In September, the Journal of American History published a special issue entitled: Abraham Lincoln at 200: History and Historiography. The overall quality of this issue is superb and its format is rather innovative for a mainstream academic journal (a hint of things to come?). Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of this issue is an interpretive website called “Building the Digital Lincoln.” The site consists of a series of links to a wide swath of digital material related to Lincoln and his era. Even those who are not specialists in American history should take a careful look at this site. It is a prime example of the exciting new educational and methodological tools made possible by the digital revolution.

“Building the Digital Lincoln” is divided into three major parts. “Documents & Artifacts” surveys innovative new ways of collecting, interpreting, and presenting primary source data – from word clouds and timelines to interactive maps and 3D models. “Scholarship” focuses on various ways of presenting historical analysis online. And “Lincoln Resources” provides an overview of the many websites and databases out there devoted to Lincoln studies. Of special interest is its sister site, the House Divided project, based at Dickinson College.