Reviving Lincoln’s Voice

The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln’s Basler Supplements Now Accessible Online

The Abraham Lincoln Association (ALA) is proud to announce a major milestone in its mission to preserve and share the works of Abraham Lincoln with the public. The two supplemental volumes of The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, long overlooked in digital archives, are now available online as searchable PDFs.

Since their original publication as eight volumes in 1953 under the editorship of Roy P. Basler, whose efforts and those of his assistants were largely funded by the ALA, The Collected Works has been the definitive resource for scholars and history enthusiasts. These volumes captured Lincoln’s letters, speeches, and other writings, earning acclaim for their comprehensive scope. Later, as additional documents were unearthed, two supplemental volumes were collected and published, in 1974 and 1990, offering more rich insights into Lincoln’s life and leadership.

Despite their significance, these two supplemental volumes have remained largely inaccessible due to limited print runs. In 2023, the ALA secured the rights to these volumes, thanks to the generosity of the Basler heirs. Since then, ALA Directors Michael Burlingame, James Cornelius, and Joshua Claybourn have led efforts to transcribe, verify, and digitize the content with meticulous care to preserve the integrity of the original texts.

Now, for the first time, these volumes are available to all on the ALA’s website as fully searchable PDFs. This addition complements the existing Collected Works and allows researchers, educators, and enthusiasts alike to delve deeper into Lincoln’s writings.

“This project underscores the Abraham Lincoln Association’s dedication to preserving and promoting Lincoln’s legacy,” said ALA President Bill Shepherd. “Providing access to these supplemental volumes expands our understanding of Lincoln’s intellect and character.”

The newly digitized material includes hundreds of pages originally published in 1974 and 1990, now corrected for typographical errors. While many documents are administrative or brief, others are of great historical significance. Highlights include:

• Lincoln’s February 1855 letter to J. O. Norton of Ottawa, Illinois, explaining how he lost his U.S. Senate bid—a letter historian Mark Neely called the best political letter Lincoln wrote before his presidency.

• Additional documents from the 1832 Black Hawk War.

• Seven new notes to or mentions of Isachar Zacharie, Lincoln’s key Jewish contact during his presidency.

• Letters and mentions revealing more about Mary Lincoln, the Lincoln sons, and every member of Lincoln’s Cabinet, especially in relation to the Civil War.

Visit AbrahamLincolnAssociation.org to explore this expanded collection alongside the original Collected Works. Stay tuned for further updates as the ALA continues its work to make Lincoln’s writings more accessible than ever before.