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 The book is the second volume in a three-volume set called “A
Treatise on the Law of Evidence” by Simon Greenleaf. It will be
reunited with the first volume, which the library has owned for
decades. The location of the third, if it still exists, is a
mystery.
“We learn a little more about Lincoln’s career every month, and each
discovery raises new questions to explore. When and why did the firm
get rid of this book that Lincoln used so often? Did they buy a
later edition? Maybe the answers will be in the next book or
document that someone donates,” said James Cornelius, curator of the
presidential library’s Lincoln Collection.
The Montana Historical Society generously donated the book to the
Lincoln Presidential Library. The society received the book in 1927
from a Helena resident who had gotten it from his father, who had
bought it years earlier.
 “The book does not fit in our collection, so we are very happy that
the presidential library is interested in it,” said Roberta Gebhardt,
library manager of the Montana Historical Society. “We always like
to reunite sets if we can.”
“It’s a pleasure to have these two volumes reunited here at the
Lincoln Presidential Library, and we appreciate the Montana
Historical Society’s generosity,” said Nadine O’Leary, acting
executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and
Museum.
“A Treatise on the Law of Evidence” was an important reference work
in Lincoln’s mind. In two surviving letters to aspiring young
attorneys, he lists it as one of four books they must master.
The book is signed “Lincoln & Herndon” by Lincoln’s law partner,
William Herndon.
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Lincoln and Herndon, partners for 17 years, had more than 120 thick law and
statute books in their library. The firm Lincoln & Herndon eventually became
Herndon & Orendorff, which closed in 1909. Afterward, many of the firm’s law
books were sold.
Today about half of those reside in the Lincoln Presidential Library, and the
other half are in the Regenstein Library at the University of Chicago.
In the newly acquired Greenleaf book, Herndon starred or underscored a few
passages and added minute index entries.
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, a division of the Illinois
Historic Preservation Agency, is dedicated to telling the story of America’s
16th president through old-fashioned scholarship and modern technology.
The library holds an unparalleled collection of Lincoln books, documents,
photographs, artifacts and art, as well as some 12 million items pertaining to
all aspects of Illinois history. The museum uses traditional exhibits,
eye-catching special effects and innovative story-telling techniques to educate
visitors.
[Shanta Thoele, Communications and
Public Affairs, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency]
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