Title Page | Collection Summary | Biographical/Organizational Note | Scope and Content | Arrangement
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Edward Bates (1793-1869) span the years 1818-1904, with the bulk of the material dating from 1861 to 1864. The papers consist primarily of correspondence, a diary, and newspaper clippings. Of particular interest are memoranda read to President Abraham Lincoln’s cabinet, Bates’s opinion on the admission of West Virginia into the Union, and his statement entitled “The Present Condition of the Country.” Subjects also include the secession crisis and progress of the American Civil War.
The correspondence includes a handwritten copy of a letter from Abraham Lincoln and letters from C. R. Fritsch and William T. Sherman.