Abraham Lincoln wrote a job reference for a Black friend in 1861. It’s on view at the Presidential Library and Museum

fortune.com/2025/11/07/abraham-lincoln-job-reference-black-friend-letter

The short, handwritten note is a typical letter of reference for a man seeking a job.
But the author is the president of the United States.
It is also 1861, and the job seeker is a Black man.
Abraham Lincoln penned the entreaty on behalf of his young friend, William Johnson, because…

This story appeared on fortune.com, 2025-11-07 21:04:41.
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