Elijah P. Lovejoy

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

The past several months, I've taken to spending at least one day a week at the local historical library and am honored to have four works on the shelves- a two volume 175-page work on a local rural schoolhouse, a work on a local landowner, who like Abraham Lincoln, was born in Kentucky in 1809 and moved to Illinois in 1830 plus the Lovejoy glass display case also holds a figurine sculpture of the Rev. Lovejoy I recently crafted.

The Rev. Elijah P. Lovejoy is recognized as being a martyr for the freedom of speech regarding the abolition of slavery, dying at the hands of a mob on November 7, 1837. He was also the editor of a religious newspaper and had four of his presses destroyed and dumped into the river. Rev. Lovejoy was shot and killed while defending his fourth printing press.

To be able to touch, review, and read works which were printed at the times of their occurrence is an inspiring feeling, and a multitude of artworks have been produced during & after my research.

When it comes to art, I'm all over the map, from feeling serious & sublime to irreverently humorous and silly. These are a few of GIFs, the first being an introduction to a cartoon interview series with Mr. Lovejoy.

 

 

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The cartoon series uses a large format which may not view well, but I'll give them a try in the next submission.

 

 

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

John McNichols, the sociologist, said that artists present an alternative perspective to conventional notions, and I've taken a different approach in my research and work regarding the Honorable Reverend Lovejoy.

For example, on the night Mr. Lovejoy was "murdered", one in the mob was also shot and killed by the defenders of the press before Lovejoy. Almost nothing has been published on the background of this man.

From a December 28, 1837 newspaper, I learned the man's name was Bishop and he was a carpenter from "Gennessee" (sic) New York. From Edward Beecher's 1838 book, I learned Mr. Bishop's first name was Lyman. I then found more general information from the 1820 & 1830 censuses of Genesee  county/Perry Township, New York.

Lyman Bishop- the 1820 census listed his name as "Lemon"- was born between 1781 to 1790, so he was somewhere between the age of 47 to 56, a rather elderly man for the time. The misspelling of his name was amusing to me, so I took it to the next level in this comic:

 

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Regularly visiting the libraries- both the historical and public, across the street from each other- has gotten me well acquainted with the librarians. The manager of the historical library, Lacy, and I have had long discussions on Lovejoy and various other historical people, places, and situations.

At one point, Lacy made the comment, "Lovejoy would not have been fun at a party". I found this to be a rather unconventional perspective, questioned her on it, and realized some value in her comment. We then went over other historical figures, questioning whether they would be fun at a party"

"Abraham Lincoln?", I queried.
"Abraham Lincoln would be FUN at a party!" Lacy surmised.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
Davey Do said:

Regularly visiting the libraries- both the historical and public, across the street from each other- has gotten me well acquainted with the librarians. The manager of the historical library, Lacy, and I have had long discussions on Lovejoy and various other historical people, places, and situations.

At one point, Lacy made the comment, "Lovejoy would not have been fun at a party". I found this to be a rather unconventional perspective, questioned her on it, and realized some value in her comment. We then went over other historical figures, questioning whether they would be fun at a party"

"Abraham Lincoln?", I queried.
"Abraham Lincoln would be FUN at a party!" Lacy surmised.

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HAHAHAHA!!!

These are really good, @Davey Do. Lots of work went into the research.  Good job!

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

Sitting here thinking... I know that name "Lovejoy", could not place it at all. Did a quick Google and of course came up with "The Simpsons". 

There was a TV programme in the 1980's/90's called Lovejoy with Ian McShane.

Sorry, not taking away from the work you have done. I have attended a few lectures on American History and never come across the name Elijah Lovejoy, so next time I see the lecturer I will ask him. The lectures tend to be about Civil Rights era and what he calls "The Gilded Age".

Thank you for the chance to learn something new.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
sirI said:

 Lots of work went into the research.  Good job!

Thank you, sirI!

The word "work" has always had a negative connation to me, as a responsibility, acquiescing to perform a duty. Growing up, my Dad & Best Friend Brad were Men of Marvel with Metal & Machines, so I tried to follow in their footsteps believing that that was the way to go. I am slightly mechanically inclined, can do the job, but really didn't love it. It was work.

Then four years ago, right after I retired from nursing, it hit me: Dad and Brad do what they do because they love(d) doing it. I do Art because I love it.

Brad and I were sitting in rocking chairs on his front porch in the Summer of 2020 when I shared this revelation with him, followed by "and I was 63 years old when I realized this".

"Well", Brad replied, "at least it didn't take you 64 years to find out."

These works are, truly, labors of love.

 

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
GrumpyRN said:

Sorry, not taking away from the work you have done. I have attended a few lectures on American History and never come across the name Elijah Lovejoy, so next time I see the lecturer I will ask him. The lectures tend to be about Civil Rights era and what he calls "The Gilded Age".

Thank you for the chance to learn something new.

And, thank you, Grumpy for your continued interest & support. No need to apologize for going off on a tangent. We do not have to stay on topic with Art, and, in fact, tangents and so-called mistakes makes for great inspiration.

I informed Lacy that I had used her first name on Open Arts Forums and she said it would be okay to use her last name, also, for she is all over the internet.

I will provide a link for the Elijah P. Lovejoy should you be interested, Grumpy.

Elijah P. Lovejoy Collection - The Hayner Public Library (haynerlibrary.org)

If that doesn't work, there's a pretty good write up on Mr. Lovejoy in Wikipedia.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
Davey Do said:

Thank you, sirI!

The word "work" has always had a negative connation to me, as a responsibility, acquiescing to perform a duty. Growing up, my Dad & Best Friend Brad were Men of Marvel with Metal & Machines, so I tried to follow in their footsteps believing that that was the way to go. I am slightly mechanically inclined, can do the job, but really didn't love it. It was work.

Then four years ago, right after I retired from nursing, it hit me: Dad and Brad do what they do because they love(d) doing it. I do Art because I love it.

Brad and I were sitting in rocking chairs on his front porch in the Summer of 2020 when I shared this revelation with him, followed by "and I was 63 years old when I realized this".

"Well", Brad replied, "at least it didn't take you 64 years to find out."

These works are, truly, labors of love.

 

I agree. Work can have a negative connotation. We all can describe working as painful toiling.

Your work is not without effort, it takes dedicated practice and discipline, you push yourself to live your life in the moment, and you love every single solitary second.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
sirI said:

Your work is not without effort, it takes dedicated practice and discipline, you push yourself to live your life in the moment, and you love every single solitary second.

BEAUTUFUL words, sirI, and you hit the proverbial nail right on the head, for the moment is all we ever truly possess, and I love every minute in which I do art.

I loved working as a nurse- it fulfilled me, caused me to feel like I was contributing something to humanity, and the pay was good.  Nursing was truly my calling and I was never bored.

But I miss working as a nurse not one iota, for once I've done something- other than art- I'm done with it.

Thank you for all you do, sirI.

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