Description:

Lincoln Abraham

 

Abraham Lincoln’s Secretaries and Biographers Express their Appreciation for their Assistant and “Amanuensis”

 

 

[ABRAHAM LINCOLN]. JOHN G. NICOLAY, Two Autograph Letters Signed, to Helen M. Hough, September 20, 1887, December 25, 1890; and JOHN HAY and JOHN G. NICOLAY, Autograph Letter Signed, to Secretary of the Treasury Charles Foster, June 1, 1892. 5 pp. total, 4.5" x 7". Usual fold, very good. With one envelope addressed by Nicolay to “Miss Helen M. Hough.

 

 

Excerpts:

 

 

John G. Nicolay to Helen M. Hough, September 20, 1887:

 

 

The proofs for the December Century came this morning. I will be glad if you can come and help with them.

 

 

John G. Nicolay to Helen M. Hough, December 25, 1890:

 

 

Please accept with my best Christmas wishes, this copy of ‘Abraham Lincoln: A History’ in acknowledgment of your faithful and intelligent service as my amanuensis during the preparation of a large portion of the work.

 

 

John Hay and John G. Nicolay to Charles Foster, June 1, 1892:

 

 

We beg to recommend Miss Helen M. Hough for any position in your Department to which you may find it possible to appoint her.

            Miss Hough is thoroughly competent for the discharge of any duties which may be intrusted to her. She has an excellent English education, is unusually intelligent and accurate, and very faithful and industrious.

 

 

 

John G. Nicolay (1832-1901) and John M. Hay (1838-1905) served as private secretaries to President Abraham Lincoln throughout his administration, though Nicolay accepted a diplomatic post in France shortly before Lincoln’s assassination.

 

 

The two secretaries later collaborated on the official biography of President Lincoln. It first appeared serially in The Century Magazine from 1886 to 1890 and then as a ten-volume work, together with a two-volume Complete Works of Abraham Lincoln.  They later edited a twelve-volume version of Lincoln’s Complete Works, published in 1905.

 

 

Charles Foster (1828-1904) served as Secretary of the Treasury from 1891 to 1893 under President Benjamin Harrison.

 

 

Helen M. Hough (1841-1926) was born in New York. In 1891, she worked in the Census Office in Washington. By 1895, she worked as a “computer” in the office of Secretary of the Interior.  She continued in government service until at least 1911. She died in California.

 

 

 

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!
Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000