Lucas Morel has co-edited a new book, “Measuring the Man: The Writings of Frederick Douglass on Abraham Lincoln,” that was published Oct. 1 by Reedy Press.
Morel, the John K. Boardman Jr. Professor of Politics and head of the politics department at Washington and Lee University, produced the volume alongside Jonathan W. White, an award-winning professor of American studies at Christopher Newport University.
The book, which can be found at The W&L University Store, presents almost everything Douglass ever wrote about Abraham Lincoln, including a dozen newly discovered documents unseen for 160 years that reveal the complex evolution of their relationship. The collection captures Douglass’ initial distrust and anger toward Lincoln’s slow approach to emancipation during the Civil War, followed by how three personal meetings between the two men fostered mutual respect and friendship.
After Lincoln’s assassination, as reconstruction failed and Jim Crow laws emerged, Douglass developed a deeper appreciation for Lincoln’s careful statesmanship and praised him as a model for America. Through Douglass’ evolving perspective on the “Great Emancipator,” the book offers lessons about fulfilling America’s democratic promise and transforming our understanding of both leaders.
In the lead up to the volume’s release, Morel and White authored an essay on the topic of Douglass’ writings which was published by the Smithsonian Magazine in September.
“Our initial idea involved a much shorter book that contained the most significant statements Douglass made about Lincoln, plus some of his greatest speeches that make no mention of Lincoln,” Morel said. “However, once we discovered that British newspapers had published several letters from Douglass containing opinions about Lincoln that he did not share with American audiences, we made Lincoln the sole focus and then scoured online archives for any mention Douglass made of Lincoln.”
Morel has been a member of the W&L faculty since 1999. He has organized national conferences on Lincoln and Ralph Ellison and is the chair of the Academic Committee of the Academic Freedom Alliance, consultant for exhibits at the Library of Congress and National Archives, former president of the Abraham Lincoln Institute, moderator of high school teacher workshops for the Jack Miller Center and Hillel International’s Civic Spirit and a member of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission.
MOREL
