Rye Historian Donates Complete Body Of Work To Research Library

RYE, NY — A Rye resident who studied President Abraham Lincoln for decades has donated his complete collection of work to the New York State Library.

Harold Holzer of Rye, an award-winning scholar and historian, spent 49 years as a writer, lecturer and historian who specialized in Lincoln and the political culture of the Civil War era, officials said.

Now, all of his work will be available for public viewing at the New York State Library, Dr. Betty A. Rosa, New York state's commissioner of education, announced earlier this month.

That collection includes:

• Research files and typescripts from his 55 authored and co-authored books
• More than 150 original lectures
• Photo files covering the development of the Lincoln image and the art and iconography of the American Civil War
• Audio and video recordings of his many television and radio appearances
• His original correspondence from some of the leading historians, political leaders, and performers of the late 20th and early 21st centuries

The New York State Library is located in Albany and was established in 1818 to collect, preserve and make available materials that support New York State government work, officials said.

"It's a great honor to know that this material, which reflects so much of my work in the six decades since the 1970s, will be preserved at this wonderful institution—one where I have conducted research of my own and learned a great deal from its holdings," Holzer said. "As someone who has worked in Albany and has known so many extraordinary people here—in government, education, historical preservation, the museum world, and the arts—I am thrilled that our capital will hold this archive in perpetuity."

Holzer has spent decades working with archives — in 1992, then-Gov. Mario Cuomo appointed him to the New York State Archives Partnership Trust, and in 2017 he was awarded the New York State Archives & History Award, officials said.

"At a time when our nation is increasingly divided, we can all draw inspiration from the tremendous work of President Lincoln," Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. said. "Harold Holzer's research papers span the life of President Lincoln, his efforts to bring our country together and his work to abolish slavery. We are grateful for Mr. Holzer’s support of the State Library and this remarkable donation."