Rutherford Birchard Hayes entry in Collier's New Encyclopedia

What it is

This is an entry on Rutherford B. Hayes in Collier's New Encyclopedia, published in New York by P. F. Collier & Son in 1921. It describes him as an American statesman and the 19th President of the United States, born in Delaware, Ohio, on October 4, 1822. It traces his schooling, his law studies, his marriage to Lucy Webb in 1852, and his service as a Union officer in the Civil War, including his battle record.

Why it matters

Encyclopedias like this one show how Hayes was summarized for American readers less than thirty years after his death. The entry is a reference summary, not a record of his own words, so it is best used to see what later readers were taught about him. Its account of his early life and army career can be checked against other sources.

Look closer

• Which events does the entry highlight, and which parts of his career does it leave out?
• Why might a encyclopedia of 1921 describe his party ties and war record the way it does?
• How does this short summary compare with a primary source written by Hayes himself?