Abraham Lincoln impersonator Dennis Boggs greets a Nolan student.It wasn’t four score and seven years ago, but rather just last week that students at Nolan Elementary were treated by a visit from Abraham Lincoln impersonator Dennis Boggs, who has been featured on History Channel documentaries as the 16th president.
Melissa Barrett, chairwoman of the school’s PTA classroom enrichment committee, said the school has hosted storytellers and authors in the past, but wanted a presenter from the historical perspective this year. A few of the teachers had seen Boggs perform at conferences and other schools and were very impressed, she said.
“We wanted someone who had really researched the history,” said Barrett. “The kids have been captivated.”
Boggs has been impersonating Lincoln full time for the past 14 years and has done much research for the role.
“I read everything I can read about Lincoln,” he said, adding that he has been doing so for more than 20 years and has yet to fully figure Lincoln out.
He said the most surprising thing he has learned is that Lincoln was a slow learner. Since he was only in school for a total of 300 days, Boggs said he’d assumed he was some kind of genius.
“He had to work much harder,” said Boggs. “He didn’t have a photographic memory, but once he retained something it was always there.”
Part of the message Boggs tries to impart upon children through his presentations is that schoolwork is not always easy, but that hard work pays off.
“I hope to make them very curious,” he said of his student audiences. “I’m hoping they will go to the library and try to find out a little bit more.”
Boggs was 40 years old the first time he was told he looked like Lincoln. Even when he is not in costume, people stop him in restaurants to ask to have their picture made with a Lincoln look-alike, he said. He dyes his hair black to look more like the part.
Boggs’ presentation tells the story of 56 years of Lincoln’s life geared to each specific age group.
“He weaves history in with his stories about Lincoln’s life, so they are getting an education while enjoying his stories,” said Barrett. “It gives them an experience they can’t get in the classroom.”
He has given his presentations to students of all ages, ranging from preschool to college. His favorite group is the one in front of him, he said, but fifth-graders often ask the best questions.
“They’re still young enough that they’re not afraid to ask questions, and old enough to ask serious questions,” said Boggs.
A few standout questions from Nolan students included “Were you a troublemaker?” (“I got into trouble but I didn’t make it,” was his reply) and “Is there anything you wanted to do you didn’t get to do?” (“Visit California,” was among his responses).