and I mean to write and tell him so.
Abraham Lincoln became president of the United States in October 1860 at the age of 51. But a few weeks earlier he had been judged unequal to the task by 11-year-old Grace Bedell. Young Grace wrote to Lincoln pointing out what was, in her eyes, a serious defect: his lack of facial hair.
Oct. 15, 1860
IMAGE: DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY, BURTON HISTORICAL COLLECTION
Lincoln wrote back to Grace in the letter below.
(Some experts believe the letter’s spots are from snowflakes landing on the paper, as Grace hurriedly read the letter on her way home from the local post office.)
Oct. 19, 1860
IMAGE: BENJAMIN SHAPELL FAMILY MANUSCRIPT FOUNDATION
Less than a month after receiving Grace’s letter, Lincoln had a beard.
Nov. 25, 1860
IMAGE: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
On his inaugural train journey from Illinois to Washington D.C., Lincoln stopped in Westfield, New York (Grace’s hometown) and asked to meet her.
Nov. 8, 1863
I never saw him again.
In 2009, almost 150 years later, a Liz Bedell, then a 23-year-old staff member in the U.S. House of Representatives, was exploring the Library of Congress’ Lincoln bicentennial exhibition. She saw the original letter from Grace, and Lincoln’s reply, in a display case.
In the exhibition’s visitor log, she wrote: “I cried my eyes out when I saw the letter from Grace Bedell to Abe Lincoln — she’s my great-great aunt, and I grew up with the story not really believing it.”