Welcome to www.jasonemerson.com — information about historian Jason Emerson’s research and writing projects, which focus mainly on the life and times of Abraham Lincoln and his family.
Here you will find information and links to Jason’s books, articles, news, and upcoming projects.
NEWS:
NOW LIVE: Jason talks all things Mary Lincoln with Alan Lowe in the new American FLOTUS podcast, part of the American POTUS podcast series.
Jason’s article, “The original Lincoln memorial stands forgotten in D.C.’s Judiciary Square,” was published in the Washington Post‘s Retropolis section.
Check out Jason’s article, “This Man was the Only Eyewitness to the Deaths of Both Lincoln and Garfield: Almon F. Rockwell’s newly resurfaced journals, excerpted exclusively here, offer an incisive account of the assassinated presidents’ final moments.” posted on the Smithsonian Magazine website.
See Jason’s previous article, “This Civil War–Era Eagle Sculpture Was Made Out of Abraham Lincoln’s Hair,” posted on the Smithsonian Magazine website.
Jason’s latest book (with co-author with Erica Barnes) is “The Bear Tree” and Other Stories from Cazenovia’s History, published by Syracuse University Press in October 2021.
“The Bear Tree” and Other Stories explores the unheralded, inaccurately told, and long-forgotten tales of the historic lakeside village of Cazenovia, in the scenic Finger Lakes region of New York State. Cazenovia is one of the jewels of Central New York, and yet very few books have told its story. Cazenovia is a town founded by wealthy men, and much of what has been written about it has focused on the elite and the grand lakeshore mansions in which they lived. In contrast, this new book chronicles the story of everyday Cazenovia: the fascinating people, places, and history of this 225-year-old community.
Readers will encounter historical characters such as Francis Blakeslee, whose relics from and reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War are unprecedented; elephant and lion tamer Lucia Zora Card, “The Bravest Woman in the World”; educator Susan Blow, “The Mother of American Kindergarten”; and World War I soldier Cecil Donovan, whose letters home vividly depicted the experience of war for those awaiting his return in Cazenovia.
Jason’s previous books include:
- The Madness of Mary Lincoln
- Giant in the Shadows: The Life of Robert T. Lincoln
- Mary Lincoln’s Insanity Case: A Documentary History
- The Dark Days of Abraham Lincoln’s Widow, As Revealed by Her Own Letters
- Lincoln the Inventor
- Lincoln’s Lover: Mary Lincoln and Poetry
- Mary Lincoln for the Ages
- My Five Favorite Books on Presidential Children
I recently contributed a list of my five favorite books about presidential children on the […] - Historic Marker Placed in Nelson, NY, Due to Article I wrote
In early June, I attended a historic marker dedication to honor Plymouth Freeman, a slave […] - Article on oldest public Lincoln statue published by Washington Post
My latest article was published by the Washington Post on May 30. “The original Lincoln memorial […] - Freemen Yet Slaves Under Abe Lincoln’s Son
There was an old saying among the black employees of the Pullman Car Company: “Lincoln […] - “The Mary Lincoln Polka”
Have you ever heard “The Mary Lincoln Polka,” which was premiered on Feb. 5, 1862 […] - “Lincoln the Inventor” book to be reissued
The reissue of my book, Lincoln the Inventor, to be the final installment of the […] - “Giant in the Shadows” discussed in Washington Post article
Washington Post reporter Gillian Brockell wrote an article on Robert Lincoln’s proximity to three presidential […] - Abraham Lincoln, Harry Houdini, and a Spiritualist Lie
Was Abraham Lincoln a Spiritualist? Harry Houdini, the famed magician, did not think so, and […] - Earliest Known Photo of Abraham Lincoln
The earliest known photo of Abraham Lincoln is well known and commonly seen today, but […] - Lincoln’s Descendant Disliked Her Famous Heritage
Mary Lincoln “Peggy” Beckwith, Abraham Lincoln’s great-granddaughter, was a liberated woman who refused to conform […]