Jason d mark biography of abraham lincoln
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While the stories of who Freeman was did not turn out to be exactly accurate, he was still a fascinating man who did serve in the Continental Army for six years, and was definitely worthy of an article and a chapter in our book.
Thank you William G. Pomeroy Foundation for erecting this wonderful historic roadside marker in the town of Nelson!
LINCOLN THE INVENTOR
TO BE REISSUED
My 2009 book, Lincoln the Inventor, is set to be reissued in late August 2022.
Since I am a Lincoln historian, you may not be surprised to hear that my piece is a ghost story — based on historical facts — centered around an incident from the early life of Abraham Lincoln…
You can find the NoSleep Podcast on all podcast platforms, or use the link below:
NoSleep Podcast S21E01
LINCOLN THE INVENTOR DISCUSSED ON PODCAST
On the February 1, 2024 episode of “Inside the Blanket Fort,” a podcast by Southern Illinois University Press, my book Lincoln the Inventor was discussed, and included a 3-minute segment of my describing how and why I wrote the book, what surprised me, and what it was like for me to see Lincoln’s actual patent model in person.
Take a listen at the link below!
THE DARK DAYS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S WIDOW REISSUED
My 2011 book, The Dark Days of Abraham Lincoln’s Widow, As Revealed by Her Own Letters, was reissued in late 2023.
I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in first ladies, history, and/or poetry. Emerson shows how, when, where, and why Lincoln developed his invention; how his penchant for inventions and innovation was part of his larger political belief in internal improvements and free labor principles; how his interest in the topic led him to try his hand at scholarly lecturing; and how Lincoln, as president, encouraged and even contributed to the creation of new weapons for the Union during the Civil War.
Lincoln the Inventor delves into the ramifications of Lincoln’s intellectual curiosity and inventiveness, both as a civilian and as president, and considers how they allow a fresh insight into his overall character and contributed in no small way to his greatness.
With fresh knowledge and insights, Emerson broadens our understanding of Lincoln as both moral and mechanical engineer of our nation.”
— Michelle Malkin, author of Who Built That: Awe-Inspiring Stories of American Tinkerpreneurs
Listen to this 3-minute segment of me on the Inside the Blanket Fort podcast describing how and why I wrote the book, what surprised me, and what it was like for me to see Lincoln’s actual patent model in person.
Videos of my speeches and lectures through the years can be found on the pages of the relevant books!
Discussing “The Dark Days of Abraham Lincoln’s Widow”
“Inside the Blanket Fort” podcast by Southern Illinois University Press, episode 161 (2/8/24)
Discussing Lincoln the Inventor
“Inside the Blanket Fort” podcast by Southern Illinois University Press, episode 160 (2/1/24)
HAPPY TO ENDORSE UPCOMING BOOK
I’m thrilled to have received a copy of the upcoming book Poems by First Ladies, edited by Michael Croland, for which I wrote a jacket blurb.
Emerson illuminates how Lincoln’s lifelong intellectual curiosity and academic pursuits on discoveries and inventions buoyed his historic leadership in law, politics, war, statecraft, and technological advancement. I was flattered that Michael referenced my book, Lincoln’s Lover: Mary Lincoln in Poetry, as his source for the Mary Lincoln entry, and asked for my endorsement.
If not, you should read my book to get the full story!
THE MADNESS OF MARY LINCOLN HONORED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY PRESSES
My first book, The Madness of Mary Lincoln, was named one of the top 100 university press books in the “Escape the News Reading List” announced in May 2020 by the Association of University Presses!
Emerson’s sure guide through the tangled thickets of shifting historiography will help all of us to write more informed works about Mary Lincoln. In Mary Lincoln for the Ages, Jason Emerson provides an indispensable guide to understanding how contemporary, scholarly, and popular representations of the controversial first lady have affected what we think we know about her.
In highlighting hundreds of overlooked sources, Emerson changes the paradigm of Mary Lincoln’s legacy.
“This extraordinarily helpful book will quickly become the go-to source for scholars and general writers researching Mary Lincoln.
By understanding Lincoln the inventor, we better understand Lincoln the man.
“With the care and precision of an expert, Jason Emerson brings to light a vitally important and deeply revealing side of our greatest president. Not only that, the book will be the final installment of the Concise Lincoln Library series by Southern Illinois University Press.
Publication for this book will be in late 2028 or early 2029.
SHORT STORY PERFORMED ON THE NOSLEEP PODCAST
On May 5, 2024, my short story, “The Lonesome Post Oak,” was performed on the NoSleep Podcast — a horror fiction podcast that uses professional voice actors and sound effects to perform selected works.
The article was also published by the fantastic blog New York Almanack.
Plymouth Freeman first came to my attention as having been labeled in reminiscences and old newspaper reports as being the cook for General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Further research showed that he also claimed to be the son of an African king who was kidnapped and brought to America as a slave.
Read the list here.
CONTRACT SIGNED FOR MY NEXT BOOK
I have signed a contract for my next book, The Collected Letters of Mary Lincoln, with University of Illinois Press. If you know of any original Mary Lincoln manuscripts that are unpublished, please contact me.
In doing so, this book becomes the prime authority on Mary Lincoln, points researchers to key underused sources, reveals how views about her have evolved over the years, and sets the stage for new questions and debates about the themes and controversies that have defined her legacy.
A roadmap for a firmer, more complete grasp of Mary Lincoln’s place in the historical record, this is the first and only extensive, analytical bibliography of the subject.
Check out the new cover!
Lincoln the Inventor, a nice little 109-page book, was actually the inspiration for the Concise Lincoln Library series, which is described by SIU Press as Short, fresh, accessible books on the life, times, and legacy of Abraham Lincoln.
Did you know Abraham Lincoln is the only president to hold a patent, and that his mechanical genius shaped his life in every way from law to writing to politics?
This book is the unpublished manuscript about Mary Lincoln that I found in a steamer trunk in 2005, along with Mary Lincoln’s lost insanity letters.
Thought to have been destroyed, this manuscript by Myra Pritchard, the granddaughter of Mary Lincoln’s friend Myra Bradwell, is published intact with an enhanced introduction and detailed annotations.
Check out the new cover!
HISTORIC MARKER PLACED IN NELSON, NY, DUE TO ARTICLE I WROTE
In early June 2022, I attended a historic marker dedication to honor Plymouth Freeman, a slave who earned his freedom by serving in the Revolutionary War.
The marker was created in response to an article about Freeman I wrote for my book with Erica Barnes, ‘The Bear Tree’ and Other Stories from Cazenovia’a History, published by Syracuse University Press. By placing the popular accounts of Mrs. Lincoln within the larger compendium of work on her life, Emerson challenges readers to discover the sixteenth president’s wife from a multitude of angles.”
—Natalie Sweet, Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum and Lincoln Memorial University