Read, Thomas Buchanan. Letter.

This collection consists of a handwritten, one-page signed note from Thomas Buchanan Read to an unknown recipient. In the note, Read expresses his well-wishes for the recipient, and his “sincere hopes” for their future.

Thomas Buchanan Read was an American poet and painter who famously wrote the poem “Sheridan’s Ride” about the American Civil War Battle of Cedar Creek. Read was also known for his work creating portraits, including a portrait of Abraham Lincoln. The Illinois History and Lincoln Collections has additional cataloged materials relating to Read’s portrait of Lincoln, which can be found at 973.7 L63E3AB825 and 973.7 L63E3N461.

An annotation on Read’s note indicates that the note was removed from a copy of A Memoir of T. Buchanan Read. It is unclear how or when the Library came to be in possession of the note, however, the date 2/18/28 [1928?] is written on the back. In 2024, Read’s note was removed from MS 1045 - Lincoln Prints and Ephemera.