Cataloging funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). This collection has been processed according to minimal processing procedures and may be revised, expanded, or updated in the future.
Provenance
Transferred from the Book Division
Preferred Citation
William Abbatt Collection, William L. Clements Library, The University of Michigan
William Abbatt (1851-1935) was an author, magazine publisher, and editor based in New York during the first half of the 20th century. His work concentrated on the American Revolution, and included several publications on John André and Benedict Arnold. In addition to his work with scholarly manuscripts, Abbatt edited and published The Magazine for History with Notes and Queries.
The William Abbatt collection contains correspondence and a newspaper clipping related to Abbatt's scholarly work about the American Revolution. The four letters in the collection represented Abbatt's efforts to ensure historical accuracy throughout his work. Specific subjects addressed in the collection included the historiography of the American Revolution and of Benedict Arnold's invasion of New York, archival records of two members of the Continental Army, the proper use of military titles for retired officers, and Return Jonathan Meigs' involvement in Montgomery's attack on Québec. The newspaper clipping, mounted on the back of a printed petition from George Wilkes to the House of Representatives (December 10, 1848), commemorated a site related to Benedict Arnold's Québec invasion, which was flooded following the completion of a local dam.
The Clements Library holds several books written or edited by Abbatt. These are available by searching "William Abbatt" in the library's online catalog.
