GALE'S LINCOLN LIBRARY

DR. GALE'S LINCOLN LIBRARY.

'KEYWORD(S) SEARCH' works (on the left menu).

SCROLL TO VIEW THESE SECTIONS
  • Dr. Gale's Articles & Papers
    • Lincoln Forts
    • Lincoln's Medical Issues
    • Abraham Lincoln History & Stories
    • Lincoln's Assassination & John Wilkes Booth
    • Abraham Lincoln the Author
    • The Lincoln Family
  • Newspaper Articles + Files Grouped by Subject
  • Lincoln Books in PDF Format
  • Statues—Photos—Paintings
  • Films & Videos
  • Food, Recipes, and Cookbooks





            Foreword

            It’s rare to encounter a work that marries scholarly rigor with the kind of narrative drive that sparks genuine curiosity. Dr. Gale’s Lincoln Library stands out as one of those exceptional achievements. Here, every chapter reads like a guided tour through the very essence of Abraham Lincoln’s world—meticulously sourced, deeply contextualized, and passionately presented. You’ll come away feeling not just informed, but personally connected to the man who shaped a nation.

            The backbone of this collection is its uncompromising dedication to research. Dr. Gale has scoured archives from Springfield to Washington, D.C., unearthing letters, diaries, and contemporaneous newspaper accounts that bring fresh clarity to familiar stories. Footnotes and references aren’t just academic window dressing; they’re gateways into the conversations Lincoln engaged in and the decisions he weighed. The depth of scholarship here leaves no question unanswered, even as it beckons you toward new lines of inquiry.

            Organization is another triumph. The Library is structured thematically and chronologically, allowing readers to trace Lincoln’s evolution from frontier lawyer to wartime leader with ease. Sidebars highlight fascinating asides—like Lincoln’s penchant for Shakespeare—without interrupting the main narrative. Detailed indexes and cross-references make this a resource you’ll return to again and again, whether you’re preparing a lecture or simply satisfying late-night historical curiosity.

            Perhaps most delightful of all is the exploration of Lincoln’s table. Dr. Gale doesn’t stop at describing meals; he recreates them. Authentic, verified recipes—sourced from Mary Todd Lincoln’s household accounts and mid-19th-century cookbooks—let you taste the cornbread, apple dumplings, and buttermilk biscuits that fueled Lincoln’s daily routine. Cooking these dishes is a visceral way to step into history, turning abstract dates and policies into a sensory experience.

            Dr. Gale’s Lincoln Library is more than a compendium of facts; it’s an invitation to discover Lincoln’s humanity in every detail, from the weight of his words to the flavor of his favorite stew. Dive in, explore, and let this library reshape the way you think about one of America’s most iconic figures.


            Abraham Lincoln is one of those individuals whose stature is so large that he has become engulfed in myths that often replace reality. There are hundreds of "quotes" he never wrote or uttered.

            The main goal of My Lincoln Library is to dispel the myths and quotes, and provide, as best I can, a factual look at Lincoln and his family's lives. I've included my research articles and papers, hundreds of newspaper articles, dozens of PDF books, and films/videos.

            READER'S COMMENT
            I have studied President Abraham Lincoln’s life at great length and have heard about his work as a Judge on a couple occasions, but I didn’t remember the precise details of these 2 cases until reading them again. It brought a smile to my face because Lincoln was so skilled, knowledgeable and trusted by many because of his impeccable character. President Abraham Lincoln was my favorite President, so thank you, Neil Gale, for bringing back this great memory to me.                      Unknown


            Lincoln’s Pastimes: Play, Strategy, and Sustenance
            It was in the narrow alley behind the Illinois State Journal that Abraham Lincoln traded courtship for competition. With nothing but a small rubber ball and his long, rail-splitting arms, he transformed brick and board into his own Arena of Fives. Day after day, he’d duck out of the law office, bounce the ball against Judge Logan’s red façade, and let each thwack dissolve the weight of pending cases. Spectators whispered that Lincoln—towering over six feet four—covered every inch of that makeshift court, his laughter echoing off the fences whenever he outfoxed an opponent.

            Knocking Down Ten Pins
            On afternoons when conversation at the alley ran thin, Lincoln pivoted to the local bowling lane. His approach was gentle, almost hesitant—he’d set the ball rolling down the smooth wooden track with a crooked grin, joking that his high score barely warranted a mention. Yet, between frames, he was at his most animated, spinning tales of frontier life and rail-splitting feats that made even the pins lean in to hear.

            Carom-Style Billiards
            Inside dimly lit taverns, Lincoln strode up to tables without pockets and proclaimed, “Now this is science, not gambling.” Armed with a straight cue, he measured angles and ricochets on carom billiards cloth, narrating every stroke. He never claimed to dominate the game—his shots were cautious, his angles safe—but by the time the balls slowed, the room had fallen under his spell, hanging on anecdotes of Kickapoo County and dusty courthouse debates.

            The Silent Duel of Chess
            Evenings at home found Lincoln hunched over a chessboard, Mary Todd perched nearby. He favored defensive formations, as if each pawn advanced might mirror a delicate legislative compromise. One guest recalled Lincoln pausing midgame to quote Shakespeare, then returning to his rooks with renewed resolve. He admitted he didn’t excel—his queen often fell—but the interplay of minds, the silent negotiation across sixty-four squares, felt akin to guiding a nation through peril.

            Breaking Bread: Lincoln’s Table
            As dusk settled, Lincoln gathered around a rough-hewn table to savor the simple dishes that fueled his days of play. From Mary’s ledger and mid-19th-century cookbooks, Gale unearthed authentic recipes:
            • Cornbread with a just-sticky crumb, lightly sweetened.
            • Apple dumplings drenched in cinnamon-spiced syrup.
            • Buttermilk biscuits, golden at the edges, and too hot to handle.
            Lincoln once proclaimed that a warm biscuit in one hand and his law brief in the other was “good company for both mind and body.” Cooking these recipes today lets us taste the same sustenance that powered debates, drives, and demure checkmates.

            A Portrait in Motion and Flavor
            Through Fives and Ten Pins, billiard strikes and cautious chess maneuvers, we glimpse Lincoln at play—his competitive spark leavened by good humor, his strategic mind at ease. And when the day’s contests ended, he returned to modest fare, grounding his lofty ideals in cornbread and apple dumplings. In these moments of levity and nourishment, we find the human heart behind the presidential silhouette—a man who sought joy in every swing, every strike, every savory bite.


            DR. GALE'S ARTICLES & PAPERS

            LINCOLN FORTS

            LINCOLN'S MEDICAL ISSUES

            ABRAHAM LINCOLN HISTORY & STORIES

            LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION & JOHN WILKES BOOTH

            ABRAHAM LINCOLN, THE AUTHOR

            THE LINCOLN FAMILY
            Lincoln and Mary, newlyweds, rented an apartment at the Globe Tavern from 1842 to 1844. 

            DR. GALE'S PERSONAL EXPERIENCES; THE LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY & MUSEUM, SPRINGFIELD, IL

            PEOPLE SURROUNDING ABRAHAM LINCOLN

            NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
            FILES GROUPED BY SUBJECT


            LINCOLN BOOKS IN PDF
            "Abraham Lincoln: A History" is a 1890 ten-volume account of the life and times of Abraham Lincoln, written by John Nicolay and John Hay, who were his personal secretaries during the American Civil War.
            Abraham Lincoln, A History: The Complete Set: Vol 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10
            Abraham Lincoln the Man of the People, Norman Hapgood, pub:1899
            Complete Works of Abraham Lincoln: Vol 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 0            9, 10, 11, 12(Index)


            FILMS & VIDEOS
            Abraham Lincoln Documentary  [Runtime: 3:37:24] 

            FOOD, RECIPES, AND COOKBOOKS

















            Keywords and phrases: 
            abraham lincoln ambition, abraham lincoln aphorisms, abraham lincoln assassination,  abraham lincoln characteristics, abraham lincoln children, abraham lincoln contribution, abraham lincoln death, abraham lincoln democracy, abraham lincoln effect, abraham lincoln legacy, abraham lincoln wisdom, abraham lincoln, abe lincoln, aphorisms by abraham lincoln, wisdom of abraham lincoln, wisdom of lincoln
            Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)