?'" Smith took the letter to Butler and then the letter was sent off for authentication.
What the freshman at the university found was another fingerprint by the former president. Now the school possesses two fingerprints in one collection of letters.
According to Jahn A. Lupton, associate director of the Papers of Abraham Lincoln project said,"I have seen a number of fingerprints that I assumed to be Lincoln's, but never more than one in one repository. the fact that Miami has two makes it fascinating."
The letter Smith found the print on was written in 1863 and it reads, "Hon. Sec. of War Dear Sir: The bearer, Ms. Kate Sharp, is the daugher of a brother laywer, whom I known many years. She wishes to go South to get testimony for an important lawsuit and I am sure she means nothing wrong and will do nothing wrong. Please let her have a pass unless you know some special reason to the contrary. Yours Truly, A. Lincoln."
Lydia summed up the experience simply,"It's really cool. It's exciting."
