Lincoln Financial Group To Provide Public Access To Signed Copy Of Emancipation Proclamation

RADNOR, Pa., July 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Lincoln Financial Group (NYSE:LNC) announced today that, in partnership with the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, it has facilitated the loan of a signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, the Proclamation declared that slaves in rebellious states were "then, thenceforward, and forever free." Only 25 of the original 48 printed copies of this edition signed by President Lincoln remain in existence today.

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"With this year marking the 150^th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, we saw an incredible opportunity to publicly recognize the inspirational legacy of our namesake, President Abraham Lincoln," said Nancy Rogers, president of the Lincoln Financial Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Lincoln Financial Group. "Our goal is to educate children and adults on the historical relevance of President Lincoln, as well as the continued importance of freedom and opportunity to America's future."

The signed copy of the document will be on public display at the National Constitution Center from July 25 until September 22.

"There are very few documents in American history that have had a more profound impact on the U.S. Constitution and 'We the People' than the Emancipation Proclamation," said National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen.  "We are honored to have been selected by our friends at Lincoln Financial as the museum to display this historic treasure and salute them in their mission to educate future generations on one of our nation's great leaders."

This particular copy of the Emancipation is known as the Leland-Boker Authorized Edition.

"This initiative is just one more way Lincoln Financial Group is bringing our commitment to diversity and inclusion to life," said Allison Green, senior vice president and chief diversity officer. "We're proud to highlight Abraham Lincoln's courage, as well as his vision of freedom and opportunity for our nation, through this exhibit."

For more information on the exhibit, please visit the National Constitution Center website.

About Lincoln Financial Group
Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC) and its affiliates. With headquarters in the Philadelphia region, the companies of Lincoln Financial Group had assets under management of $186 billion as of March 31, 2013. Through its affiliated companies, Lincoln Financial Group offers: annuities; life, group life, disability and dental insurance; employer-sponsored retirement plans; savings plans; and comprehensive financial planning and advisory services.

For more information, including a copy of our most recent SEC reports containing our balance sheets, please visit www.lincolnfinancial.com.

About Lincoln Financial Foundation
The Lincoln Financial Foundation, established in 1962, is a nonprofit organization formed and supported by Lincoln Financial Group. Under Lincoln Foundation guidelines, grants are made in the areas of arts, education, human services and economic/workforce development.

About National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center is the Museum of We the People, bringing the extraordinary story of the United States Constitution to life for visitors of all ages. Located on Independence Mall in Historic Philadelphia—the birthplace of the Constitution—the museum illuminates American democracy and inspires active citizenship through hundreds of interactive exhibits, films, and rare artifacts; must-see feature exhibitions; the internationally acclaimed, 360-degree theatrical performance Freedom Rising; and the iconic Signers' Hall, where visitors can sign the Constitution alongside 42 life-size, bronze statues of the Founding Fathers. As America's Town Hall, the National Constitution Center engages diverse, distinguished leaders of government, public policy, journalism and scholarship in timely public discussions and debates. The museum also houses the Annenberg Center for Education and Outreach, the national hub for constitutional education, which offers cutting-edge civic learning resources both onsite and online. Join us as we celebrate our 10-year anniversary in 2013. For more information, call 215.409.6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org. 

About Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites
The Indiana State Museum, founded in 1869, is Indiana's museum for science, art, and culture.  Located in White River State Park in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, the museum has a collection of more than 500,000 artifacts and features 50,000 square feet of core exhibitions, a dynamic schedule of changing exhibitions, and extensive educational and public programming. For more information, visit www.indianamuseum.org.

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SOURCE Lincoln Financial Group