Writings

Lincoln's complete writings are available online from a variety of sources, including the Abraham Lincoln Association's Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, hosted by the University of Michigan.

The selected writings provided here are intended specifically to meet the needs of a University of Rochester course, "Lincoln, Douglass and Black Freedom." The links will take readers to the website of the University of Michigan/Abraham Lincoln Association's "Collected Works of Lincoln." A companion page is available on the Frederick Douglass Project website examining the issues below using speeches and writings of Douglass.

Autobiographical Expressions

Address before the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois: The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions, January 27, 1838
“Lecture on Discoveries and Inventions,” Jacksonville, Illinois, Feb. 11, 1859.
“Letter to Jesse W. Fell,” Dec. 20, 1859
“Autobiography Written for the 1860 Presidential Campaign,” Circa June 1860. See also: Abraham Lincoln Online
“Address to the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society,” Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Sept. 30, 1859

Douglass' View

Constitution/Union

“The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions,” address before the Young Men’s Lyceum of Springfield, Ill., Jan. 27, 1838
“Eulogy on Henry Clay,” July 6, 1852

Douglass' View

Slavery and American Freedom

“Speech on the Kansas-Nebraska Act at Peoria, Illinois,” Oct. 16, 1854
“Speech on the Dred Scott Decision,” Springfield, Ill., June 16, 1857

Douglass' View

Politics of the Day (Local, State, National, and International)

“A House Divided,” speech to the Republican State Convention, Springfield, Ill, June 16, 1858

Douglass' View

Lincoln-Douglas Debates:

First, at Ottawa, Ill., Aug. 21, 1858
Fourth, at Charleston, Ill., Sept. 18, 1858
Fifth, at Galesburg, Ill., Oct. 7, 1858
Sixth, at Quincy, Ill., Oct. 13, 1858
Seventh, at Alton, Ill., Oct. 15, 1858
“Address at Cooper Institute,” New York, Feb. 27, 1860

Lincoln’s Election

“Address in Independence Hall,” Philadelphia, Penn., Feb. 22, 1861
“First Inaugural Address,” March 4, 1861 (final text)

Douglass' View

Secession and War

“Message to Congress in Special Session,” July 4, 1861, pp. 126 – 37 in Lincoln/Johnson.
“Annual Message to Congress,” Dec. 3, 1861

Douglass' View

War and Slavery

“Message to Congress,” Mar. 6, 1862
“Appeal to Border State Representatives,” July 12, 1862
“Message to the Senate and House of Representatives,” Feb. 5, 1865 (Not delivered – proposal was shelved).

Douglass' View

Emancipation

“Address on Colonization to a Delegation of Black Americans,” Aug. 14, 1862
“Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation,” Sept. 22, 1862
“Annual Message to Congress,” Dec. 1, 1862
“The Emancipation Proclamation,” January 1, 1863

Douglass' View

Civil War Matters

“Order of Retaliation,” July 30, 1863
Letter to Albert G. Hodges, Apr. 4, 1864
Letter to Charles D. Robinson, Aug. 17, 1864

Douglass' View

Conduct of the War

“The Gettysburg Address,” November 19, 1863
“Letter to William H. Seward,” Jan. 31, 1865
“Second Inaugural Address,” March 4, 1865

Douglass' View

Reconstruction and Black Freedom

“Letter to Nathaniel P. Banks,” Aug. 5, 1863
“Annual Message to Congress,” Dec. 8, 1863
“Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction,” Dec. 8, 1863
“Resolution Submitting the Thirteenth Amendment to the States,” February 1, 1865
“Response to a Serenade,” February, 1, 1865
“Last Public Address,” Apr. 11, 1865

Douglass' View