will.illinois.edu/prairiefire/episode/pf2009-03-26 WILL, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Series Episode The 2009 season premiere of Prairie Fire tells the story of New Philadelphia, Ill., the first town founded by a free African American in U.S. history. We learn the history of the town from the archaeologists who are unearthing the site and meet some of the descendants of the town's founder, "Free" Frank McWorter.  Then we join a photographer who has travelled across America documenting monuments dedicated to Abraham Lincoln. And, as part of the Abraham Lincoln bicentennial, we examine how the time Lincoln spent as a traveling lawyer in Illinois impacted his thoughts on slavery. Abstract Segment Ethnicity/Culture, History, Illinois Culture/History, WILL Custom Prairie Fire Subject Headings 2009 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. As part of the Lincoln Bicentennial, and in connection with our documentary Lincoln: Prelude to the Presidency, we’ve created a series of segments looking at Lincoln’s life here in central Illinois and how his years spent as a traveling lawyer on the Illinois Eighth Judicial Circuit helped make him one of our nation’s greatest presidents. Tonight we’ll examine how Lincoln’s thoughts on slavery evolved over the years and how race played an increasingly important part in his political life.  Abstract Steve Drake & Alison Davis Wood Producer Steve Drake Editor Segment Architecture, Arts/Culture, Champaign, Historical Landmarks, History, Illinois Culture/History, Photography, Lincoln, Travel, University of Illinois, Urbana, WILL Custom Prairie Fire Subject Headings We meet photographer David Wiegers, of Gurnee, Ill., who is traveling across American documenting the many sculptures, monuments and other public artworks dedicated to Abraham Lincoln, including those located on the University of Illinois campus.Over the past few years, Wiegers has photographed over 200 statues and monuments dedicated to our 16th president.  Series Producer Steve Drake caught up with Wiegers when he visited the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus to photograph one of those Lincoln artworks, the relief sculptures that adorn the walls on the university’s own Lincoln Hall.  Abstract Steve Drake Producer Jared Collins and Steve Drake Editor Segment Ethnicity/Culture, History, Illinois Culture/History, University of Illinois, WILL Custom Prairie Fire Subject Headings Prairie Fire tells the story of New Philadelphia, Ill., the first town founded by a free African American in U.S. history. We visit with University of Illinois archaeologists, who are unearthing the remains of this once racially integrated town 85 miles northwest of St. Louis, and learn about its founder, “Free” Frank McWorter. Although the site was designated a National Historic Landmark in January, it’s still largely unknown to the public. Prairie Fire series producer Steve Drake said he understood why after visiting the remote dig site. “I parked on a non-descript dirt road. I never would have guessed that the remains of such an important part of American history were being excavated nearby.” A portable lab, several holes in the ground and a bus lined with shelves filled with artifacts like dolls, bones and crockery were the only clues that history was being unearthed. “It always surprises me how many amazing things you can find here in central Illinois if you know where to look,” Steve said. “That’s one of the things that I love about Prairie Fire, that we can find out about some of these little-known, out-of-the-way places and help bring them to our viewers.” Steve interviews two descendants of McWorter, siblings Gerald and Sandra McWorter, who talk about New Philadelphia’s role in the Underground Railroad and their pride in their great-great-grandfather. He also talks to U of I archaeologist Christopher Fennell, who is principal investigator at the dig near Barry, Ill. Abstract Steve Drake Producer Steve Drake and Jared Collins Editor WILL-TV, University of Illinois Copyright Holder Publisher ¬© 2009 University of Illinois 2009-03-26T19:30:00-06:00 2009-03-26T19:30:00-06:00 video/mp4 http://willmedia.atlas.uiuc.edu/mpeg4/pf2009-03-26.mp4 Moving Image MPEG video MPEG-4 364522680 00:28 eng pf2009-03-26.mp4 WILL Public Media, University of Illinois 2009-03-26T19:30:00-06:00 2009-03-26T19:30:00-06:00 video/x-flv http://willmedia.atlas.uiuc.edu/flash/pf2009-03-26.flv Moving Image Flash Video Flash Media 8 63370900 00:28 eng pf2009-03-26.flv WILL Public Media, University of Illinois 2009-03-26T19:30:00-06:00 2009-03-26T19:30:00-06:00 video/vnd.rn-realvideo http://willmedia.will.uiuc.edu/ramgen/pf2009-03-26.rv Moving Image 00:28:00