Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) Authority to affix the seal to proclamation for day of Thanksgiving
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06754 Author/Creator: Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) Place Written: Washington Type: Document signed Date: 1863/07/15 Pagination: 1 p. 25.1 x 20.2 cm Order a Copy
Ordering a day of national thanksgiving on 6 August 1863 for victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, seeking restoration of the Union and God's intervention to "subdue the anger which has produced... a needless and cruel rebellion...." Lined on verso; ink appears to have been affected by previous treatment.
[Draft Created by Crowdsourcing]
I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of State to affix the Seal of the United States to my Proclamation dated this day and signed by me and for so doing this shall be his warrant.
Abraham Lincoln
Washington. 15 July, 1863.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.