The seven volumes of Lincoln's papers open not with his own words but with a trio of introductory essays by Theodore Roosevelt, Carl Schurz, and Joseph Choate, each offering a distinct lens on the man and his legacy. Roosevelt's introduction, written in a vigorous first-person style, recounts the secret night journey to Washington in 1861, when telegraph wires were cut and Lincoln arrived under cover. This framing immediately signals that the collection is as much about how Lincoln was perceived and memorialized as it is about his own writings.

The table of contents reveals a chronological sweep from 1832 to 1865, mixing formal speeches, legislative protests, legal documents, and intimate letters. Early items include an address to the people of Sangamon County and a response to a political smear, while later volumes contain the Lincoln-Douglas debates and Civil War correspondence. The inclusion of a separate section titled "Lincoln's Yarns and Stories" underscores the editorial interest in his anecdotal reputation.

The Framing Voices: Roosevelt, Schurz, and Choate

Theodore Roosevelt's contribution is notably personal. He describes Lincoln as "patient, tireless and usually silent" and claims his "judgment of men was next to unerring." Roosevelt also includes a coded dispatch—"Plums delivered nuts safely"—to illustrate the secrecy of Lincoln's 1861 journey. This anecdote, drawn from Roosevelt's own memory, positions the editor as a witness to history.

Carl Schurz's essay, listed in the contents, and Joseph Choate's address add further layers. Schurz, a German-American statesman, and Choate, a prominent lawyer, represent different political and intellectual traditions. Their presence suggests that the collection aims to establish Lincoln's national and international significance through multiple authoritative voices.

The juxtaposition of these essays with Lincoln's own writings creates a tension between the mythologized figure and the working politician. Readers encounter Lincoln's early, sometimes awkward prose—such as his 1837 protest on slavery—alongside later polished state papers. The editorial choice to lead with these interpretations invites scrutiny of how Lincoln's image was constructed.

Early Writings: From Local Politics to National Stature

The first volume covers 1832 to 1843, a period when Lincoln was a state legislator, lawyer, and aspiring politician. His 1832 address to the people of Sangamon County is an early campaign document, while his 1837 protest in the Illinois legislature on slavery shows an emerging moral stance. The correspondence with Mary Owens reveals a personal, sometimes awkward voice—far from the later rhetorical mastery.

Legal documents, such as the "Legal Suit of Widow v.s. Gen. Adams" and the "Lincoln-Shields duel" correspondence, demonstrate his professional life. The 1842 letter to Joshua Speed on marriage concerns and the "Lost Townships" letter show a writer experimenting with humor and narrative. These early pieces are uneven in quality, but they trace the development of a writer who would later craft the Gettysburg Address.

The volume also includes circulars from Whig committees and resolutions in the legislature, grounding Lincoln in the practical mechanics of 1830s Illinois politics. Readers see a man learning to navigate factional disputes and public opinion, long before the national stage.

Anecdotes and Afterlives: The Separate Story Collection

Following the seven volumes, the collection appends a section titled "Lincoln's Yarns and Stories," which includes tributes from figures like A.K. McClure, Dr. Newman Hall, and John Hay. McClure describes Lincoln as "one of the most sagacious politicians I have ever known," while Hay calls him "the greatest character since Christ." These hyperbolic statements contrast sharply with Lincoln's own measured prose.

The anecdote section functions as a kind of folk biography, collecting sayings and incidents that circulated after Lincoln's death. Dr. Hall notes that mentioning Lincoln's name could "arouse" a tired audience, and Rev. Dr. Cuyler asserts that "no other name has such electric power." This material reveals how quickly Lincoln became a symbol, even as his actual writings remained in circulation.

The inclusion of these tributes alongside the papers creates a dialogue between the historical record and the legend. Readers must weigh the evidence of Lincoln's own words against the hagiographic claims of his admirers. The collection thus becomes a case study in how public memory is constructed.

This edition presents Lincoln not as a single, coherent author but as a figure refracted through multiple genres and perspectives. The early legal and political writings ground him in the specifics of Illinois, while the later state papers show a national leader. The introductory essays and anecdote section remind us that every collected edition is also an act of interpretation. Readers are encouraged to move between these layers, comparing Lincoln's own words with the frames imposed by his editors and admirers.