With the presidential election only days behind us, why not continue the focus on some of America’s most prominent past presidents?

Today, Robert Shaw will speak to the ISU community about the making of his self-published book “Abraham Lincoln Traveled This Way: The America Lincoln Knew.”

“Abraham Lincoln Traveled This Way” contains a collection of photography featuring the places Lincoln lived and worked.

The book captures nature in a beautiful way, showcasing landscapes across Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Washington D.C., and the East Coast.  The book also includes a number of Lincoln’s speeches, letters and other writings.     

“Shaw’s incredible work on his self-published book about Abraham Lincoln’s travels offers both historical and contemporary perspective on Lincoln and the places he visited,” Jan Johnson,  public relations and marketing assistant at Milner Library, said.

According to Shaw’s website, he worked with many museums, organizations, historic sites and independent stores with the sales of the book.  The sales are generating income that is helpful to many of these locations.

Robert Shaw, an Illinois State graduate, has been a professional photographer since 1986. He founded Firelight Publishing in order to make his photos of Lincoln’s past come alive.  

Shaw will appear on the main floor of Milner Library at 7 p.m. He will speak about the hard work and dedication that went into creating “Abraham Lincoln Traveled This Way.”

“We thought it would be interesting, especially for students, to learn about the work that went into creating the photos and the book ­— a multi-year effort that included different types of equipment and a lot of study and travel,” Johnson said.

Students are encouraged to attend the event and learn about Shaw’s creative process.  

“Robert is a great example of someone who has found a way to earn his living sharing his talents and skills, and this book literally illustrates both of those elements,” Johnson said.