Originally published in 1942, They Knew Lincoln is a collection of historical vignettes about black Americans who Knew Abraham Lincoln. Long out of print, the book offers the "colored side of Lincolniana" by reproducing the original text and illustrations, including an introduction by Carl Sandburg, along with a new introductory essay contextualizing the work by Kate Masur.

Editor's Introduction Foreword by the Author Introduction by Carl Sandburg Acknowledgments Prelude-- Recollections of the Ford Theater Neighborhood Part One: Those Who Loved Lincoln Grandmother-- Her Story of the Three C's The Beginning of the Artist-- "Booth's Annihilation" Cousin Annie-- Tells about the Keckley and Herndon Books Uncle Ben, the Preacher-- Cartoon of "Riding around the Circuit" His Stories of--King Solomon's Wisdom The Divine Preparation Aunt Eliza Aunt Eliza's Death Aunt Rosetta Wells-- Her Stories of Little Tad Lincoln and the White House Uncle Buck Aunt Mary Dines-- The Contraband Singer Her Stories of Lincoln's Visits to the Contraband Camp-- Their Exercises for Him and His Part in Them Old Aunt Phobe Bias-- Her Story of the "Big Watch-Meeting" before the Emancipation Proclamation Uncle Sandy-- His Story of the Ford's Theater Ghosts Interlude- Slavery in the East Part Two: Those Who Served Lincoln William Slade-- Confidential Messenger and Friend Aunt Rosetta Wells-- White House Seamstress Cornelia Mitchell-- White House Cook Peter Brown-- Butler and Waiter at the White House William Johnson-- Lincoln's First Bodyguard Solomon Johnson-- Lincoln's Personal Barber Part Three: Those Who Remembered Lincoln Aunt Vina-- Her Home and Souvenirs of Lincoln Her Description of Lincoln's Funeral Aunt Elizabeth Thomas-- Heroine of Fort Stevens John Henry Coghill-- Living Witness of Booth's Capture and Death Her Personal Statement Tom Gardiner-- How He Knew the Conspirators and Booth's Plans Personal Statement by Him William J. Ferguson-- The Only Witness of All the Phases of Lincoln's Assassination Part Four: The Springfield Revelation William de Fleurville-- Also Known as William Florville and "Billy the Barber" Part Five: Elizabeth Keckley Elizabeth Keckley--Companion and Confidante of Mrs. Lincoln "Behind the Scenes"-- Story of Mrs. Keckley's book Mary Todd Lincoln-- Love of the Negro for Lincoln's Wife Appendix

"Masur provides an essential introduction to Washington's world in the nation's capital and to his research methodology in creating the original book....Having this work back in print will allow readers to understand sides of Lincoln that informed his thinking about race and will help demystify the mythical Lincoln."--Randall M. Miller, Library Journal "This long awaited new edition of They Knew Lincoln, with Kate Masur's brilliant scholarly introduction, makes available to researchers at every level a set of perspectives that have long been overlooked or difficult to access. The volume not only sheds light on the interactions between African Americans and President Lincoln; it also reveals nuances in the complexities of African American social structure as it evolved in Washington DC during and after the Civil War. Masur and the Oxford editorial staff are to be commended for this service rendered to scholars as well as to the general public."--Wilson J. Moses, author of Alexander Crummell: A Study of Civilization and Discontent "Scholars and the general reader are indebted to Kate Masur for making this out-of-print classic available once more. Her invaluable, comprehensive introduction expertly contextualizes John Washington's extraordinary contribution to our understanding of Abraham Lincoln and the ordinary people of color with whom he interacted. This volume is a must-have addition to anyone's Lincoln or Civil War history collection."--Edna Greene Medford, author of Lincoln and Emancipation "A full understanding of Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War is not possible without the voices of African Americans. As They Knew Lincoln illustrates, Lincoln's story is their story; their story is Lincoln's story. And somewhere within the overlapping historical narratives of their lives is the true story of slavery, emancipation, and Civil War meaning and memory."--Stacy Pratt McDermott, author of Mary Lincoln: Southern Girl, Northern Woman "In resurrecting Washington's book, Masur advances the hopeful view that adding knowledge, adding perspectives, adding experience to our shared history actually make us all richer." --The Washington Post "The perfect gift to celebrate the February 12 birthday of President Abraham LincolnEL Masur's insightful, robust introduction to this unique book makes a compelling case that those with everyday interactions with the 16th president shaped his view on slavery and race." --he National Book Review "Because Washington's book sold out quickly and was never reprinted, 21st-century readers will applaud Masur's heroic efforts in painstakingly researching Washington's life and unearthing the publishing history of his obscure book, which Carl Sandburg termed 'an important human narrative.'...A broad range of readers will consider this reprint an invaluable addition to Lincoln scholarship and to the dignity and possibility of African American history. Essential."--Choice "A broad range of readers will consider this reprint an invaluable addition to Lincoln scholarship and to the dignity and possibility of African American history." --J. D. Smith, Choice "I am falling in love with this classic account was written by former Cardozo High School teacher John E. Washington. They Knew Lincoln tells the stories of many African Americans who knew or encountered Abraham Lincoln." - Amanda Alexander, D.C. Public School Chancellor, Cist

Selling point: Reprint of a 1942 book on Abraham Lincoln that has been long out of print. Selling point: Features recollections of Lincoln from the African Americans who knew him most closely. Selling point: Includes the original introduction by Carl Sandburg. Selling point: Features a new introduction about John E. Washington and the publication of the book by a known scholar of Reconstruction and African American history.

John E. Washington (1880-1964) was a public school teacher, dentist, amateur historian, and collector of Lincolniana who lived in Washington, DC and Highland Beach, Maryland. Kate Masur teaches in the Department of History at Northwestern University. She is the author of An Example for All the Land: Emancipation and the Struggle over Equality in Washington, D.C. and the co-editor of The World the Civil War Made.

Selling point: Reprint of a 1942 book on Abraham Lincoln that has been long out of print. Selling point: Features recollections of Lincoln from the African Americans who knew him most closely. Selling point: Includes the original introduction by Carl Sandburg. Selling point: Features a new introduction about John E. Washington and the publication of the book by a known scholar of Reconstruction and African American history.