Abraham Lincoln: Day-by-Day Chronology (1809 – 1865)

Description

Lincoln: A Sesquicentennial Chronology and Research Overview

September 2, 1957:

• The Abraham Lincoln Sesquicentennial Commission is established by a Joint Resolution (71 Stat. 587) to coordinate national observances for the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth.

Pre-1957:

• Four volumes titled “Lincoln Day by Day” were published by the Abraham Lincoln Association of Springfield, Illinois. (These earlier volumes are noted as having blanks that would be filled by later research.)

Post-1957 (Specific date not given, but after the Commission’s establishment and before the publication of the new “Lincoln Day by Day” chronology):

• The Robert Todd Lincoln papers become available as an important manuscript source.
• “The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln,” edited by Roy P. Basler, is published, providing a notable published source.
• L. Quincy Mumford, Librarian of Congress and a member of the Sesquicentennial Commission, is appointed Chairman of the project to create a new chronology.
• Other experts are selected to work on or oversee the project:
• Roy P. Basler (editor of “The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln”)
• David C. Mearns (author of “The Lincoln Papers”)
• Clyde C. Walton, Jr. (director of the Illinois State Historical Library)
• Paul M. Angle (editor and author of works on Lincoln, and the only surviving editor of the original “Lincoln Day by Day” chronology).
• Dr. William E. Baringer is appointed Executive Director of the Sesquicentennial Commission and the main compiler for the period of Lincoln’s life preceding January 1, 1861.
• Dr. C. Percy Powell is appointed Research Director of the Commission and the main compiler for Lincoln’s Presidential years.
• Assistant compilers are named to assist Dr. Powell in Washington for the Presidential years volume: Mrs. Arline Custer, A. J. Fahy, Margareth Jergensen, and Helen-Louise Simpson.
• Researchers James T. Hickey and Roger Irving are assigned to work in Springfield, Illinois, under the supervision of Clyde C. Walton.
• Mrs. Marion D. Pratt, assistant editor of “The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln,” is consulted for the project.

Specific Date of Publication Not Given (But after the research and compilation):

• “Abraham Lincoln Day-by-Day Chronology (1809-1865)” is published, consisting of 1,166 pages in three volumes, with a 136-page index. This new chronology fills previous gaps using newly available sources and provides detailed, sometimes hour-by-hour, information, especially for the Civil War years.
• John Stepp of the Washington (D.C.) Evening Star reviews “Lincoln Day by Day,” calling it an “Epic Historical Research” and praising its benefit to both scholars and general readers.
• Ralph G. Newman of the Chicago Tribune reviews “Lincoln Day by Day,” emphasizing it as the “cumulative work of some of the greatest Lincoln scholars” and a “precise, detailed biography” representing over 35 years of research. He declares it the “great contribution of the Lincoln Sesquicentennial Commission” and “none more important” among Lincoln books.

No Specific Dates Given (Other related publications/materials mentioned):

• “Abraham Lincoln Campaign Newspapers 1860 – 1864” (518 pages of newspaper clippings).
• “Civil War: Abraham Lincoln Telegrapher David Homer Bates Papers Diary Journal and Books” (1,880 pages of documents, correspondence, diary entries, etc., from the Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana).
• “Abraham Lincoln – Stephen Douglas Debates/Election of 1858 Historical Material” (776 pages, including Lincoln’s scrapbook, correspondences, and debate transcripts).

Cast of Characters

Abraham Lincoln:

• The central figure of the chronology, the 16th President of the United States, whose life from 1809 to 1865 is meticulously documented in the “Abraham Lincoln Day-by-Day Chronology.”

L. Quincy Mumford:

• Librarian of Congress and a member of the Abraham Lincoln Sesquicentennial Commission. He was appointed Chairman of the project to create the new “Abraham Lincoln Day-by-Day Chronology.”

Roy P. Basler:

• Editor of “The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln” and Director of the Reference Department in the Library of Congress. He was selected for his knowledge to work on the chronology project.

David C. Mearns:

• Author of “The Lincoln Papers” and Chief of the Manuscript Division in the Library of Congress. He was selected for his knowledge to work on the chronology project.

Clyde C. Walton, Jr.:

• Director of the Illinois State Historical Library, which held important Lincoln collections. He was selected for his knowledge to work on the chronology project and supervised researchers in Springfield, Illinois.

Paul M. Angle:

• Director of the Chicago Historical Society, editor and author of numerous works on Lincoln. He was the only surviving editor of the original “Lincoln Day by Day” chronology and was selected for his knowledge to work on the new project.

Dr. William E. Baringer:

• Executive Director of the Sesquicentennial Commission. He was the main compiler responsible for the period of Lincoln’s life preceding January 1, 1861, for the new chronology.

Dr. C. Percy Powell:

• Research Director of the Sesquicentennial Commission. He was the main compiler responsible for Lincoln’s Presidential years in the new chronology.

Mrs. Arline Custer, A. J. Fahy, Margareth Jergensen, Helen-Louise Simpson:

• Assistant compilers who assisted Dr. Powell in Washington on the volume dealing with Lincoln’s Presidential years.

James T. Hickey, Roger Irving:

• Researchers assigned to work in Springfield, Illinois, under the supervision of Clyde C. Walton for the chronology project.

Mrs. Marion D. Pratt:

• Assistant editor of “The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln.” She was consulted during the creation of the new “Lincoln Day by Day” chronology.

Earl Schenck Miers:

• Editor in Chief of the “Abraham Lincoln Day-by-Day Chronology.” He is credited by John Stepp for his role in “breathing life” into the project.

John Stepp:

• A reviewer from the Washington (D.C.) Evening Star who reviewed “Lincoln Day by Day” upon its publication, calling it “Epic Historical Research.”

Ralph G. Newman:

• A reviewer from the Chicago Tribune who reviewed “Lincoln Day by Day,” praising it as a culmination of significant Lincoln scholarship and the “great contribution of the Lincoln Sesquicentennial Commission.”

Robert Todd Lincoln:

• Abraham Lincoln’s son, whose papers became an important manuscript source for the new chronology.

Stephen Douglas:

• A prominent political figure, particularly known for his debates with Abraham Lincoln during the 1858 Illinois U.S. Senate Election. Historical material related to their debates and the election is mentioned.

David Homer Bates:

• An Abraham Lincoln telegrapher during the Civil War. His papers, including correspondence, diaries, and journals, are highlighted as part of the Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana.