Finding Aid for William Osborn Stoddard Jr. papers, circa 1878-1890.
02498

Summary Information

Repository
Detroit Public Library. Burton Historical Collection.
Creator
Stoddard, William Osborn,d. 1965.
Title
William Osborn Stoddard Jr. papers,
ID
02498
Date
circa 1878-1890.
Extent
1.0 linear ft.
General Physical Description note
(2 boxes, 1 wallet, 1 volume, 1 large manuscript)
Language
English
Abstract
In 1955, Mr. Stoddard Jr. wrote a book about his father's experiences. This collection contains correspondence in regard to the publication.

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Biographical/Historical note

William O. Stoddard Jr. was the son of another William O. Stoddard who served as Abraham Lincoln's private secretary during the Civil War. Born in New York City, Mr. Stoddard Jr. moved to Detroit in 1923. He was a former president of the Pere Marquette Rod and Gun Club and elder in the Woodward Avenue Presbyterian Church. William O. Stoddard Jr. died in Detroit in January 1965. In 1955, Mr. Stoddard Jr. wrote a book about his father's experiences, and was one of the few persons invited to Washington when Lincoln's letters and private documents were unsealed. William Stoddard Sr., as a 25-year-old editor of the Central Illinois Gazette, was credited with being the first to suggest to Lincoln, then an Illinois country lawyer, to run for president. Lincoln took him to Washington after his election and, while Stoddard was known as third secretary, ranking behind John G. Nicolay and John Hay, he had an office directly across the hall from Lincoln's and handled most of his confidential errands. Besides the book on his father's experiences, Mr. Stoddard Jr. also wrote five books for boys, but his vocation was the automobile industry. He invented a coated textile used in auto roofs during the early days of the industry, and in later years sold textiles for car interiors.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Detroit Public Library. Burton Historical Collection.

Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

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Controlled Access Headings

Family Name(s)

  • Lincoln, Abraham, -- 1809-1865 -- Friends and associates.
  • Stoddard, William Osborn, -- 1835-1925.

Genre(s)

  • Correspondence. -- aat
  • Diplomas. -- aat
  • Scrapbooks. -- aat

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Other finding aids note

Finding aid available in the Burton Historical Collection and on the World Wide Web.

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Collection Inventory

Box

Correspondence in re. publication of "Memoirs" of William O. Stoddard Sr. 

1

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Memoirs, William O. Stoddard Sr. (2 volumes) 

2

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Volume

Scrapbook 

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LMS

Public School Diplomas, 1878; 1884 

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