Lucas Morel Co-Edits Volume About Frederick Douglass’ Writings on Abraham Lincoln The John K. Boardman, Jr. Professor of Politics and his co-editor from Christopher Newport University will discuss the book and sign copies on Oct. 14 at the Hillel House.

By Brian Laubscher
September 24, 2025

Lucas Morel, John K. Boardman Jr. Professor of Politics and head of the Politics Department at Washington and Lee University, co-edited a new book titled, “Measuring the Man: The Writings of Frederick Douglass on Abraham Lincoln,” published by Reedy Press and set for release on Oct. 1.

Morel produced the volume alongside Jonathan W. White, an award-winning professor of American studies at Christopher Newport University. The tandem will hold a free public lecture discussing the book from 5-6 p.m. Oct. 14 in Hillel 101. The W&L University Store will have copies of the book for sale and will hold a book signing prior to and immediately following the lecture.

“Our joint book talk will reveal not only some astonishing discoveries about Frederick Douglass’ nuanced assessment of Lincoln over the years but also a bit about the process by which we collaborated to produce the anthology,” said Morel.

Morel and White’s book present almost everything Douglass wrote about Abraham Lincoln, including a dozen newly discovered documents unseen for 160 years that reveal the complex evolution of their relationship. The collection captures Douglass’ initial distrust and anger toward Lincoln’s slow approach to emancipation during the Civil War, followed by how three personal meetings between the two men fostered mutual respect and friendship. After Lincoln’s assassination, as Reconstruction failed and Jim Crow laws emerged, Douglass developed a deeper appreciation for Lincoln’s careful statesmanship and praised him as a model for America. Through Douglass’ evolving perspective on the “Great Emancipator,” the book offers lessons about fulfilling America’s democratic promise and transforms our understanding of both leaders.

In the lead up to the volume’s release, Morel and White also authored an essay on the topic of Douglass’ writings which was published by the Smithsonian Magazine in September.

“Our initial idea involved a much shorter book that contained the most significant statements Douglass made about Lincoln, plus some of his greatest speeches that make no mention of Lincoln,” Morel said. “However, once we discovered that British newspapers had published several letters from Douglass containing opinions about Lincoln that he did not share with American audiences, we made Lincoln the sole focus and then scoured online archives for any mention Douglass made of Lincoln.”

Morel has been a member of the W&L faculty since 1999 and currently serves as the head of the Politics Department. He has organized national conferences on Abraham Lincoln and Ralph Ellison, and he is the chair of the Academic Committee of the Academic Freedom Alliance, consultant for exhibits at the Library of Congress and National Archives, former president of the Abraham Lincoln Institute, moderator of high school teacher workshops for the Jack Miller Center and Hillel International’s Civic Spirit and member of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, which will plan activities to commemorate the founding of the United States of America. Morel earned a Bachelor of Arts in government from Claremont McKenna College, and he holds a Master of Arts in politics and a Ph.D. in political science from the Claremont Graduate University.

In October 2025, “Measuring the Man” was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. To read the review, click here.

If you know a W&L faculty member who has done great, accolade-worthy things, tell us about them! Nominate them for an accolade.