The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

Springfield, Illinois

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM) is a dynamic institution with ever-expanding collections that are essential to understanding the history of Illinois and its most famous citizen, Abraham Lincoln. All researchers—genealogists, scholars, students, and those studying historical issues of personal interest—are welcome.

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About The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

On September 22, 1862 President Abraham Lincoln issued a preliminary proclamation announcing that it was his intention to issue the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. This digital exhibition explores the debate and discussion the issue elicited in the North by the preliminary proclamation by focusing on personal letters of Illinois soldiers, state officials, and federal employees (from Illinois), who held a variety of opinions on the subject. Their views provide a glimpse into the mindset of the Northerners at the beginning of what would be a long process to emancipate enslaved people and reconstruct a new nation. Also included are photos of the White House during the Lincoln administration.

About Our Partnership

The White House Historical Association began its partnership with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in the Spring of 2018. The partnership between the libraries involved providing access to a selection of ALPLM’s collections, including materials and documents focusing on the Emancipation Proclamation.

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Gallery

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This is a cropped photo of Brigadier General Edward S. Salomon dated approximately 1865. Salomon served in the U.S. Army during the Civil War. He began his career as a first lieutenant in the 24th Illinois Infanry Regiment in 1861, he resigned his commission that year only to rejoin the service in 1862 as a lieutenant colonel in the 82nd Illinois Infantry Regiment. He served with distinction at the Battle of Gettysburg and later took command of the regiment. He recieved a brevet promotion as brigadier general in March 1865. (For more from Edward S. Salomon please see 1118451 and 1118469.)
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum
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These are the resolutions of the officers of the 82nd Illinois Infantry Regiment at Stafford Court House, Virginia, dated February 14, 1863. The committee of officers was chaired by Lieutenant Edward S. Salomon. The document was addressed to Illinois Governor Richard Yates and it includes a resolution of the officers to carry out the Emancipation Proclamation. Salomon served with distinction at the Battle of Gettysburg, then taking command of the 82nd regiment as lieutenant colonel. He received a brevet promotion as brigadier general in March 1865.
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum
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This hand-drawn vignette at the end of a letter from Corporal Thomas L. Pankey to his wife, Sallie S. Pankey, on October 28, 1862 portrays a dove holding in its beak a ribbon featuring "Pray for me" and "I will pray for you." Corporal Pankey served in the U.S. Army during the Civil War and was a member of the 91st Illinois Infantry Regiment. He died in Louisiana in 1864. (Please see 1118484 and 1118487 for more of Pankey's illustrations.)
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum
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Letterhead containing vinette of Union soldier holding the U.S. flag in battle. The letterhead is from the John C. Dinsmore Papers at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Dinsmore served in the U.S. Army, Captain of Company E, 99th Illinois Infantry Regiment. He resigned his commission in 1864.
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum
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This is a letter from First Assistant Surgeon Humphrey Hood at Fort Pickering, Memphis, to his wife, Matilda Hood, at Litchfield, Illinois, dated January 5, 1863. At the time Hood served in the U.S. Army, a member of the 117th Illinois Infantry Regiment. He later became Senior Surgeon of the Third U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery and Surgeon-in-Chief on the staff of General John E. Smith, District of the West. The letter highlights Hood's feelings about the Emancipation Proclamation. Declaring himself neutral on the subject of slavery and war policy, Hood was generally supportive of the measure.
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum
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This is a carte de visite of First Assistant Surgeon Humphrey Hood dated approximately 1863. At the time Hood served in the U.S. Army, a member of the 117th Illinois Infantry Regiment. He later became Senior Surgeon of the Third U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery and Surgeon-in-Chief on the staff of General John E. Smith, District of the West. (Please see 1118452 and 1118453 for letters written by Hood to his wife regarding the Emancipation Proclamation.)
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum
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This is a portion of a letter from Private William J. Kennedy (location unknown) to his wife, Jane M. Kennedy, at LaSalle, Illinois, dated circa January 1863. Kennedy was in the U.S. Army, a member of the 55th Illinois Infantry Regiment. He likely wrote this letter on board a steamer en route to Arkansas Post. He died in Memphis, Tennesee, in June 1863. Kennedy relates how he and other soldiers in his unit were prepared to carry out whatever orders President Abraham Lincoln wished carried out, including those involving the emancipation of slaves. (For a full pdf of this letter please see 1118461.)
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum
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This poem by Jane M. Kennedy of LaSalle, Illinois was written some time after learning of her husband's death at Memphis, Tennessee, in June 1863. William J. Kennedy was in the U.S. Army, a member of the 55th Illinois Infantry Regiment. In the poem Mrs. Kennedy laments that he died alone and was buried as an unknown soldier. (For more from the William J. Kennedy Papers please see 1118461 and 1118460. Transcription provided by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum and the White House Historical Association.)
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum
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This is a letter of Corporal James M. Taylor at Danville, Kentucky, to his sister Mary Taylor in Lake County, Illinois, dated January 20, 1863. Taylor served in the U.S. Army, a member of the 96th Illinois Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant and mustered out of the service in 1864 after suffering a wound in his arm. Taylor survived the resulting gangrene and arm amputation. In the letter Taylor describes the reaction of fellow soldiers and Kentuckians to the Emancipation Proclamation. He defended the proclamation while also recognizing the difficulties ahead for a post-slavery South. Taylor saw colonization of freed slaves as a possible solution.
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum
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This is a letter from Private Thomas F. Miller of St. Louis to B. W. Newton, dated January 21, 1863. Miller served in the U.S. Army, a member of the 29th Illinois Infantry Regiment. He deserted service in April 1863. In the letter Miller focuses on the Emancipation Proclamation and the government's war policy. He did not believe that President Abraham Lincoln wished to free the slaves, but Miller saw the proclamation as having sound military application in defeating the South. (For a full pdf of this letter please see 1118462.)
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Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum exterior shot.
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

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