See the Priebe’s awards and endorsemtnts at the bottom of this page.

Fred and Bonnie Priebe have been providing quality historical presentations together since 1996. It is our mission to provide an historically accurate and entertaining presentation catered to each setting. We believe the best way to achieve this goal is to continuously research the social and political habits of the time. 

Fred and Bonnie

Fred and Bonnie Priebe have been professional educators since 1969 in Michigan public schools. Fred has been a role player at Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village since 1987.

The Priebes began role playing President and Mrs. Lincoln in 1996, presenting a first person portrayal to a variety of audiences from kindergarten to college, civic organizations, churches, Civil War groups, festivals, historical societies, nursing homes, monument dedications, etc. They have portrayed the Lincolns in  Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana, Canada, Australia, France, and England.

Fred and Bonnie are members of the Lincoln Fellowship of Wisconsin, the Plymouth Museum - Home of the Dr. Weldon Petz Lincoln Collection and the Surratt Society. They are lifetime members of the Lincoln Forum and the Association of Lincoln Presenters.

Fred and Bonnie are listed in the current edition of the Michigan Touring Arts Directory.

The Presentations

Fred and Bonnie cover a variety of topics from the Lincolns’ early lives as well as the presidential years. They will develop a presentation to suit the desires of the audience and/or age group.

For pre-school and kindergarten students the focus is on the Lincoln family. Elementary and middle school students learn about the family, law career and life in the White House, including the war. High school and older students and adults may choose from a variety of programs including life on the circuit, Lincoln the lawyer, courtship and marriage of the Lincolns, the election campaign of 1864, Lincoln and his generals, and Lincoln and his faith. Patriotism, leadership and character issues highlight all presentations.

Their presentations run 45-60 minutes followed by questions and answers in the first person.

The Priebe’s will present together or individually.

Awards and Endorsements

• Key of the City of Hastings, MI
• Key of the City of Bay City, MI
• Association of Lincoln Presenters Award for Best Mary Todd Lincoln of 2001
• Glenn Schnizlein Memorial Award for Best Abe-Mary Team of 2001
• Endorsed by the “Abraham Lincoln Civil War Table of Michigan”

Memberships

• 7th Michigan
• 17th Michigan
• Ann Arbor Civil War Round Table
• Association of Lincoln Presenters
• The Lincoln Forum (Lifetime Members)
• The Plymouth Historical Museum
• The Surratt Society
• Ypsilanti Historica Museum

Fellow Travelers

• General and Mrs. Ulysses Grant - Bob and Roxy Mulvihill
• General and Libby Custer - Steve and Sandy Alexander
• General and Mrs. William T. Sherman - Dennis and Jo Marie Soszynski
• Vice-President and Mrs. Andrew Johnson - Curt and Elise Parker
• Gov. and Mrs. Austin Blair (Michigan Civil War Governor) - Carl and Trish Moss
• Senator Jacob Howard (Michigan’s Junior Senator) - Dave Tennies
• Elizabeth Keckley (Former slave, White House Seamstress) - Armaine Osterberg
• Harriet Beecher Stowe - Diane Haske
• Noah Brooks (War Correspondent for a California newspaper) - Burt Osterberg
• Sarah Emma Edmonds (alias Frank Thompson) - Elise Parker