I thought I knew what Presidents’ Day was all about... then I did some research to be sure.  One thing is consistent; Presidents’ Day is celebrated on the third Monday of February. Beyond that things get murky. For example, there is no universal agreement on the actual name of the holiday: Presidents Day, Washington's Birthday, Washington and Lincoln's Birthdays. There is no universal agreement on which presidents are being honored: just Washington; Washington and Lincoln; Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson; or all presidents. Leading to the lack of agreement regarding the apostrophe: is it President's Day or Presidents' Day.  For me it was always celebrated in honor of America's 1st and 16th presidents whose birthdays fell very close together in February. Here is a list of biographies that will take the reader well beyond high school history and National Gallery portraits to understand these men as anything but clear-cut themselves. 

His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis

Published in 2004, this biography draws on the Washington’s papers at the University of Virginia, consisting of a great deal of correspondence. The scope includes Washington’s military career and presidential years.

Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow

Published in 2010, this is a comprehensive biography of Washington’s life and times. What makes it unique is, unlike the stoic Washington of impeccable and rational judgment we have come expect from history books and paintings, we encounter a fierce, impassioned man who guards his private life carefully.

Washington's Revolution: The Making of America's First Leader by Robert Middlekauff

Published in 2015, this biography covers Washington’s formative years, 1760 to 1783, when he went form being a provincial to a national leader. One quarter of the book is devoted to the French and Indian War and the remaining portion to the Revolutionary War.

The Return of George Washington: 1783-1789 by Edward J. Larson

Published in 20014, this biography tells the story of Washington’s decision to resign his commission at the end of the Revolutionary War and what drove him to come out of retirement and eventually become the first president.

A. Lincoln: A Biography by Ronald C. White, Jr.

Published in 2009, this is a massive and comprehensive biography. What makes it special is its look at the moral and intellectual beliefs that framed Lincoln’s thinking, judgment, and decision-making.

Lincoln by David Herbert Donald

Published in 1995, this biography draws from Lincoln’s personal papers and those of his contemporaries as well as the records of his legal practice. What distinguishes Donald’s work is his treatment of Lincoln’s personal life, how it shaped his character and his political career.

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Published in 2005, Goodwin puts a twist on the traditional biography. In her book, Lincoln has three rivals for the 1860 Republican nomination. Goodwin argues that by assigning these men to key cabinet positions, Lincoln was able to turn them to allies and control decisions made at the height of the Civil War.

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to​ be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ​picks! Tell us what you'd recommend: Leave a comment or email us.