One of Lincoln's most famous correspondents was Sarah J. Hale, who sent him the following letter after writing a series of editorials in Godey's Lady's Book (a popular women's periodical at the time, which she edited) on the need for a national day of Thanksgiving.
Americans already celebrated the holiday at different times in different places, but Hale wanted a specific national day of giving thanks to God for the blessings received during the past year. The Civil War context made such a day even more necessary, as both sides occasionally proclaimed days of thanksgiving to recognize and potentially foster divine support for their respective causes.
Lincoln proved receptive to Hale's ideas and officially declared the last Thursday in November "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens." He added (in an October 3, 1863, proclamation written by Secretary of State William H. Seward) that Americans should "with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union."
A public notice about one of several Thanksgiving proclamations Lincoln issued during the Civil War
The holiday has been celebrated nationally on the same day ever since.
Here is the text of Hale's letter to Lincoln:
private
Philadelphia, Sept. 28th 1863.
Hon. Abraham Lincoln,
President of the United States
Sir:
Permit me, as Editress of the "Lady's Book," to request a few minutes of your precious time, while laying before you a subject of deep interest to myself and as I trust-even to the President of our Republic, of some importance. This subject is to have the day of our annual Thanksgiving made a National and fixed Union Festival.
You may have observed that, for some years past, there has been an increasing interest felt in our land to have the Thanksgiving held on the same day, in all the States; it now needs National recognition and authoritive fixation only, to become permanently, an American custom and institution.
Enclosed are three papers (being printed these are easily read) which will make the idea and its progress clear and show also the popularity of the plan.
Sarah J. Hale, editor of Godey's Lady's Book.
For the last fifteen years I have set forth this idea in the "Lady's Book", and placed the papers before the Governors of all the States and Territories; also I have sent these to our Ministers abroad, and our Missionaries to the heathen, and commanders in the Navy. From the recipients I have received, uniformly the most kind approval. Two of these letters: one from Governor (now General) Banks and one from Governor Morgan are enclosed; both gentlemen, as you will see, have nobly aided to bring about the desired Thanksgiving Union.
But I find there are obstacles not possible to be overcome without legislative aid: that each State should, by statute, make it obligatory on the Governor to appoint the last Thursday of November, annually, as Thanksgiving Day; or, as this way would require years to be realized, it has occurred to me that a proclamation from the President of the United States would be the best, surest and most fitting method of National appointment.
I have written to my friend, Hon. Wm. H. Seward, and requested him to confer with President Lincoln on this subject. As the President of the United States has the power of appointment for the District of Columbia and the Territories; also for the Army and Navy and all American citizens abroad who claim protection from the U.S. Flag, could he not, with right as well as duty, issue his proclamation for a Day of National Thanksgiving for all the above classes of persons? And would it not be fitting and patriotic for him to appeal to the Governors of all the States, inviting and commending these to unite in issuing proclamations for the last Thursday in November as the Day of Thanksgiving for the people of each State? Thus the great Union Festival of America would be established.
Now the purpose of this letter is to entreat President Lincoln to put forth his Proclamation, appointing the last Thursday in November (which falls this year on the 26th) as the National Thanksgiving for all those classes of people who are under the National Government particularly, and commending this Union Thanksgiving to each State Executive: thus, by the noble example and action of the President of the United States, the permanency and unity of our Great American Festival of Thanksgiving would be forever secured.
An immediate proclamation would be necessary, so as to reach all the States in season for State appointments, also to anticipate the early appointments by Governors.
Excuse the liberty I have taken.
With profound respect
Yrs truly
Sarah Josepha Hale,
Editress of the "Ladys Book"
Details from a Harper's Weekly illustration about Thanksgiving during the war.
Christian McWhirter is the ALPLM's Lincoln Historian.