Harold Holzer collection of Lincolniana
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
Approximately 36 prints of Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee assembled by Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer.
Biographical / Historical
Harold Holzer (born 1949), longtime administrator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and later director of Hunter College's Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute, purchased his first piece of Lincolniana when barely out of his teens. At twenty-two he began focusing on collecting engravings and lithographs of Lincoln. Originally he sought evocative imagery with which to decorate his home, but the materials inspired a lifelong scholarly inquiry that has resulted in over forty books on Lincoln and the Civil War. (See www.haroldholzer.com.)
Arrangement
The Harold Holzer Collection of Lincolniana is organized in five series:
- Series I.
- Ephemera relating to Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee, circa 1862-1889, undated
- Series II.
- Engravings of Lincoln from the campaign period, 1860
- Series III.
- Memorial prints of Lincoln, 1870s-1900
- Series IV.
- Prints issued after Lincoln's death, 1866-1898, undated
- Series V.
- Prints of Lincoln from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, 1899-1939, undated
This material was offered, but went unsold, in Swann Auction Galleries sale 2486, "Printed & Manuscript Americana Featuring the Holzer Collection of Lincolniana," on September 27, 2018. Series I corresponds to Swann lot 40; Series II to lot 95; Series III to lots 133 and 144; Series IV to lot 145; and Series V to lot 148. For details, see the auction catalog.
Scope and Contents
Aside from a few portraits of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee, this collection is focused on imagery of Abraham Lincoln (including two of his Springfield, Illinois home) created during his lifetime (e.g., the campaign period, 1860), in response to his death, and later in the 19th- and through the mid-20th century.
Subjects
Genres
People
Access Restrictions
Open to qualified researchers by appointment only.
Use Restrictions
Permission to reproduce any Department of Prints, Photographs and Architectural Collections holdings through publication must be obtained from: Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 270. Fax: (212) 579-8794.
Preferred Citation
This item should be cited as the "Harold Holzer Collection of Lincolniana, PR 402, Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections, The New-York Historical Society."
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Harold Holzer, 2018 (accession no. PPAC.2018.067).
About this Guide
Processing Information
Archivist Joseph Ditta arranged and described this collection in August 2019.
Repository
Series I. Ephemera relating to Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee, circa 1862-1889, undated, inclusive
"Southern Rights", undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Uncredited engraving in blue and red depicting Jefferson Davis.
Confederate currency (3 pieces), 1862, 1864, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Confederate currency in one, ten, and fifty dollar denominations, the latter bill with a portrait of Jefferson Davis.
Portrait of Jefferson Davis, [1889], inclusive
Scope and Contents
Engraving by "Illman Brothers from a photograph taken a few months before his death" above facsimile signature.
Portraits of Robert E. Lee (2), 1863, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Hand-colored engraving clipped from an unidentified (probably British) periodical captioned "The Civil War in America: General Lee, Commander of the Confederate Army in Northern Virginia.--From a sketch by our special artist," February 14, 1863, with a black-and-white version of the same image as published in Harper's Weekly, March 14, 1863, with the caption "The Rebel General R. E. Lee.--From a late drawing by Mr. Vizetelly."
Portraits of Robert E. Lee (2), undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Two engraved portraits of Robert E. Lee clipped from publications, possibly Harper's Weekly or Frank Leslie's.
Prospectus for Genealogical History of the Lee Family, of Virginia and Maryland, from A.D. 1200 to 1866, [circa 1871], inclusive
Scope and Contents
Edward C. Mead's Genealogical History of the Lee Family, of Virginia and Maryland, from A.D. 1200 to 1866 was issued by the University Publishing Company, New York, in 1871.
Portrait of Robert E. Lee (2 versions), [1871], inclusive
Scope and Contents
Plate from Edward C. Mead's Genealogical History of the Lee Family, of Virginia and Maryland, from A.D. 1200 to 1866 (New York: University Publishing Company, 1871). This and the corresponding portrait of Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee (Box 1, Folder 8) were displayed in the 1987-88 traveling exhibition "The Confederate Image."
Portrait of Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee, [1871], inclusive
Scope and Contents
Plate from Edward C. Mead's Genealogical History of the Lee Family, of Virginia and Maryland, from A.D. 1200 to 1866 (New York: University Publishing Company, 1871). This and the corresponding portrait of Robert E. Lee (Box 1, Folder 7) were displayed in the 1987-88 traveling exhibition "The Confederate Image."
Series II. Engravings of Lincoln from the campaign period, 1860, inclusive
After Charles Barry. [Abraham Lincoln] (2), 1860, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Two examples, one on tinted chine-collé.
After Charles Barry (pirated). [Abraham Lincoln], 1860, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Uncredited, but apparently pirated lithograph of the Charles Barry campaign print.
J. C. Buttre. "A. Lincoln" (narrow margins), 1860, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Engraved by J. C. Buttre after a photograph by Matthew Brady.
J. C. Buttre. "A. Lincoln" (wide margins), 1860, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Engraved by J. C. Buttre after a photograph by Matthew Brady.
H. Wright Smith. "A. Lincoln", 1860, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Published by Benj. B. Russell, Boston.
"Abraham Lincoln's Residence", 1860, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Unattributed hand-colored engraving.
Series III. Memorial prints of Lincoln, 1870s-1900, inclusive
Carquillat, after Allardet. [Abraham Lincoln], 1870s?, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Framed, woven silk portrait of Lincoln.
Fishel, Adler & Schwartz. "Abraham Lincoln", circa 1875-1900, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Engraving featuring Lincoln's head on Andrew Jackson's body. Published in New York, late 19th century.
Series IV. Prints issued after Lincoln's death, 1866-1898, undated, inclusive
Kurz & Allison. [Abraham Lincoln], circa 1875-1900, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Untitled chromolithograph portrait of Lincoln. Published in Chicago, late 19th century.
[Lincoln consoling a standing child], undated, inclusive
Wm. E. Marshall. "Abraham Lincoln", 1866, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Published by Ticknor & Fields, Boston, 1866.
After Wm. E. Marshall. [Abraham Lincoln], undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Small untitled imitation of the Marshall engraving, in an oval frame.
Rees. "Abraham Lincoln's Return Home After His Successful Campaign for the Presidency of the United States, in October, 1860", [1898], inclusive
Scope and Contents
Colored lithograph published by Rees Print & Litho Co., Omaha, Nebraska.
Series V. Prints of Lincoln from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, 1899-1939, undated, inclusive
Ruth Witzel Bilane (1915-2007) after the Marshall print. [Abraham Lincoln], undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Signed by the artist in pencil, Union, New Jersey.
Timothy Cole. [Abraham Lincoln], 1928, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Untitled engraving printed by Helen Fagg.
After Hesler. "Abraham Lincoln as he Appeared Directly after his Nomination in 1860", undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Gravure of Hesler photograph, published by H. C. Brown & Co., New York.
Rea, after Deigendesch. "Lincoln: He was a Type of the True Elder Race", 1899, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Engraving published by McCaskey, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Bernhardt Wall. "Alexander Gardner's Photograph Gallery", 1939, inclusive
Scope and Contents
"Alexander Gardner's Photograph Gallery, Washington, D. C. Here President Lincoln sat for some portraits. Collection of the Public Library of the District of Columbia."
Bernhardt Wall. "Brady's Studio, Washington D.C.", 1939, inclusive
Scope and Contents
"Brady's Studio, Washington, D.C., where President Lincoln sat for some photographic portraits. Collection of L. C. Handy Studios, Washington, D.C."
Bernhardt Wall. "Cooper Union, New York City", 1937, inclusive
Scope and Contents
"Cooper Union, New York City, where Lincoln made his great speech, Monday evening, Feb. 27, 1860. He was escorted by William Cullen Bryant and David Dudley Field. Collection of New-York Historical Society."
Bernhardt Wall. "Lincoln and James A. Briggs attended Plymouth Church", 1937, inclusive
Scope and Contents
"Lincoln and James A. Briggs attended Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, to hear Henry W. Beecher preach, March 11, 1860. Collection of New-York Historical Society."
Bernhardt Wall. "Lincoln, for the first time saw a printing press", 1931, inclusive
Scope and Contents
"Lincoln, for the first time saw a printing press at the Western Sun, or The Indiana Gazette, now The Vincennes Sun, as he was passing thru in March 1830."