SCOPE AND CONTENT

The papers of John Lorimer Worden(1818-1897) span the years 1835-1891, with the bulk of the material covering the years 1861 to 1868.

The collection consists of correspondence and official papers relating to Rear Admiral John Lorimer Worden's service in the U.S. Navy, a personal scrapbook, and various handwritten manuscripts authored by Worden. These papers have great historical value because of the epic naval engagement between the U.S.S. "Monitor" and the C.S.S. "Virginia" (generally known as the Merrimac, although the actual battle ship that was seized and remodeled was the Merrimack).

This collection was acquired by Lincoln Memorial University in April, 1931 from Thomas F. Madigan, a well known autograph dealer of New York City, who had previously purchased the majority of the items from Commodore Worden's daughter. Mr. Madigan then added several Worden items from his own stock which made up sixty-six original documents.

In addition to the papers, a large scrapbook containing photostats of the original documents, the speaking trumpet used by Admiral Worden, and a model of the "Monitor" also supplement the manuscript items. Another exhibit feature, on display in the museum, is a large bronze plaque of Rear Admiral Worden, mounted on a wooden base and bearing the following identification marks: "John L. Worden, Rear Admiral, U.S.N., Aug. 27, 1892, Olivia W. Busbee from J.E. Kelley, Sc., 1892, Quaker Hill, N.Y."

ARRANGEMENT AND DESCRIPTION

The papers are arranged in the original order of the boxed set, which does not follow a sequence of chronological order. The guide, consisting of a summary calendar, does list the papers in chronological order, so that the timeline of events may be highlighted more effectively. The two series are: 1) Personal and Official Papers; and 2) Scrapbook. Material that is not dated (n.d.) has been described in the guide at the end of the first series listing.

The large scrapbook containing photostats of the Worden Papers is not in chronological order.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum gratefully acknowledges the support of the NHPRC (National Historical Publications and Records Commission), for providing funding to identify, process, and create descriptive finding aids and machine-readable cataloging records for the archival materials in the repository. Thanks goes to Lincoln Memorial University for contributing matching funds, and to the museum staff and various supporters who have contributed, in the past and during the present, their talents and efforts in the endeavor of acquiring, sustaining, and preserving one of the most significant 19th century historical collections in the nation. Special recognition goes to Carol Campbell, Graduate Assistant; Steven M. Wilson, Assistant Director and Curator; and Dr. Charles M. Hubbard, Dean of Lincolniana.

Leanne Garland, Project Archivist