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This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. - from Abraham Lincoln's first Inaugural Address

Historically, we celebrated George Washington's birthday on February 22nd, until the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 set Presidents' Day as the third Monday in February.   Although this day now celebrates all presidents past and present, the new law (P. L. 90-363), set the observance of Washington's birthday to the third Monday in February. 

However, because Abraham Lincoln's birthday falls on February 12th, and Washington's birthday falls on February 22nd, the third Monday in February is considered a date of remembrance for both these remarkable statesmen. 

To learn more about these men and to read the papers of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, the Library of Congress offers a significant presidential collection of material as part of its digital library.  For Abraham Lincoln and George Washington's papers see:

University of Wisconsin Law Library's LINCOLN COLLECTION

The UW also has a special collection of material on President Lincoln. The Lincoln Collection was made possible by a gift from Professor Ralph Cagle and includes Lincoln's early years and legal practice.  The collection is located in the Quarles & Brady Room on the 5th floor. For more information on this collection see the Law Library's Research Guide: the Lincoln Collection.

Law Library Research Guide on Presidential Power

Presidential Power. The University of Washington Gallagher Law Library recently published a research guide concurrent with a course the law school offers on presidential powers and its limits. This guide features course material, primary and secondary resources on the history of presidential powers in the United States as well as current material, tutorials, videos, and podcasts. 

Submitted by Jenny Zook, Reference Librarian on February 24, 2017

This article appears in the categories: Law Library

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