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Primary sourceBook1907 (writings span 1832-1865)

Speeches and Letters of Abraham Lincoln, 1832-1865

Abraham Lincoln · 1907 (writings span 1832-1865)

A 1907 published collection of Lincoln's own speeches and letters spanning his political career, with an introduction by James Bryce.

This book collects Lincoln's own speeches and letters, making it a direct record of his words over his career.

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Speeches and Letters of Abraham Lincoln, 1832-1865PDF · 272 pages
Speeches & Letters of Abraham Lincoln, 1832-1865. Published 1907, Everyman's Library.

About this source

What it is

This book collects speeches and letters written by Abraham Lincoln between 1832 and 1865. It was published in 1907 as part of the Everyman's Library series, with an introduction by James Bryce. The volume survives as a scanned book in a digital archive.

Why it matters

Because it gathers Lincoln's own words across more than thirty years, this collection lets readers trace how his ideas and language developed, from his early career in Illinois politics to his presidency during the Civil War. It is a core source for understanding Lincoln directly, rather than through later retellings.

Look closer

  • Why might an editor choose to publish Lincoln's speeches and letters together rather than separately?
  • What might change in a person's writing style over thirty years of public life?
  • What is missing from a collection like this—whose voice do we not hear?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Abraham Lincoln on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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