"Shortly after Lincoln's death, in 1865, all the papers which had accumulated in his office files during his presidency, plus many more which he had brought with him from Springfield, were removed from the White House by his son. From that time until July 26, 1947, when the collection was first opened to the public, these papers were shrouded in secrecy. In the introductory chapters of this book, the author presents the dramatic history of the collection,...