Charles Lanman to Abraham Lincoln, 25 August 18581
Georgetown, D.C., August 25th, 1858.Sir:I have nearly ready for publication a “Biographical Dictionary of the American Congress, from the foundation of the Government.” With a view of placing you correctly on
the record, in regard to dates, I should be pleased to have you favor me with information
respecting your birth place, the date of your birth, the nature of your education,
your profession or occupation, and the public positions you have held. Your immediate
attention to my request will be appreciated by me, and result to your own advantage.
While I apply to you through a circular, I wish you to remember that any information
you may communicate will be kept strictly confidential.2
Very respectfully,Your obt.[obedient] servant,Charles Lanman,
Author of the “Private Life of Daniel Webster,” “Adventures in the Wilds of America,” &c. &c.[etc. etc.]
[ endorsement
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Born Feb[February], 12, 1809, in Hardin county Kentucky– Education, defective– Profession, a lawyer– Have been a Captain of Volunteers
in Black Hawk War; Post-Master at a very small office, four times a member of the Illinois Legislature; and once a member of the lower House of Congress–3
Yours &cA. Lincoln4<Page 2>
NORWICH Ct.
AUG[AUGUST] 28 1858Hon. Abraham LincolnSpringfieldIllinois5
AUG[AUGUST] 28 1858Hon. Abraham LincolnSpringfieldIllinois5
2J. B. Lippincott in Philadelphia published Lanman’s compilation of biographies in 1859. The first edition included
534 pages of biographical sketches of hundreds of congressmen and a 159-page appendix
with information such as the meeting and adjournment of every session of Congress,
the signers of the Declaration of Independence, the organization of executive departments,
and governors of each state and territory since the adoption of the U.S. Constitution.
Lanman’s Dictionary received good press reviews. The National Intelligencer called it, “Convenient as a work of reference,” and the New York Times labeled it, “Undoubtedly of much value to public men for reference.” However, the
work did not please everyone. Describing Lanman as a “sublime specimen of Copperheadism,”
the National Republican complained in December 1863—undoubtedly relating to the next edition, which appeared
in 1864—that Lanman was attempting to charge the government for copies of his dictionary
to be printed and for a copyright. The newspaper described the work as, “about as
useful and reliable as a Philadelphia Directory of ten years ago.”
Charles Lanman, Dictionary of the United States Congress, Containing Biographical Sketches of its
Members from the Foundation of the Government (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1859); Fayetteville Observer. Semi-Weekly (NC), 2 May 1859, 3:3; Daily National Intelligencer (Washington, DC), 24 December 1859, 4:3; Daily National Republican (Washington, DC), 15 December 1863, 2:1; Charles Lanman, Dictionary of the United States Congress, Compiled as a Manual of Reference for the
Legislator and Statesman (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1864).
3Abraham Lincoln was elected captain of the Fourth Illinois Regiment of Mounted Volunteers
during the Black Hawk War. In May 1833, he became postmaster of New Salem, a position he held for three years until the office closed. Lincoln was first elected
to the Illinois General Assembly in 1834. He served in the ninth through the twelfth legislatures, ending in 1841.
He also served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives, from 1847 to 1849.
Michael Burlingame, Abraham Lincoln: A Life (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008), 1:67, 77, 85, 257; John Clayton,
comp., The Illinois Fact Book and Historical Almanac 1673-1968 (Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1970), 204-5, 207, 209; Biographical Directory of the American Congress 1774-1996
(Alexandria, VA: CQ Staff Directories, 1997), 1395.
4Lincoln wrote this at the bottom of Lanman’s printed letter above.
Lincoln had rejected a request from Ray, Medill and Company in June 1858 for an autobiography to appear in the Chicago Press and Tribune. Lincoln composed a brief biography for Jesse W. Fell in December 1859, and collaborated with John L. Scripps on a lengthier biography in the summer of 1860. Lincoln purchased a copy of the 1859 edition of Lanman’s dictionary,
and Lanman sent him another copy in June 1860, for which Lincoln thanked him.
Charles H. Ray to Abraham Lincoln; Charles H. Ray to Abraham Lincoln; Roy P. Basler, ed., The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1953), 4:74.
Printed Letter Signed with a Representation, 2 page(s), Meisei University (Tokyo, Japan) .