'History Detectives' Episode with Royal Oak Ties Premieres at Emagine

The public is welcome to a premiere at the of the PBS show 'History Detectives' featuring an Abraham Lincoln artifact from the collection of the

"Paul Glantz (founder and owner of Emagine Entertainment) has been generous in offering the use of one of the special rooms at the theater to show the episode when it airs for the first time on July 31," said Muriel Versagi, the curator of the Royal Oak Historical Society Museum.

The episode focuses on Lincoln's signature on the handwritten discharge of Pvt. John Ennis. This small scrap of paper was found in the in 2006 by volunteer Johanna Schurrer.

Versagi traveled to Springfield, IL in April with host Tukufu Zuberi to learn more about Ennis who joined the Confederate Army at the age 17.

"We're going to get together at Emagine to watch it and we're going to make it an ice cream social, too!" Versagi said.

If you go

• What: Premiere of History Detectives and ice cream social
• When: 8 p.m. July 31 (Public is invited to arrive at 7 p.m.)
• Where: Emagine Royal Oak
• Cost: Donations will be accepted
• RSVP: Please email curator@royaloakhistoricalsociety.org if you plan to attend