"Good Moral Character"

One of the important aspects of the Illinois Proud Penny Drive is to remind kids and our community how important it is to have good moral character.  This illustrates that even in Abraham Lincoln's time it was the first requirement in order for him to begin his law career in Springfield.  That certification is documented in the Sangamon County Minute Book from July 1835 to July 1838 as well as information about some of Lincoln's first cases he worked on as a young attorney.

Read more from the experts about why this Lincoln artifact is so important and how "good moral character" was defined in the mid-1800s.