Matthew Pinsker, one of America’s most distinguished historians and a noted Lincoln scholar, will be the Keynote Speaker at the 2026 gala sunday brunch of the Lincoln Society in Peekskill on Sunday, May 17. The event will focus attention on Dr. Pinsker’s latest book entitled Boss Lincoln: The Partisan Life Of Abraham Lincoln (2026). It documents the amazing story of the how Lincoln developed his unique political skills and applied them to the creation of a new political party and the launching of his improbable but successful campaign for the Presidency.
The brunch will take place at Cortlandt Colonial Manor at 5714 Albany Post Road in Cortlandt Manor from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM on May 17th. This annual celebration and fund-raiser marks the 123rd anniversary of the founding of the Lincoln Society in 1903. It was organized to commemorate Abraham Lincoln’s only speaking stop in Westchester County during his lifetime before a crowd of 1,500 people at the old Peekskill railroad depot in 1861 during the train journey to his Inauguration in Washington, DC. This aging site was later rescued, renovated and opened to the public in 2014 as the Lincoln Depot Museum. Today, it is the only Lincoln-related museum in the State of New York.
Dr. Pinsker is currently Professor of History at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, where he is Chair of Civil War Studies and Director of the House Divided Project. A graduate of Harvard University, he earned his doctoral degree at the University of Oxford in Great Britain. His latest book was recently reviewed in the Wall Street Journal as follows: “Boss Lincoln is…Team of Rivals on steroids…It is hard to imagine that the year will bring forth a Lincoln book of more originality or consequence”.
Tickets can be purchased on its website, which includes a credit card and PayPal link: lincolnsocietyinpeekskill.org
The $85 ticket price includes a deluxe selection of breakfast foods served with champagne, mimosas, Bloody Mary’s, OJ and soft drinks – which also features cold antipasto, chilled shrimp cocktail, a carving station with prime rib of beef and assorted desserts served with coffee and tea. This event will include a silent auction area and a book signing station.
Following Dr. Pinsker’s presentation, a medley of Civil War-era songs will be performed by Emily Lapisardi and Alyssa Martin. The RSVP deadline for this event is May 8.
The Lincoln Society in Peekskill is a non-political, non-partisan historical and educational organization that is dedicated to promoting the life and legacy of America’s 16th President. It is the only Lincoln group in Westchester County, which is now headed by William K. Schmidt and is governed by a distinguished Board of Directors.
