Autograph Letter Signed

American historian, director the Louis A. Warren Lincoln Library and Museum from 1956 to 1973 and author of more than 200 articles, pamphlets and books about Lincoln. ALS, 3pp (separate leaves), 8½" X 11", Lincoln Memorial University letterhead, Harrogate, TN, 1941 July 11. Addressed to noted Lincoln scholar ARNOLD F. GATES (1914-93). Near fine. McMurtry replies graciously to some huge research questions the young scholar must have posed. In part: "...your questions will be rather difficult to answer off hand. The questions to be properly answered would require weeks of research work.... I would advise you to get a good history of Ohio, Nicolay & Hay's 'Complete Works of Abraham Lincoln' and Daniel J. Ryan's 'Lincoln and Ohio' from the public library in Cleveland... In these books you will find most of the answers to your questions.... I will be glad to help you on any technical questions that may confront you in your research work on Nancy Hanks...." Accompanied by a fine modern 8½" X 11" reproduction of a line drawing head-and-shoulders portrait of McMurtry.