Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope
| Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope | |
|---|---|
| FALSE | |
| "Abraham Lincoln hastily wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope while traveling by train to Gettysburg in November 1863." | |
| Domain | History |
| Tactic | Fabrication |
| Era | Historical |
| First seen | 1900s |
| Origin | Popular retellings and books in the early 20th century, including a 1906 story by Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews, The Perfect Tribute |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-27 |
| Further reading: books on History | |
The claim that Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope is a popular myth. The story suggests that one of the most famous speeches in American history was written casually and quickly on a train. Historians say Lincoln worked on the speech over several days, writing in Washington before he left and revising it in Gettysburg the night before he delivered it on November 19, 1863. Five handwritten copies of the speech survive, written on paper, not envelopes. The myth was popularized in the early 20th century, including by a bestselling short story.
What the evidence shows
- Drafts. The earliest surviving drafts, known as the Nicolay and Hay copies, are on sheets of paper, including Executive Mansion stationery.
- Timeline. Lincoln received the invitation to speak about two weeks before the ceremony. Accounts from people around him indicate he worked on the speech in Washington and finished it in Gettysburg.
- Five copies. The five known manuscripts, named after the people who received them—Nicolay, Hay, Everett, Bancroft and Bliss—show changes in wording.
- Origin of the myth. Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews's The Perfect Tribute (1906) depicted Lincoln writing the speech on scraps of paper on the train, and the image spread.
- Lincoln's habits. Lincoln was a careful writer who typically revised important speeches.
Why it persists
The story makes Lincoln's genius seem effortless and humble. Writing on an envelope is a vivid, relatable image that fits his folksy reputation.
Lessons for readers
- Great works usually involve preparation and revision.
- Surviving manuscripts can test stories about how something was written.
- Popular fiction can create historical legends.
- Myths of effortless genius can mislead.
See also
- George Washington could not tell a lie about the cherry tree
- Einstein failed math
- Paul Revere shouted "The British are coming!"
Sources
- Library of Congress, "The Gettysburg Address," exhibition materials on the Nicolay and Hay copies.
- Garry Wills, Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America (Simon & Schuster, 1992).
- Martin P. Johnson, Writing the Gettysburg Address (University Press of Kansas, 2013).