Now, Via 'NYT' Online Archives: How Did Paper Cover the "Gettysburg Address"?

By: Greg Mitchell The New York Times has made its TimesSelect pay service more valuable this week, allowing subscribers to access complete articles in its archives going back to 1851 -- instead of just 1981 -- with the stories in their original form, in PDF format. This allows for a full appreciation of the look and headline treatment.

One revealing example: How did the Times cover one of the most famous moments in our nation's history, President Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address"? For one thing, the name of the Pennsyvlania village was then spelled "Gettysburgh."

The front-page story, appearing Nov. 20, 1863, four months after the battle, came in the style of the time, topped with a multi-deck headline, under "The Heroes of July." Mention of any speeches doesn't come until the fifth deck, and even there the president doesn't get star billing: "Oration by Hon. Edward Everett--Speeches of President Lincoln, Mr. Seward, and Governor Seymour."

The article, which carries no byline, led with a brief overview, then reprinted the entire opening prayer. It then mentioned Everett's oration and said the complete text could be found on page two. Sun broke through the clouds, it noted, to shine on this "magnificent spectacle" before an assemblage of "great magnitude."

The reporter listed the guests on the platform, before dryly observing: "The President then delivered the following dedicatory speech."

Since it was so short -- half the length of the prayer -- it was reprinted in full, with half a dozen parenthetical notations of "applause" with "long continued applause" noted at the end. So much for the urban legend that few in the crowd could hear the speech or were so disappointed they did not respond at all.

However, the reporter did not offer any words of praise or any indication that it was anything special.

After reprinting the governor's speech, and attending to a few details, the article closed on an odd note, revealing that the president returned to Washington by train but many others who had come to the event were left stranded at the train depot and so would have to make use of Gettysburgh's "meagre" accomodations for the night.