Herndon on Lincoln

[Rob Wick]

The Knox College Lincoln Studies Center has issued another book in their series on Lincoln that focuses on the letters written to and from William Herndon. Called Herndon on Lincoln: The Letters the book is considered a follow-up to Herndon's Informants and will be followed by a collection of Herndon writings and speeches. This series, edited and guided by Rodney Davis and Douglas L. Wilson, is one of the best out there on Lincoln. So far, I have bought all the books in the series and I've not regretted one purchase.

Best
Rob

[RJNorton]

Thanks for posting, Rob. Do you possibly know how this book compares with Emanuel Hertz' The Hidden Lincoln?

[Rob Wick]

Roger,

As one might expect, Davis and Wilson are sharply critical of Hertz. I'm at work now, but when I get home I will go into more detail concerning their criticism.

Best
Rob

[Rob Wick]

Roger,

In their preface, Wilson and Davis write "While The Hidden Lincoln performed a valuable service in making Lincoln students aware of a great many revealing documents, it is no secret that its editor struggled with the challenge of deciphering Herndon's often difficult handwriting and was insufficiently versed in the details of Lincoln's life."

Also, they point out something I was unaware of. "A less recognized problem is Hertz's failure to maintain the leaves of the assembled manuscripts in their correct order, with the result that the texts of different letters are sometimes intermingled. For example, a letter to Herndon's collaborator, Jesse W. Weik, dated January 15, 1889, several months prior to the publication of their biography, includes reference to expected prepublicaton activity such as preparing an index, but it also contains references to postpublication concerns about the distribution of profits, and concludes with references to the high rate of sales and to the overall character of the reviews. Not surprisingly, Hertz's text of this letter proves to be an amalgamation of four pages from three different letters: the first page from January 1889, the second and third from July 1890, and the fourth from December 1889."

Finally, they write "Perhaps because Hertz proclaimed in his introduction, 'Here at last is Herndon's complete evidence,' the idea took root among scholars and other students of LIncoln that The Hidden Lincoln had pretty well exhausted the field. When complete, the contents of Herndon on Lincoln, especially when combined with that of Herndon's Informants, will demonstrate the magnitude of Hertz's miscalculation."

Best
Rob

[Gene C]

What about all the notes and documents Herndon sold to Lamon?
Anyone know, where did all that end up?

[Rob Wick]

(05-19-2016 06:44 PM)Gene C Wrote:  What about all the notes and documents Herndon sold to Lamon?
Anyone know, where did all that end up?

Gene,

They are in his papers located in the Huntington Library in California.

Best
Rob

[RJNorton]

(05-19-2016 05:22 PM)Rob Wick Wrote:  "A less recognized problem is Hertz's failure to maintain the leaves of the assembled manuscripts in their correct order, with the result that the texts of different letters are sometimes intermingled.

Thanks for responding, Rob. Based on what I have read about Hertz this does not really surprise me.

[Eva Elisabeth]

I once found "Herndon's Informants" online as a website (like the Abraham Lincoln online site) but cannot find it again. Does anyone know the link? Thanks!

[RJNorton]

Eva, try this link:

http://durer.press.illinois.edu/wilson/index.html

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thanks, Roger - the one I once had found had a table of content on the intro page with all single "items" (letters and interviews) listed, and you could click each to get there. Is there such an overview on this site, too? In any case thanks for the link!

[RJNorton]

Eva, I think that's the only site I've seen. I do not think it's the site you once found.

[Eva Elisabeth]

I even believe I once had linked to one letter on that site on the forum but cannot find...