Historian and Author Walter Stahr during his presentation.

On October 30th, the UCI Libraries featured acclaimed historian Walter Stahr in a program and book signing event to celebrate his new book, Seward: Lincoln's Indispensable Man.

Mr. Stahr gave an engaging talk about his highly praised new biography and the research process, which included time spent in the UCI Libraries. A videotape of the presentation and photos from the event may be viewed here.

Walter Stahr grew up in Southern California and is the son of John and Elizabeth Stahr, long standing supporters of the Libraries and UCI, and recipients of the UCI Medal in 2003. Walter graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University and cum laude from Harvard Law School. He practiced international law for twenty-five years, including seven years in Hong Kong and five years with the Securities & Exchange Commission in Washington, but now devotes his time to research and writing.

Top from left to right: Lorelei Tanji,
Walter Stahr, Elizabeth and John Stahr.
Bottom: Walter Stahr signing books.

Seward: Lincoln's Indispensable Man has received excellent reviews by the New Yorker, the Economist, the Wall Street Journal and the Dallas Morning News, plus many others from well-known historians and authors.

Many Americans know Seward's name and that Alaska was "Seward's folly," but not much more about him. Drawing on hundreds of primary sources neglected by previous biographers, Stahr, author of the critically acclaimed John Jay, presents the first comprehensive biography of this largely overlooked figure in more than forty years.

Cover of Lincoln's Indispensable Man. For further information about Seward: Lincoln's Indispensable Man, please go to walterstahr.com.