Harold Holzer, one of the country's pre-eminent authorities on Abraham Lincoln, will talk on "Lincoln: Candidate, Campaigner and President-Elect" July 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Statler Hall's Alice Statler Auditorium on campus. Holzer's appearance coincides with the beginning of Cornell's 2008 Reading Project, which will focus on Lincoln.

The lecture, sponsored by the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions, is free and open to the public.

Holzer is co-chairman of the U.S. Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, which is celebrating the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth with programs and events across the country. He is also an award-winning author, co-author and editor of 30 books on Lincoln and the Civil War era. His latest works include "Lincoln in the Times" (which was co-edited), "Lincoln Revisited" and "Lincoln and Freedom." His most recent book, "Lincoln: President-Elect," will be published this fall.

In addition to his writing, Holzer lectures throughout the country and makes frequent television appearances. His program "Lincoln Seen and Heard" with actor Sam Waterston has been nationally broadcast and staged from such venues as the White House and the Library of Congress. He has appeared often on C-SPAN's "Washington Journal" as well as on the History Channel, PBS, CNBC, Fox News, NBC's "Today" show and "CBS News Sunday Morning."

Holzer has served as an executive of the Metropolitan Museum of Art since 1992, currently as senior vice president for external affairs. He has also been guest curator of a number of Lincoln art exhibitions, including several shows at the Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne, Ind.

This is the second lecture in the summer events series, which includes Tuesday night concerts at the Schwartz Center, Wednesday night lectures at the Statler and Friday night concerts on the Arts Quad. Future lecturers include M.H. Abrams ("On Reading Poems Aloud," July 16), Donna Freitas ("Sex and the Soul," July 23) and Madeleine Homan ("Coaching: What It Can Do for You," July 30).

Parking is available in the parking garage on Hoy Road, which, during the reconstruction of Hoy Road, can be entered from Campus Road near the main entrance to Schoellkopf Stadium. Parking may also be available along Garden Avenue. For more information about summer events, call 607-255-4987, e-mail cusce@cornell.edu or visit http://www.summer.cornell.edu/events.