In 1953, the Abraham Lincoln Association (ALA) first published The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, a multi-volume set of Lincolns correspondence, speeches, and other writings. Roy P. Basler and his editorial staff, with the continued support of the ALA, spent five years transcribing and annotating Lincolns papers. The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln represented the first major scholarly effort to collect and publish the complete writings of Abraham Lincoln, and the edition has remained an invaluable resource to Lincoln scholars.

Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln . Volume 1: 1824-1848
Muster Roll of Lincolns Company
Speech at a Political Rally in the Court House at Springfield, Illinois
Bond for Benjamin S. Enloe as Warden of State Penitentiary
Remarks in United States House of Representatives Concerning Postal Contracts

Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln . Volume 2: 1848-1858
Introduced in United States House of Representatives Concerning Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia
Resolutions of Sympathy with the Cause of Hungarian Freedom
To the Editor of the Chicago Journal
Endorsement: Petition for Pardon of Henry Heath

Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln . Volume 3: 1858-1860
Extracts from Speeches on Slavery
Seventh and Last Debate with Stephen A. Douglas at Alton, Illinois
Opinion Concerning Swamp Lands in Bureau County, Illinois
To Mary Todd Lincoln

Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln . Volume 4: 1860-1861
Memoranda of Military Policy Suggested by the Bull Run Defeat
Order Designating the National Republican
Speech at the Flag-raising before Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Fragment on the Constitution and the Union

Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln . Volume 5: 1861-1862
Stay of Execution for Nathaniel Gordon
Presidents War Order No. 3
Proclamation Concerning Taxes In Rebellious States
Remarks to Delegation of Veterans of 1812

Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln . Volume 6: 1862-1863
To the Workingmen of London
Remarks to The One-Legged Brigade
Anonymous Letter to the Editor of the Washington Chronicle
Announcement of News From Gettysburg

Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln . Volume 7: 1863-1864
Appointment of Government Directors for Union Pacific Railroad
To Ulysses S. Grant
Order Concerning Export of Tobacco
Proclamation Suspending Writ of Habeas Corpus

Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln . Volume 8: 1864-1865
Proclamation Concerning Trade with Indians
Proclamation Offering Pardon to Deserters
Approval of Treasury Regulation No. 55
Order Concerning Samuel H. Jones and John Talbot