This index to the Letters of application and recommendation during the administrations of Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, 1861-69, collection provides the dates each reel covers. Government Information MAY NOT hold all of these reels. The record in the library catalog describes the extent of our holdings. For help, or to make an appointment to view a reel, email rad@colorado.edu
The Department of State series of Letters of Application and Recommendation for appointment to Federal Office (1791-1901) is arranged in segments that correspond approximately to Presidential administrations. On the 53 rolls of this microfilm publication are reproduced the letters from this series for the administrations of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, 1861-69. The letters are arranged in alphabetical order under the surname of the applicant or the person recommended.
These requests for appointment relate to almost every type of Federal office and came from every section of the country, but chiefly from the North and West- There are applications for such positions as marshals, judges, and territorial officers; for diplomatic and consular positions; and for military appointments- Recommendations were received from personal friends of the two Presidents, their political supporters, Members of Congress, military commanders, and officials of the executive branch of the Government.
The records reflect the Lincoln era from his election as the candidate of a new political party through the Civil War years to his assassination, the conflicts that Johnson had with Congress, and the problems of the Reconstruction era. The creation of new Territories during the Lincoln and Johnson administrations provided additional Government jobs for which there were numerous applicants- Also among the records are letters from the merchant marine complaining about the actions of consuls. These Letters of Application and Recommendation were in the custody of the Clerk of Appointments and Commissions until 1879, then, successively, of the Bureau of Pardons and Commissions, 1870-95 the Appointment Clerk, 1895-98, the Bureau of Appointments, 1898-1924, and the Appointment Section of the Chief Clerk's Office from 1924 until January 11, 1939 when they were transferred to the National Archives•
The records are part of Record Group 59, General Records of the Department of State.
The spreadsheet attached below contains a reel-by-reel description of the complete collection.