Lincoln Library unveils 1976 time capsule and invites Springfield to contribute photos for America 250

Lincoln Library marked its 140th anniversary in Springfield with a public celebration that included Mayor Busher's remarks, the opening of a time capsule sealed in 1976 and an announcement of a community photo time capsule for America 250.

Mayor Busher welcomed attendees and praised the library's staff for organizing the event. "Welcome to the 140th birthday of Lincoln Library," Busher said, thanking Gwen Harrison and the library team for putting together the slideshow and the program.

Stephanie Martin, manager of the Sangamon Valley Collection, led the unveiling of the capsule from 1976 and read aloud items recovered from it. "It looks like an Illinois Blue Book from 1976," Martin said while describing the cache, which also included stage registers, multiple newspaper clippings and historic photographs of downtown and the state capital dating back to the late 19th century.

Martin and presenters listed other artifacts from the capsule: a 1976 issue of the Springfield Herald Spectrum, a St. Louis Post-Dispatch dated July 4, 1976, a city telephone directory from 1975 and various local newspaper clippings. Attendees reacted to period details in the items; presenters noted printed prices such as "15 cents for the state general register" and "20 cents for the Chicago Tribune," and pointed out ads showing $3.99 men’s shorts and Converse shoes priced at $6.39.

Organizers said the materials were well preserved and emphasized their value to local history. In closing the reveal, participants highlighted an item from the 1800s as among the most striking discoveries.

On the anniversary stage, library staff also announced a forward-looking initiative tied to America 250: a "This Day in Springfield" photo time capsule. Organizers asked community members to take photographs around the city to capture a single day — with July 4, 2026 cited as an example — and submit those images and brief written "wishes for America" for archival preservation and inclusion in a future time capsule. "We'll be keeping them, but also, you know, kind of putting those in a time capsule, too," Martin said.

The program concluded with music, applause and an invitation to attendees to continue viewing the slideshow and mingling. Library staff encouraged anyone interested in contributing photos to follow Lincoln Library's forthcoming instructions for submission.