Kate Warne, Pinkerton Detective

Question

I'm looking for records related to Kate Warne, who worked for the Pinkerton Agency in the 1860s and protected Lincoln on a rail journey in 1861. For example, Pinkerton Agency reports she filed, letters, diaries, etc. Secondary sources would also be helpful, if you have suggestions. Thanks!

History Hub Info · Answer

Hello Susan Nolen, 
 
 Thank you for posting your question on History Hub! 
 We checked the National Archives Catalog and located several record series regarding the Pinkerton Detective Agency. Although these files are voluminous, you may use the &ldquo;Search terms found&rdquo; feature next to the thumbnails to go directly to pages that mention this company. 
 The Pinkerton Detective Agency was not a government agency, but is still in operation today. They may have archived materials that you can request.. You can try to contact them directly at https://pinkerton.com/ . 
 
 We hope this information has been helpful!

A1 Reference Branch · Answer

Susan Nolen 
 Thank you for posting your question to the History Hub! 
 Keep in mind that the U.S. Secret Service was not officially established in the Treasury Department by President Lincoln until April 14, 1865 (yes, he authorized the agency on the day of his assassination). Pinkerton's Secret Service was more of a private affair authorized by Gen. George B. McClellan at the beginning of the war, and they worked for individual generals rather than the Union military as a whole, and in tandem with the Bureau of Military Information. The National Archives holds records relating to spies and detectives employed by the military during the Civil War in the Records of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau (Civil War) (Record Group 110), specifically in the series "Correspondence, Reports, Accounts, and Related Records of Two or More Scouts, Guides, Spies and Detectives, 1861-66" (entry 31) and "Correspondence, Reports, Appointments, and Other Records Relating to Individual Scoutes, Guides, Spies and Detectives, 1862-66" (entry 36). The latter, in particular, includes information about female detectives but we did not find anything specific pertaining to Kate Warne. Records relating specifically to the Bureau of Military Information may be found in the administrative records of the Army of the Potomac, reproduced on National Archives Microfilm Publication M2096, Correspondence and Issuances, Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac, 1861-1865. We do not have any specific records about the Pinkerton Agency. 
 We hope this information assists you with your research! 
 Sincerely, Archives 1 Reference Branch [RR1R-25-10058-JD]