Lincoln Collection. Publications and Newspapers, 1831-1968

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Rev. William Eleazar Barton (1861-1930) The Rev. William Eleazar Barton (1861-1930) was one of the early twentieth century's most prominent writers and lecturers on the life of Abraham Lincoln. Born in Sublette, Illinois, in the same year Lincoln assumed the presidency, Barton grew up in an environment heavily influenced by reverence for Lincoln. After pursuing undergraduate studies at Berea College in Kentucky, Barton earned his divinity degree from the Oberlin Theological Seminary in 1890. He served parishes in Tennessee, Ohio, and Massachusetts before becoming the pastor of the First Congregational Church of Oak Park, Illinois, a position he held until his retirement in 1924. Four years later, Barton accepted an appointment as lecturer at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, where he also organized and served as pastor of the Collegeside Congregational Church.

Barton's work as a writer produced a number of denominational manuals for church organization and a series of books presenting the wisdom and parables of a character he named Safed the Sage. For the last ten years of his life, however, Barton was best known to the public as a prolific author and lecturer on Abraham Lincoln. His publications about Lincoln included The Soul of Abraham Lincoln (1920), The Paternity of Abraham Lincoln (1920), The Life of Abraham Lincoln (1925), The Great and Good Man (1927), The Women Lincoln Loved (1927), and The Lincoln of the Biographers (1930).

In the course of compiling material for his writings and talks, Barton visited Lincoln sites in Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois; interviewed surviving Lincoln relatives and acquaintances; and traveled as far as California and England to collect information and conduct genealogical research on the ancestry of the Lincoln family. While acquiring a large collection of books, periodicals, pamphlets, manuscripts, and ephemera related to Lincoln and the Civil War era, Barton also purchased privately or at auction historical materials amassed by other Lincoln collectors such as John E. Burton and Osborn H. Oldroyd.

The Lincoln Collection Publications and Newspapers forms part of the Barton Collection of Lincolniana. The collection contains newspapers, journals, essays, speeches, sermons, and other documents related to Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. The collection also contains brochures and pamphlets from various libraries and societies dedicated to memorializing Lincoln. The Lincoln Collection Publications and Newspapers is arranged into five series: Series I, Essays, Speeches, and Sermons; Series II, Publications; Series III, Libraries and Societies; Series IV, Newspapers; Series V, Oversize.

Series I, Essays, Speeches, and Sermons is divided into two subseries and contains material addressing Abraham Lincoln, his life and presidency, as well as the Civil War and American politics in general. Subseries 1, Lincoln’s Life and Work, contains essays, speeches, and sermons on Lincoln’s nomination to the presidency, his term in office and the accomplishments made therein, along with Lincoln’s religious views and sentiments. There are essays on the debate between Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, the constitutionality of the Emancipation Proclamation, and the assassination of Lincoln. There are also eulogies given during the months following Lincoln’s death. Subseries 2, Civil War and American Politics, contains work written on the Civil War and its aftermath, including slavery and its eventual abolition as well as conflicts between northern and southern states. See Series V, Oversize, for oversize material.

Series II, Publications is divided into four subseries and contains journals, books, government documents, pamphlets and programs on Abraham Lincoln, his life and presidency. Subseries1, Bulletins and Journals, contains various publications with articles (generally) detailing aspects of Lincoln’s life. Subseries 2, Books and Booklets, contains monographs and booklets on Lincoln, his life and religious views as well as his assassination and the trial of his conspirators. Also included are Civil War songbooks and booklets on Lincoln scholars and collectors. Subseries 3, Government Documents, contains written documents on Lincoln memorializing efforts from Congressional Senate sessions, State General Assembly meetings and the United States War Department. There is also an advertisement for the play “Prologue to Glory,” a production of the Federal Theatre Project. Subseries 4, Pamphlets and Programs, contains material on Abraham Lincoln, his life and lineage, as well as anniversary and dedicatory services for Lincoln. See Series V, Oversize, for oversize material.

Series III, Libraries and Societies is arranged alphabetically by institution and contains brochures, pamphlets, and ceremonial programs from various organizations dedicated to Abraham Lincoln. There is also material from libraries that contain collection of Lincolniana, including the Library of Congress, Louis A. Warren Lincoln Library and Museum, and the Detroit Public Library. Societies and universities dedicated to Lincoln and his life include, Lincoln Memorial University, the Illinois Lions Club, and the Lincoln Club of Los Angeles, among many. There is also material from the Stephen Collins Foster Memorial at the University of Pittsburgh. Foster was a prolific 19th century and Civil War composer and songwriter. See Series V, Oversize, for oversize material.

Series IV, Newspapers is arranged alphabetically by state and contains broadsheets from the mid to late 19th century. Most document the Civil War years, General Lee’s surrender, the assassination of President Lincoln, and the capture and trial of his conspirators. All of the newspapers are written in English, except for Der Deutsche Correspondent (Baltimore, Maryland) and New-Yorker Illustrirtr Frietung Familienblütter (New York, New York) which are both in German.

Series V, Oversize contains essays and speeches, journals, booklets and programs, and material from libraries and societies dedicated to Abraham Lincoln. It is arranged according to size, with box 22 divided into four subseries according to topic. Subseries 1, Essays, Speeches, and Sermons contains work written on or about Lincoln and his life. Subseries 2, Journals and Bulletins, contains oversize publications. Subseries 3, Booklets and Programs, contains oversize material related to Abraham Lincoln, including a ticket from the National Inauguration Ball in 1865. Subseries 4, Libraries and Societies, contains oversize material from institutions dedicated to Abraham Lincoln, his life and work. This series also contains a reproduction of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, a map honoring the 100th anniversary of Lincoln’s visit to Massachusetts, and programs from Ford’s Theatre.

The following related resources are located in the Department of Special Collections:

• Names
  • Barton, William Eleazar, 1861-1930
  • Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
• Subject
  • Collectors and collecting -- United States
  • American Civil War, 1861-1865