January 15, 1874

Herndon, William H., 1818-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Noyes

Replies to a request for a lecture on Abraham Lincoln's religion. Describes Lincoln as "a kind - tender & sympathetic man feeling deeply in the presence of suffering - pain - wrong or oppression in any shape: he was the very essence and substance of truth ..." States that in the 25 years he knew Lincoln, he never knew him to do a wrong thing. "I never knew so true a man - so good a one - so just a one - so uncorrupted and so uncorruptable a one." Remarks at the end that Lincoln was not a social man.

GLC06648.02

22 November 1885

Herndon, William H., 1818-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Kirk

Gives a friend his perceptions of Abraham Lincoln as a thinker, man, and statesman. He writes in part that Lincoln was "in the best sense of the word..., a deep, thorough and persistent thinker and a great reader of the political history of his country ... he was honest - prudent - far seeing - sagacious - he was cautious - conservative ... " He goes on to say that Lincoln had not reached his full mental maturity as he was assassinated at only 56 years old. Mentions that Lincoln also had negatives as he was not a perfect man, but does not list them.

GLC06648.01

10 September 1887

Herndon, William H., 1818-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Friend Whitney

The recipient of this letter is possibly Henry Clay Whitney, lawyer and Lincoln biographer. Herndon states that he is available any Saturday for Whitney to come see him. Informs that he never received the photo Whitney sent. Asks him to send another since he wants to use it in his memoirs of Lincoln, titled Life of Lincoln; the history and personal recollections of Abraham Lincoln. Written on Department of the Interior, Pension Office stationary.

GLC02490.09

1874-1885

Herndon, William H., 1818-1891

Header Record

Title: Two letters of William Henry Herdon describing Abraham Lincoln [Decimalized .01-/02]

GLC06648