Three Letters from Lincoln

What it is

This is a small 1908 pamphlet that reprints three letters written by Abraham Lincoln: one to newspaper editor Horace Greeley, one to James C. Conkling, and one to Mrs. Lydia Bixby. The letters themselves date from the early 1860s, during the Civil War, though this printed booklet was produced decades later. It survives today as a scanned book in a digital archive.

Why it matters

These letters show Lincoln explaining and defending his policies during the war, including his views on slavery and the Union, in his own words. They reveal how he communicated directly with journalists, political allies, and grieving citizens, giving historians a window into his thinking as president.

Look closer

• Why might someone reprint these letters as a pamphlet nearly fifty years after they were written?
• What does the choice of recipients (an editor, a political ally, a grieving mother) tell you about the different roles Lincoln had to play?
• How might the tone of a private letter differ from a public speech?