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Person in the county’s record

Abraham Lincoln

4 works about Abraham Lincoln are indexed here. 2 held at OCPL →

Indexed works

Works about or by Abraham Lincoln. Each links to the institution that holds or provides it. Background reading appears below.

The Elizabeth Keckley Reader

McKoy, Sheila Smith · 2016

A reader on Elizabeth Keckley edited by Sheila Smith McKoy, gathering criticism and interpretation of Behind the Scenes, Keckley's 1868 memoir of enslavement and of her years as Mary Todd Lincoln's dressmaker. Keckley's enslavement included years in Hillsborough, which is the book's Orange County link. Published in 2016, 274 pages.

Included because: Catalog heading in the NCCU record: Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865.

Mary Lincoln's Dressmaker: Elizabeth Keckley's Remarkable Rise from Slave to White House Confidante

Rutberg, Becky · 1995 · Walker

Becky Rutberg's biography of Elizabeth Keckley, born into slavery in Virginia, who bought her freedom, became a dressmaker in Washington and served Mary Todd Lincoln as dressmaker and confidante. Written for young readers and published by Walker in 1995, 166 pages with illustrations. Keckley spent years in Hillsborough as an enslaved young woman, which is the Orange County link.

Included because: Catalog heading in the Library of Congress record: Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 -- Relations with African Americans -- Juvenile literature.

Behind the Scenes; or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House

Keckley, Elizabeth · 1868

Elizabeth Keckley's memoir of 1868, thirty years in slavery and four years in the White House as dressmaker and confidante to Mary Todd Lincoln. Keckley spent part of her enslaved youth in Hillsborough, which ties the book to Orange County. This edition is the Oxford University Press reprint, with a portrait, 371 pages.

Included because: Catalog heading in the NCCU record: Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865.

Willie Person Mangum papers,

Mangum, Willie Person,; Mangum, Arthur,; Mangum, Charity Alston Cain

Personal and political papers of Willie Person Mangum, the Whig senator from Orange County, together with papers of Arthur Mangum and Charity Alston Cain Mangum. Correspondents include Daniel Webster, William A. Graham, David L. Swain, John Chavis and Abraham Lincoln, and other topics include plantations at Hillsborough, the estate called Walnut Hill, state politics, agriculture and education.

Included because: Catalog heading in the Library of Congress record: Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 -- Correspondence.

Start at OCPL

Books in OCPL’s Rebecca B. Wall Local History Collection whose titles, catalog subjects, or descriptions match this person. The Friends’ recommended starting points are labelled.

  • Rebecca Wall Collection · NC 973.709 KEC Behind the Scenes; Thirty Years A Slave and Four Years in the White House Keckley, Elizabeth · 1968

    Elizabeth Keckley's 1868 memoir of thirty years in slavery and four years as dressmaker and confidante to Mary Todd Lincoln. Born in Virginia, she spent part of her youth in Hillsborough, North Carolina, where her owner's son kept the Burwell School for girls, and later bought freedom for herself and her son in St. Louis. Its frank picture of the Lincolns drew public disapproval. Reprinted by Arno Press in 1968, 371 pages.

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Records of the time

Collections and databases

  • NC LIVE: prepared search for Abraham Lincoln Library card Search NC LIVE for this subject and Orange County. You can change the search terms. Sign in through your North Carolina library to access the materials.
  • Ancestry Library Edition In the libraryOrange County Public Library Census, birth, death and marriage records, and more, free on the public computers at OCPL libraries

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Books about Abraham Lincoln

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Photographs, papers, and newspapers

Historical records and collections

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