Today, November 26, 2013, is the 150th anniversary of what many
regard as the first official national celebration of Thanksgiving, as proclaimed
by Abraham Lincoln. In fact, Lincoln
proclaimed many days of national thanksgiving during his time as president, as
did others before him. It was not until
the country was involved in another great war that Thanksgiving was officially
established as the fourth Thursday in November. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
signed it into law in December 1941, a few weeks after our entry into World War
2.
It is, I think, worth noting that, during two of the most
violent episodes in our nation’s history, our leaders saw fit to focus some of
their energy on bringing our citizenry together in appreciation of what we
have, and in acknowledgement of the wants of others. A story from Thanksgiving 1864 most powerfully
speaks to me of the meaning of the holiday, as Lincoln intended it, and we hold
a pamphlet in our collection that tells that story. It is one of my “favorite things.”
Report of the
Committee on Providing a Thanksgiving Dinner for the Soldiers and Sailors was
presented by the Union League Club of New York in December 1864 and published
in 1865. It tells of an almost
incomprehensible feat of philanthropy accomplished by that League in the weeks
leading up to Thanksgiving, held that year on November
24th. In their meeting on November 3,
the League decided to raise funds and food to ensure that all Union troops then
in battle and lying in hospital would have a feast on Thanksgiving. Which was in three weeks. In the middle of a war. In the middle of the 19th century.
In those three weeks, the Union League of New York collected
over $57,000 in monetary donations (minus $47.50 in counterfeit bills). They also received hundreds of thousands of
pounds of in-kind donations.
Contributions came in from as far away as Michigan. Furthermore, in what seems to me like an
absolute impossibility, they managed to distribute the food to the troops in
time for Thanksgiving. The Report states that the League “received
and forwarded at least 225,000 lbs. poultry. This was in addition to 148,586
pounds purchased by the Committee, and was in addition also to an enormous
quantity of cakes, doughnuts, gingerbread, pickles, preserved fruits, apples,
vegetables, and all the other things which go to make up a Northern
Thanksgiving Dinner.” The Report also makes clear that this was
all done despite “the failing of [the Union League of] Philadelphia to co-operate.”
One of many pages listing the in-kind contributions received by the Union League of New York. |
So when you give thanks this week for all that you have,
remember to think also of those who have less.
And after the spectacles of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, consider
celebrating the second annual Giving Tuesday.
Follow the lead of those Americans who, celebrating the second annual
Thanksgiving 149 years ago, created a spectacle of giving and a spectacle of
love.
And have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Rachel A. D’Agostino
Curator of Printed Books
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